Natural ventilation designed to control smoke at Battersea Reach

19 August, 2006

A bespoke natural smoke-ventilation solution for Battersea Reach in London has been design and installed by SE Controls.

Natural smoke ventilation under the control of SE Controls’ OSO system networked into the fire-alarm system has been installed in the Battersea Reach waterfront development in London. Designed by Architect Broadway Malyan for St George’s Developments, this individually tiered waterfront development is built on a 13 acre brownfield site on the south bank of the River Thames next to Wandsworth Bridge. The brief for SE Controls was to design, install and commission a smoke-ventilation system that would offer an efficient and effective method of dispersing smoke from the building in the event of fire. The installed system consists of a series of automatic opening doors and automatic opening vents on each floor of the building. They are controlled by the OSO control system, which is networked into the fire-alarm system. If smoke detectors are activated, the OSO system will automatically open the doors and vents in the detected area and begin to disperse the smoke into the smoke shaft. Preventing the build-up of toxic fumes and gases in these escape areas to create a smoke-free layer ensures the safety of residents and increases the length of time for occupants to escape. If smoke moves to adjacent floors, detectors on those levels will open the corresponding vents. This method of natural smoke ventilation is consistently proving to be more cost effective and maintainable compare with mechanical extract systems. The OSO system includes an over-ride for firemen to open and close windows in the building at will.

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