SMACNA-BC September 2019 Membership Meeting
CLARIFICATION ON BC BUILDING CODE - FIRE SMOKE DAMPERS
Dan Lee, AScT, LEED® AP
Williams Engineering - Abbotsford
Provisions in the updated BC Building Code and Vancouver Building Bylaw 2019 that deal with fire safety issues relating to heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. Our codes are now following other jurisdictions with the use of Fire Smoke Dampers in fire separation situations.Dan Lee will outline what Engineers are designing and what is expected and how this impacts the project.
Dan has over 30 years’ experience as a Mechanical Design Technologist. His unwavering demeanor makes him a favourite with clients and employees. He approaches each project with fresh perspective and insight. Dan is the Team Lead for the Abbotsford office and oversees the daily functions of the mechanical and electrical teams.
Building Code References: 3.1.8.7.(1 ), 3.1.8. 7.(2)(a), 3.1.8.9. (2)(a)(iii). 3.2.6.2.(6)
Q: Are combination smoke/fire motorized dampers required at the air-transfer openings on each floor of a high residential building for the public corridor air supply ducts?
A: No (with conditions)
Sentence 3.1.8.7.(1) requires a fire damper at air-transfer openings that penetrate an assembly required to be a fire separation. The vertical duct shaft that supplies air to a public corridor to separate floor areas is required to be a fire separation, so non-motorized fusible link fire dampers at the air-transfer openings on each floor level of a high building would satisfy this requirement.
Except as permitted by Article 3 .. 1.8.9., Sentence 3.1.8.7.(2)(a) requires a smoke damper at air-transfer openings that penetrate an assembly required to be a fire separation between a vertical duct shaft and a public corridor.
Sub-clause 3.1.8.9.(2}(a)(iii) waives the requirement for a smoke damper for ducts or air-transfer openings that form part of a smoke control system. The ducts must be noncombustible branch ducts having a melting point above 760° C.
Except as required by Article 3.2.4.12., Sentence 3.2.6.2.(6) requires that air-handling systems used to provide make up air to public corridors serving residential suites shall not shut down automatically upon activation of the fire alarm system so as to maintain corridor pressurization.
Article 3.2.4.12. requires the corridor make up air fan that serves more than 1-storey to shut down if a duct-type smoke detector within the supply duct is activated.
Date and Time
Thursday Sep 19, 2019
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM PDT
Thursday, September 19, 2019
5:30 PM Reception
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Presentation
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Michelle Rodford
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