Fire and Smoke - Building Code Regulations

In the event of a fire emergency, life and safety is the most critical requirement for the occupants of a building. Ambient (cold) and Medium temperature smoke that is generated by a fire must be contained quickly in order to provide safe areas within a building.

Smoke compartmentation is a mandated requirement of the Australian NCC and most building codes and regulatory authorities overseas. Smoke sealing, "Smoke Doors" (solid core doors) helps provide a physical barrier that impedes the spread of toxic fumes and smoke from one room to another. Smoke sealed doors also helps protect egress routes allowing occupants a safe passage when exiting the building during a fire alarm emergency.

Raven pioneered smoke door sealing systems, their design effectively reduces smoke leakage around the door margins of smoke doors including applications that require fire rated door assemblies. Raven sealing systems comprise perimeter seals, meeting stile seals and door bottom seals. All are tested and certified to the applicable Australian and international standards.

In Australia, smoke doors and the use of fire rated doors are required to be smoke sealed to limit the leakage of ambient (cold) smoke and medium temperature smoke up to 200 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Refer NCC Section C Specification 12. In addition to the Deemed-to-Satisfy requirements, Raven has tested and certified its smoke sealing systems to AS 1530.7 and EN 1634-3.

Smoke Door Sealing Systems NCC Class 2 to Class 9 Buildings (hospitals, aged care facilities, hotels, high rise apartments and shopping centres)
In the event of a fire emergency, life and safety is the most critical requirement for the occupants of a building. Ambient (cold) and Medium temperature smoke that is generated by a fire must be contained quickly in order to provide safe areas within a building. Smoke compartmentation is a mandated requirement of the Australian NCC and most building codes and regulatory authorities overseas. Smoke sealing, "Smoke Doors" (solid core doors) helps provide a physical barrier that impedes the spread of toxic fumes and smoke from one room to another. Smoke sealed doors also helps protect egress routes allowing occupants a safe passage when exiting the building during a fire alarm emergency. Raven pioneered smoke door sealing systems, their design effectively reduces smoke leakage around the door margins of smoke doors including applications that require fire rated door assemblies. Raven sealing systems comprise perimeter seals, meeting stile seals and door bottom seals. All are tested and certified to the applicable Australian and international standards. In Australia, smoke doors and the use of fire rated doors are required to be smoke sealed to limit the leakage of ambient (cold) smoke and medium temperature smoke up to 200 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Refer NCC Section C Specification 12. In addition to the Deemed-to-Satisfy requirements, Raven has tested and certified its smoke sealing systems to AS 1530.7 and EN 1634-3.


AUS National Construction Code (NCC) Specification 12 Class 2 to Class 9 buildings S12C4 Construction Deemed-to-Satisfy for smoke doors A smoke door of one or two leaves satisfies S12C3 if it is constructed as follows: (a) The leaves are side-hung to swing— (i) in the direction of egress; or (ii) in both directions. (b) The leaves are solid-core and at least 35 mm thick, or are capable of resisting smoke at 200°C for 30 minutes. (c) The leaves are fitted with smoke seals. (d) The leaves— (i) are normally in the closed position; or (ii) operate such that— (A) they are closed automatically with the automatic closing operation initiated by smoke detectors, installed in accordance with the relevant provisions of AS 1670.1, located on each side of the doorway not more than 1.5 m horizontal distance from the doorway; and (B) in the event of power failure to the door, the leaves fail-safe in the closed position. (e) The leaves return to the fully closed position after each manual opening. (f) Any glazing incorporated in the door complies with AS 1288. (g) If a glazed panel is capable of being mistaken for an unobstructed exit, the presence of the glass must be identified by an opaque mid-height band, mid-rail, crash-bar or other opaque construction.			NZ Building Code Compliance Document Class 1 and Class 10 buildings Clauses C1, C2, C3, C4 Fire Safety Smoke control door A door set with close fitting single or multi-leaves which are impermeable to the passage of smoke, fitted with smoke seals and installed within a smoke separation. The door, in the event of smoke, if not already closed, will close automatically and be held closed. 6.19.2 Door sets which are required to be: (a) Fire doors, shall comply with Paragraph C8.1 of Appendix C. (b) Smoke control doors shall, except as required by Paragraph 6.19.4, comply with Paragraph C8.1 of Appendix C. Smoke seals shall be fitted at the head and all vertical edges in the gaps between the door leaf or leaves and the frame, and between leaves in multi-leaf door sets. Clause 6.19.6 Door sets shall be clearly marked to show their FRR and where required to show their smoke stopping capability. Comment: A door marked -/60/30 Sm would be a fire door with an integrity of 60 minutes, and an insulation of 30 minutes, which may be used as a smoke control door. A door marked -/-/- Sm would be a smoke control door only, with no FRR. UK / EU Building Regulations Within Approved Document B, certain door sets within a building are identified as where smoke control door sets are required; tested to BS 476 Section 31.1 or EN 1634-3 1983 Method for measuring smoke penetration through door sets and shutter assemblies. Those door sets identified as smoke control doors designated by an S after the fire rating, i.e., FD30S, FD60S etc., should have a leakage rate not exceeding 3 m3/m/h from the head and jambs when tested at 25 Pa pressure.



			Related Building Codes There are several standards, which refer to seal properties and testing for fire and smoke: AUS / NZ Requirements are noted in the Australian National Construction Code (NCC) and New Zealand NZ BC Compliance Doc. C. UK / EU Requirements are noted in the British Building Regulations Approved Document B. USA Requirements are noted in the Building Code and the Residential Code IBC 2000. For further details, refer to Standards / Authorities.