improving smoke control and protecting lives air sealing industrial, commercial, institutional and...

Improving smoke control and protecting lives

Air Sealing Industrial, Commercial, Institutional and Multi-Family Buildings to

Improve Smoke Control


1. Who are Canam and Zerodraft?

2. The dangers of smoke migration in high-rise buildings

3. How do we diagnose the problems?

4. How do we fix the problems?

5. What materials are used?

6. Success stories


1. Who are Canam and Zerodraft?• Canam Building Envelope Specialists

• Consultants

• Trainers

• Contractors

• ZERODRAFT• Weatherization materials







6. Success stories


2. The dangers of smoke migration in high-rise buildings• Most damage, deaths and injuries result from smoke

• In multiple-death fires in residential high-rise buildings many fatalities occur in the egress routes (stairways and corridors)

• Wind and stack effect exacerbate vertical smoke spread

• In cold weather lower-floor fires cause the most smoke spread to upper floors


2. The dangers of smoke migration in high-rise buildingsRepresentative Canadian Residential High-Rise Fires*

1981 Toronto Hotel – fire began on 2nd floor of 23-storey building, significant smoke spread to upper floors caused 6 fatalities

1992 Toronto Apartments – fire began on 9th floor of 25-storey building, smoke spread to all above floors within 10 minutes and to exit stairwells causing 1 fatality

1995 Toronto Apartments – fire began on 6th floor of 30-storey building, rapid smoke spread throughout building resulting in 6 fatalities

*Fire Safety in High-Rise Apartment Buildings, Ken Richardson, Fire Technologies Inc., published by CMHC and OAA



1993 World Trade Center New York -- bombing on 3rd floor of underground parking spread to 84th floor in 12 minutes


2. The dangers of smoke migration in high-rise buildings• Uncontrolled and

uncontrollable air leakage in and out of a building caused by…


2. The dangers of smoke migration in high-rise buildings• Stack effect can be strong

enough to overcome exhaust fans in parking garages


2. The dangers of smoke migration in high-rise buildings• Wind effect


2. The dangers of smoke migration in high-rise buildings• Mechanical effect


2. The dangers of smoke migration in high-rise buildings• Simply complying with the Fire Code does not always provide

optimum fire safety

• Egress systems must provide sufficient evacuation time before smoke reaches lethal levels

• Control air leakage and you can limit smoke migration







6. Success stories


3. How do we diagnose the problems?• Building envelope assessment



• Depressurization testing




• Locating air leakage




• Locating air leakage

• Infrared thermography







6. Success stories


4. How do we fix the problems?• Assess overall building leakage

• Identify exit/entry points

• Identify air pathways inside building

• Prepare plan to create air barrier continuity


4. How do we fix the problems?Seal pathways in this order: Seal top Seal bottom Seal vertical shafts Compartmentalize Seal outside walls and openings

4. How do we fix the problems?Seal top of building

• Roof/wall intersections

• Mechanical penthouse doors and walls

• HVAC equipment

• Other roof penetrations




• Roof/wall intersections



• Mechanical rooms



• HVAC equipment



• Other roof penetrations


4. How do we fix the problems?Seal bottom of building

• Ground floor and everything below

• Underground parking access and receiving doors

• Air locks, penetrations between underground walls, holes around sprinkler hangers

• Exhaust and air intake vents



• Soffits and ground floor access doors

• Pipe, duct, cable and other service penetrations into core of building

• Sprinkler hanger penetrations, inspection hatches and other holes

• Core wall to floor slab


4. How do we fix the problems?Seal vertical shafts

• Stairwell fire doors

• Fire hose cabinets

• Plumbing, electrical, cable and other penetrations in service rooms

• Elevator rooms, cable holes, door controller cable holes, bus bar openings



• Garbage chute perimeter and access hatches

• Hallway pressurization grilled perimeters

• Smoke shaft access doors

• Elevator shaft smoke control grilles

• Service shafts


4. How do we fix the problems?Compartmentalize

• Egress systems (stairwells and corridors)

• Vented mechanical rooms

• Garbage compactor room

• Emergency generator room

• High voltage rooms

• Shipping docks

• Elevator rooms

• Workshops


4. How do we fix the problems?Compartmentalize


4. How do we fix the problems?Seal outside walls and openings

• Weatherstrip windows and doors, including balcony/patio doors, emergency exits and seal window trim

• Exhaust fans and ducting

• All service penetrations

• Baseboard heaters

• Electrical receptacles

• Baseboards


4. How do we fix the problems?Seal outside walls and openings


4. How do we fix the problems?RECAP: Seal the pathways in this order Seal top Seal bottom Seal vertical shafts Compartmentalize Seal outside walls and openings







6. Success stories


5. What materials are used?• Air seal/fire stop systems

ULC System Nos. SP196, SP229, SP230, SP341, SP758, and SP767


5. What materials are used?• 2-component polyurethane foam insulating air seal kits

Flame spread ratings of 20, smoke spread ratings of 35


5. What materials are used?• 1-component polyurethane foam sealant

Flame spread ratings of 20, smoke spread ratings of 35


5. What materials are used?• Door and window weatherstripping and seals

ASTM/E283 Standard for Airtightness Performance







6. Success stories


6. Success stories

Example – Forest Laneway ApartmentsControl smoke, odour and

improve thermal comfort Compartmentalize:

• Seal mechanical rooms

• Fire stop service penetrationsDecouple floors:

• Seal fire cabinets, garbage chutes, air supply grilles

• Weatherstrip fire, parking garage, doors


6. Success stories

Example – B.G. Schickendanz Homes CondominiumControl air migration, smoke and

exhaust fumes from underground

parking garage

Compartmentalize:

• Seal 600 vertical penetrationsFire stop:

• 3-hour fire rating

• ULC FP229 and ULC FP230 approved installation of foam and mortar combination


Here’s what we’ve seen today:

1. Who are Canam and Zerodraft


3. How do we diagnose the problems

4. How do we fix the problems

5. What materials are used

6. Success stories


Air Sealing Industrial, Commercial, Institutional and Multi-Family Buildings

CAN improve Smoke Control and Save Lives

improving smoke control and protecting lives air sealing industrial, commercial, institutional and...

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