SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY
LIFE SAFETY BUREAU
SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
Subject:
Code/Standard
Reference:
Smoke Control System Submittal Requirements
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2006 International Building Code (06IBC)
2006 International Fire Code (06IFC)
NFPA 92A and 92B
NFPA 72
Effective Date:
01 February 2010
Due to the complexity of smoke control systems and the level of special consideration required, South Metro
Fire Rescue Authority has outlined the following requirements that will help guide in the design process of such
systems. The smoke control system design shall be part of the new building construction document permit
submittal. It is critical that such designs initiate early in the overall development of construction documents for
the proposed structure to ensure an effective system is presented for review. It is also highly recommended
that a fire protection and life safety professional be part of the development team to ensure
coordination of ALL systems is being addressed throughout the project. It is critical that this person is
empowered to ensure that items of concern are addressed appropriately.
**Please note, South Metro Fire Rescue is a stakeholder in the overall success of the project. Therefore, we are
available to assist with the all phases of the project, from design to final certificate of occupancy (issued by the
building department) approval. We encourage often and open communication throughout the process. Through
a combined effort, we can assure that we will provide a code compliant, safe building for the people we serve.**
Possible structures that may require smoke management/control systems as required by the 06IBC include:
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High-Rise Buildings, as defined by the IBC
(403.13, 06IBC)
Pressurized Shafts/Smokeproof Enclosures
(1020.1.7, 06IBC)
Building Atriums, as defined by the IBC
(404.4, 06IBC)
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Stages and Platforms (410.3.7.2, 06IBC)
Assembly Seating (1025.6.2.1, 06IBC)
Covered Mall Buildings (402.9, 06IBC)
Windowless (I-3) Buildings (408.8, 06IBC)
Underground Buildings (405.5, 06IBC)
Smoke control systems shall be designed per Section 909 of the 06IBC/IFC and any specific standards
referenced within that section. A special inspector, as defined in the IBC/IFC, shall be identified by the
development team and their responsibility will be to commission the smoke control system. The special
inspector shall not be the design engineer of record and shall be a third-party meeting the special inspector
qualifications as specified in the IBC/IFC.
All systems shall be designed by a Colorado State Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) competent to
design smoke control systems and who is knowledgeable with the generally accepted and well-established
principles of engineering relevant to such system designs.
The primary documents recognized as well-established principles of engineering are:
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Principles of Smoke Management, by Dr. John H. Klote, P.E. and Dr. James A. Milke, published by
the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE)
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National Fire Protection Association 92A, Standard for Smoke-Control System Utilizing Barriers
and Pressure Differences
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National Fire Protection Association 92B, Standard for Smoke Management Systems in Malls,
Atria, and Large Spaces. (NFPA 92A and NFPA 92B)
SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY – SMOKE CONTROL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS – PAGE 1 OF 6
REVISED 02-01-10
An additional resource to consider, and that may assist while preparing the smoke control design documents,
is:
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A Guide To Smoke Control In The 2006 IBC, published by International Code Council, endorsed by
Society of Fire Protection Engineers, authored by Dr. John Klote, P.E. and Douglas Evans, P.E..
A complete rational analysis shall be submitted for every system (909.4, 06IBC/IFC). It is recognized that
smoke control systems are performance based, therefore, if the engineer of record desires to modify any of the
prescriptive code requirements in their design, a full justification for that modification shall be submitted within
the rational analysis document. Furthermore, the rational analysis shall be specific to the building in which the
system is to be designed, and shall not have generic statements.
The rational analysis shall contain all of the applicable sections of Section 909, or the applicable design
standard, and pertinent design criteria for the specific design, such as, but not limited to:
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Stack Effect / Reverse Stack Effect
Temperature Effect of Fire
Wind Effect (shall be modeled with true data
specific to the geographical area)
Computer Model Analysis (e.g. CONTAMW)*
Smoke Barrier Construction Analysis
Design Fire/s Analysis
Method of Positive Airflow Verification (South
Metro does not allow use of only electrical
current monitoring, another method is
required)
Weekly Self Test (909.12, 06IBC)
System Response Time (909.17, 06IBC)**
Inspection and Acceptance Testing
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Analysis of Building HVAC Design
Climate (shall be modeled with true data
specific to the geographical area)
Duration of Operation
Door Force Calculations (Maximum Pressure
Difference)
Analysis of All Control Equipment, including
Fire Alarm Control Panel and Associated
Mechanical Equipment
Firefighter’s
Smoke
Control
Panel
Design/Operation (graphical representation
may be a deferred submittal, as approved)
Sequence of Operations for Smoke Control
Mode
*The computer model analysis should include, a graphical representation of the building, the input data as it
pertains to the effect of the building, and results as it pertains to the effect of the building. The model should
also be with all doors closed and analyze the affects of stack effect and reverse stack effect has on the system.
**The activation of all smoke control components shall initiate immediately when either automatically called to
activate or manually called to activate. It is expected that the Firefighter’s Smoke Control Panel will receive
status verification of all components within 60 to 90 seconds of the smoke control automatic or manual
sequence of operations being initiated. This may be modified by the engineer of record if adequately justified
and approved.
06 IBC/IFC Section 909.12.1 requires ALL wiring shall be fully enclosed within a continuous raceway. There are
several approved methods of meeting this code requirement. South Metro does not recognize Corra/Clad
MC Cable, or similar products, as an approved raceway for smoke control systems.
Firefighter’s Smoke Control Panel (FSCP) Design Criteria
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All applicable sections of 909.16 shall be the guiding design criteria for the FSCP.
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The FSCP shall ALWAYS, at ALL TIMES, have manual operation of ALL components being controlled
for the smoke control system. This means that the control actions of those switches shall have the
highest priority of any control point within the building, other than those required to be safety items by
NFPA 70.
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The FSCP shall have the following physical characteristics:
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Color, graphic annunciator on a white panel background representing a general layout of the
building and all pertinent core/shell construction features.
o
All components integral to the smoke control system shall be graphically represented
respective to its true location within the building.
SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY – SMOKE CONTROL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS – PAGE 2 OF 6
REVISED 02-01-10
o
The legend of the symbols displayed on the panel.
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A pilot-lamp-indicator displaying positive verification of power to the FSCP.
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A momentary, push-button switch for testing of all the pilot-lamp-indicators.
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The following text shall be displayed:
o
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“FIREFIGHTERS SMOKE CONTROL PANEL” as the main heading.
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The name and address of the building/site/project being protected.
The colors utilized shall be according to the following:
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Black outline of
letters/characters.
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Green for positive pressure fans, direction of airflow, and areas affected.
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Red for negative (exhaust) pressure fans, direction of airflow, and areas affected.
the
building,
pertinent
construction
features,
and
general
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The FSCP shall utilize a three-position control switch for each component. The preferred type
of switch is a three-position, rotary switch. The specific switch proposed must be approved by
South Metro.
o
All FSCP’s shall have four, status pilot-lamp-indicators per each component being controlled.
These lights shall be oriented in a directional compass type orientation around the control
switch for each component.
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The NORMAL status light shall be WHITE in color and positioned in the “north”
position.
The ON or OPEN status light shall be GREEN in color and positioned in the “east”
position.
The FAULT status light shall be AMBER in color and positioned in the “south” position.
The OFF or CLOSED status light shall be RED in color and positioned in the “west”
position.
Example of a Fan Switch and Light Configuration
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If two or more components are integral to one another, they may be controlled by one integrated switch.
For example, if the operation of a fan is dependent on a supply damper being open or closed, the
switch controlling the fan may also control the damper. However, the damper shall still have the status
indicators for the operation of that damper. This option must be approved on a case-by-case basis by
South Metro.
SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY – SMOKE CONTROL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS – PAGE 3 OF 6
REVISED 02-01-10
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The FSCP’s Sequence of Operations (SOO) shall meet the following minimum guidelines:
o
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General Light/Annunciation Sequence:
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Only ONE light, per each component, shall be illuminated at any given time and all
lights shall be steady on when illuminated.
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While system components are transitioning from either an automatic or manual
command, there shall not be any status lights illuminated until verification of that
component/s has been completed (60 to 90 seconds maximum).
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The WHITE/NORMAL light shall only be illuminated when the system is idle (switch is
in AUTO) and is not in fault due to a failed weekly self-test. The WHITE/NORMAL light
shall not be illuminated when either an automatic or manual command has occurred for
that specific component/s.
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The GREEN/OPEN/ON light shall only be illuminated when that specific component/s
is confirmed to be Open or On when either an automatic or manual command has
occurred for that specific component/s.
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The AMBER/FAULT light shall be illuminated when the specific component/s fails to
complete the action it has been commanded to complete, whether from an automatic or
manual command, or weekly self-test.
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The RED/CLOSED/OFF light shall only be illuminated when that specific component/s
is verified to be Closed or Off when either an automatic or manual command has
occurred for that specific component/s.
Control Switch Operations:
 All control switches shall be active at all times, whether in smoke control alarm mode or
in normal (idle) mode.
 When a switch is positioned to AUTO, only the WHITE/NORMAL light shall be
illuminated when the system is:
 Idle
 Not in fault due to a failed weekly self-test
 Not in smoke control alarm mode.
 The main Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) shall monitor the switch position and when
the switch is not in the AUTO position, it shall annunciate on the FACP as a
supervisory signal.
o
General Fault Sequence:
 Each component’s FAULT light shall illuminate upon detection of the desired
command, either automatic or manual, that the component did NOT complete.
 The FACP shall monitor for a FAULT condition and annunciate this FAULT as, a
supervisory signal visually and audibly on the FACP, transmitted to the monitoring
company, and logged on the printer (if applicable).
 If the fault condition clears, the FSCP shall annunciate the true status of that affected
component.
o
Duct Detection within Smoke Control Ducts (when applicable):
 All duct detectors integral to the smoke control system shall be graphically displayed on
the FSCP, including a pilot-lamp-indicator. The pilot-light-indicator shall be
programmed to be latching and shall not reset until the FACP has been reset.
 The duct detector shall activate appropriately and shall report to the FACP as a
supervisory signal, be visually annunciated on the FSCP, and shut-off the associated
fan. This condition shall NOT be annunciated as a fault, as the system component is
responding to an appropriate command.
SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY – SMOKE CONTROL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS – PAGE 4 OF 6
REVISED 02-01-10
 If the duct detector activates and does not shut-off the fan, a fault condition shall be
annunciated on the FSCP.
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When the duct detector activates appropriately, the true status of the fan (OFF) shall
also be annunciated on the FSCP, in conjunction with the duct detector light.
 When the duct detector activates appropriately, the manual control switch shall have
manual control of the fan, therefore allowing the fan to be turned on or off, but does not
reset the latching duct detector light.
o
Weekly Self-Test Sequence:
 The FACP shall be programmed to conduct the weekly self-test of the smoke control
system at a pre-determined time EVERY week.
 The test shall be programmed to allow enough time to fully verify true status of each
component.
 Each component shall be tested in BOTH their OFF/CLOSED and ON/OPEN positions.
 A FACP shall monitor this test and annunciate the test was conducted as a supervisory
signal (or other approved method) by:
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Visually and audibly on the FACP
 Transmitting to the monitoring company
 Logged by the printer (if applicable).
 If any component fails to complete its commanded operation, the FSCP shall
annunciate the FAULT visually, by illuminating the FAULT light (latched) for the specific
component that failed to complete its commanded operation. This condition shall
remain until the FACP is RESET, and a FAULT condition shall annunciate as:
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A supervisory signal visually and audibly on the FACP
 Transmitted to the monitoring company
 Logged by the printer (if applicable)
 The weekly self-test shall terminate if, at any time during the test, a fire alarm signal is
received.
 The weekly self-test shall not initiate if the FACP is in alarm.
SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY – SMOKE CONTROL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS – PAGE 5 OF 6
REVISED 02-01-10
Smoke Control System Commissioning
The commissioning process is a complex testing of the smoke control, and associated, system/s within the
building. As stated above, the commissioning of the system/s shall be done by a special inspector (06IBC/IFC,
Section 909.3 and IBC, Section 1704) and this special inspector shall not be affiliated with the design engineer
of the system. It is critical that South Metro reviews the commissioning plan by the special inspector prior to
testing to be completed, therefore it is required that such plan be submitted well in advance. The commissioning
process can be very time and labor intensive and shall be well anticipated prior to final inspections for the
completed (certificate of occupancy) project.
South Metro expects the test of the system/s, by the special inspector, to be completed prior to South Metro’s
final inspection of the system, including a written commissioning report to be submitted for review. The following
outlines the general requirements for the inspection process conducted by South Metro.
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ALL parties associated with the system shall be on-site and available to provide information, make
modifications, etc. This includes, but not limited to:
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Fire alarm programmer, fire protection and life safety professional, fire alarm installation
contractor, smoke control design engineer, representative of the general contractor, fire
sprinkler installation contractor, mechanical contractor and engineer, smoke control special
inspector, etc.
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The special inspector shall have a Magnehelic Differential Pressure Gauge, or other approved device,
on site for the inspection. The inspector shall also have a means of testing door opening forces, as well.
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The pressure differential measurements are required to be completed with ALL doors closed within the
smokeproof enclosure. Therefore, while conducting these measurements, the smokeproof enclosure
shall be secured and it is expected that the general contractor provides the personnel to ensure that
this item is fulfilled. No one, unless an in an emergency, shall be allowed into the enclosure during this
portion of the inspection. If the inspection consists of an elevator hoistway pressurization system, then
testing will be in accordance with 06IBC, 707.14.2.1.
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A mechanical balance report, indicating the final smoke control fan/s performance, shall be provided at
the time of the final inspection. **Please note, if there is a discrepancy between this balance report
and the smoke control system’s design from the rational analysis, justification shall be provided
in writing from the engineer of record.
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The fire alarm system shall have received its final inspection and approval prior to the
inspection process of the smoke control system. The fire alarm system shall be in NORMAL status,
without any trouble or supervisory conditions, upon smoke control inspection.
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South Metro will conduct a comprehensive inspection and test of the smoke control system. This
inspection is conducted in a methodical and logic based manner that is in a particular sequence. It is
imperative to note that due to this inspection approach, if a process fails to meet code or design
compliance, it is most likely that the inspection/test will be required to re-start from the beginning, as
most processes requires the step preceding it to be correct in order for the following step to occur.
SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE AUTHORITY – SMOKE CONTROL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS – PAGE 6 OF 6
REVISED 02-01-10