Fans
Smoke extract fans and vents - assessment and compliance
As a key component within a smoke and heat control system, the fan should be the focus of regular assessments. Following the release of two new industry guides, David Mowatt, chairman of the Smoke Control Association (SCA), discusses fan maintenance best practice and natural smoke and heat exhaust vents (NSHEVs) usage
A
s emergency use fans for heat and smoke control systems are specifically designed and manufactured for safety critical applications,
it is imperative that they are correctly maintained to ensure they continue to offer building occupants the very highest degree of protection throughout the lifespan of the system.
Maintenance procedures
Modern up-to-date equipment is required to be manufactured in accordance with the latest standards, however, existing plant which has been in place for many years may not comply with the 2015 version of EN 12101-3 and may therefore need urgent attention. Repair and replacement of such critical components should only ever be carried out by the manufacturer’s authorised representative and for fans certified by a notified body, the substitution of a critical component by an alternative version of this component, must be approved by the body. Recognising the need for further industry
guidance on how best to maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ maintenance procedures, the Smoke Control Association (SCA) – in association with the Fan Manufacturers’ Association (FMA) – has produced a new industry guide to act as a reference document for maintenance and facilities companies, ensuring best practice in smoke extract fan maintenance. It is expected that the guide will raise awareness of the need to ensure that any powered smoke extract fans which are selected, manufactured and installed in accordance with EN 12101-3:2015, must then be correctly maintained in order to ensure life safety equipment remains fit for purpose. This will
18 April 2022
offer building owners or operators a reduced level of risk and liability whilst also providing the highest level of smoke protection for building occupants. As a product of a BSI working group, with members drawn from manufacturers, installers, test establishments and motor manufacturers, the guidance document will also assist those making decisions involving the potential replacement of existing primary smoke extract or pressurisation fans with new equipment designed, tested, certified and manufactured to the very latest standard.
Natural smoke and heat exhaust vents
As well as the smoke extract fan maintenance guide, the SCA has also released a second guide titled ‘Guidance on Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilators. Applications and the use of Actuators and Ventilators’ which provides information on natural smoke and heat exhaust vents (NSHEVs) usage, methodology and, importantly, compliance/ certification requirements. Accurately determining whether or not a life
safety product or system is fit for purpose is crucial in maintaining the highest levels of protection in buildings. Despite this, compliance for smoke vents has proved to be somewhat problematic since the introduction of the BS 7346-1 standard in 1990 and its replacement EN1210102 in 2003. Part of the problem stems from the fact that
evidence of compliance is not commonly available for specifiers and building owners, making it difficult to determine if the life safety product used is fit for purpose. Whilst clarification was provided in 2013 by mandating the 2011 Construction Products
Regulation within the UK, we still see non-compliant smoke vent applications installed and a lack of accurate product information remains a key contributor to non-compliant life safety products being placed onto the market. In response, The SCA has put in place an initiative to ensure that all of its members’ commercial collateral relative to EN12101-2 and window actuators is consistent and accurate, more recently producing a document which provides information on natural smoke and heat exhaust vents (NSHEVs) usage, methodology and, importantly, compliance/ certification requirements.
Compliance requirements
An NSHEV is a single product that generally comprises of two components - the ventilator and actuator that automates it. To comply both components must be tested together as a single product at an accredited test facility to all declared annexes of the standard. It must also be manufactured/completed under a third party audited factory production control (FPC) process. The applicable part of EN12101 for an NSHEV is
part 2, the 2003 version being harmonised in the EU therefore utilised within the UK construction market. Whilst the UK has now left the EU, harmonised European Norms (hEN’s) remain a requirement and products must be suitably certified. Compliance to hEN’s within the construction industry, especially within the field of life safety smoke ventilation is improving, however, lack of awareness and at times ignorance still contributes to non-compliance. Both SCA documents will act as industry
reference points and are available from
www.smokecontrol.org.uk/resources.
www.heatingandventilating.net
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