EN 12101-6 Smoke and Heat Control Systems - Part 6: Specification for Pressure Differential Systems - Kits

The European standard “EN 12101-6 Smoke and heat control systems - Part 6: Specification for pressure differential systems - Kits” describes the requirements for commercially available pressure differential system kits and components intended to operate as part of a pressure differential system. The purpose of a pressure differential system is to prevent smoke propagation in protected areas using pressure differences and airflow. This standard specifies the requirements and test methods for components and kits for pressure differential systems to generate and control the required pressure difference and airflow between the protected and unprotected area.

For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply in addition to the terms and definitions given in EN ISO 13943:

• Ventilation means that compressed air or a mixture of compressed air and smoke can escape from the accommodation or other unpressurized space to the outside of the building.
• Control panel refers to multifunctional device for activating or controlling the pressure difference system.
• Depressurization is smoke control using pressure differences between the protected area and the unprotected area, meaning lower pressure in the unprotected area.
• A pressure differential system is a combination of at least one kit and additional components designed to produce a pressure difference and air flow between protected and unprotected areas.
• Pressurization uses pressure differences between the protected area and the unprotected area to control smoke, implying higher pressure in the unprotected area.
• A pressure differential system is the combination of at least two components required to generate and control the required pressure difference and airflow between the protected and unprotected area. The type of kit is determined by the pressure differential system design and objectives. Schematic overviews of the different types are included in the standard appendix (Annex A).
• Active control is pressure control that is operated using measured pressure and external energy (e.g. motor-driven dampers, frequency inverter controlled fans, etc.)
• A barometric relief damper is a local pressure difference activated damper that opens to allow air flow and therefore controls the pressure.
• The activation signal is the signal that causes the pressure difference system to switch from standby mode to active mode.

The kit must be shown to be able to meet the specific pressure differential application it is designed to provide. To demonstrate this, specific components have their own requirements and must meet them. Any component that does not have the specific characteristics shown below must be listed as part of the kit and included in the kit testing:

• It should be used when it is necessary to exhaust air or smoke (cold or hot) to the outside through an opening equipped with a natural smoke and heat exhaust fan.
• When air volume and pressure must be controlled using mechanical pressure relief, a barometric damper or controlled damper complying with this standard shall be used.
• If ambient air is provided using fans, it must also be demonstrated that the fans comply with this document.
• When air or smoke needs to be removed by pressure difference systems (cold or hot), this should be done using powered heat exhaust fans (smoke control fans).
• If air or smoke (cold or hot) needs to be removed using ductwork, the ductwork should be a smoke control duct (construction work shafts may be used as an option and are not within the scope of this document).
• If there are dampers that must be opened and closed to provide a path for air or smoke (cold or hot) to the outside and maintain compartmentation, they must be smoke control dampers.
• If volume control around high temperature fans must be achieved using motorized control dampers, these must be hot gas control dampers in accordance with this document.

Fans, shafts or ductwork used to offset stack effects in the stairwell do not need to have a temperature rating.

The pressure differential system kit is automatically activated by smoke detectors and it must be possible to trigger it manually with an external switch. The proxy characteristics given in the standard (response time and operational reliability) must be taken into account. In addition, the following components must have their own characteristics when functioning as part of the kit:

• Natural smoke and heat exhaust fans
• Pressure control dampers (e.g. barometric dampers, motorized control dampers)
• Ambient air supply fans
• Smoke control fans (powerful smoke and heat extraction fans)
• smoke control channels
• smoke control dampers
• Hot gas control dampers

Our organization has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies provided for businesses in various sectors, there are also test services in accordance with the standard “EN 12101-6 Smoke and heat control systems - Part 6: Specification for pressure difference systems - Kits”.