Smoke Control Design and Engineering

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

Concept firefighter’s smoke control panel, and mechanical test and inspection panel design

YCI prepares conceptual Firefighter's Smoke Control Panel and Mechanical Test & Inspection Panel* during the design phase to supplement the Mechanical Plan Review/Building Permit set of documents. YCI's smoke control panel plans graphically depicts the visual status indication and manual overriding capability over the smoke-control systems and equipment customized to each project. YCI's smoke control panel plans demonstrate conformance with Building Code Sections 909.12 and 909.16, and incorporate local jurisdiction standard, and helps to minimize costly plan review corrections and assists the bidding contractors in preparing final panel shop drawings that meet the intent of the Codes and the Smoke Control Rational Analysis Report. 

* City of Los Angeles Requirement

Smoke control rational analysis report

Documenting the basis of design for the smoke control system, the description of the fire/life safety features of the building, the engineering rational analysis used in the design, the sizing of smoke control fans, THE sequence of operation of the smoke control system, smoke zone plans, smoke control equipment performance criteria and characteristics, and the testing and acceptance criteria of the smoke control system. This report is required to obtain the Mechanical Permit Issuance from the City.

Stair pressurization calculations

Adaptive re-use project and Historical Buildings may require stair pressurization systems in conformance with the regular code or the code in effect at the time the building was originally permitted. YCI prepares stair pressurization system calculations, taking into consideration the complexity of the stair pressurization system and the level of required compliance with regular code. The results of YCI's stair pressurization calculations are used to size the stair pressurization fans, determine the number of pressurization injection points, and size the relief vent.  The design methods, rational analysis, equipment and components description, sequence of operation, and acceptance testing criteria are detailed in an accompanying Smoke Control Rational Analysis Report prepared by YCI and used by the Mechanical Engineer to obtain the Mechanical Building Permit. 

Computer airflow modeling

Computer airflow modeling of high-rise buildings for evaluating the smoke control design performance and determining the size of smoke control fans.

Reverse engineering analysis of existing smoke control systems

Planning or implementing existing building alterations or additions and unsure of whether your existing building has a smoke control system, or unable to find documentation describing the design of the existing smoke control system? YCI is able to evaluate and determine the extent of smoke control system compliance using site investigation, and review of as-built documents. If the original Rational Analysis Smoke Control Report detailing the existing smoke control design cannot be located, YCI will reverse-engineer the existing smoke control system and prepare a replacement Smoke Control Rational Analysis Report that demonstrates conformance with the applicable Building Code and Fire Code requirements in effect at the time the building was originally designed and permitted. 

Elevator pressurization calculations

The Building Code permit required elevator lobby enclosures or hoistway opening protection to be eliminated when the elevator shafts are pressurized. This exception applies to both low-rise and high-rise BUILDINGS and can be applied TO both new and existing buildings. The design methods, rational analysis, equipment and components description, sequence of operation, and acceptance testing criteria are detailed in an accompanying Smoke Control Rational Analysis Report prepared by YCI and used by the Mechanical Engineer to obtain the Mechanical Building Permit. 

Special inspection of smoke control systems to obtain TCO permit

Inspections of the smoke control system throughout the construction process verifying that the smoke control system components, functionality, and sequence comply with the approved Smoke Control Rational Analysis Report. We Prepare the final Deputy Special Inspection Report for the Smoke Control System needed to call for final City Inspections leading up to THE issuance of the project Temporary Certificate of Occupancy.

Fire protection engineering analysis

Using fire modeling tools (e.g., Computational Fluid Dynamics Fire Modeling) and Timed-Egress modeling tools (e.g., Pathfinder), YCI evaluates tenability within the paths of egress to demonstrate occupants are not subjected to untenable conditions prior to evacuating a room, space or building. The Fire Protection Engineering Analysis is often used to substantiate challenging smoke control system designs such as in atriums and passive smoke control systems, and is used to evaluate other types of Alternate Means and Methods approaches to code compliance.