SE Controls publishes new ‘white paper’ on smoke control in apartment buildings

A new ‘white paper’ exploring the effective design and installation of smoke ventilation systems in apartments has been developed by leading smoke and natural ventilation specialist, SE Controls, which builds on the recent guidance published the Smoke Control Association (SCA).

The comprehensive SCA report entitled ‘Guidance on smoke control to common escape routes in apartment buildings, flats and maisonettes’ was created to not only highlight the objectives and performance criteria of residential systems, but also identify system options, testing and the integration of smoke control with other fire systems.

By publishing its white paper, SE Controls sets out to communicate a number of key critical aspects covered in the SCA report into a more condensed guidance document focusing on smoke ventilation system design, particularly where a standard ‘Approved Document ‘B’ compliant solution may not be possible.

The white paper also recognises the changing legislation and legal obligations on property owners to ensure adequate smoke control and escape provision is made and it is kept well maintained. It also goes beyond the need for safe means of escape and deals with the need for fire fighting teams to access the building safely to attend possible victims and extinguish the fire.

Will Perkins, SE Controls’ Managing Director was part of the SCA group that compiled the original guidance document and is committed to ensuring that effective smoke control is firmly on the building safety agenda. He said: “It’s a well documented fact that asphyxiation from smoke accounts for 80% of all deaths in the event of a fire, yet in multi storey apartments, where escape routes could be inaccessible due to ineffective smoke control, this figure could be disproportionately high. Ultimately the single primary objective of our white paper and the original SCA guidance is to help save lives through understanding the risks and implementing effective solutions to control smoke and aid escape.”

SE Controls (www.secontrols.com) specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers.

Focus on waste management and recycling pays off for SE Controls

An ongoing programme of effective waste reduction, management and recycling by Staffordshire based smoke control and natural ventilation solutions specialist, SE Controls, has enabled the company to ensure that none of its waste goes to landfill sites.

Since mid 2008, SE Controls has partnered with commercial waste management and recycling business, Briers, to not only reduce the level of waste it produces, but to also improve the efficiency while increasing the proportion of waste material that could be recycled.

In addition to metals, plastic, paper and cardboard waste produced by the company from its day to day operations, a proportion of the SE Controls waste is made up of electronic components and equipment, which is managed in compliance with WEEE regulations.

Mark Soleil, SE Controls’ operations Director, explained: “All businesses have an obligation to meet the minimum standards for waste management, but at SE Controls, we’re always looking to reduce our waste material and its impact on the environment, as well as reducing our packaging waste costs.”

He added: “Our partnership with Briers has proven to be highly productive and we have worked together closely. Their high quality recycling solutions coupled with our focus on reducing scrap and waste has enabled us to achieve our present situation where no waste from our UK operations is sent to landfill.”

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.

SE Controls presents latest smoke control technology at the LABC Conference & Exhibition

The annual Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Conference and Exhibition takes place on 13^th to 15^th March 2012 and SE Controls will be taking part as one of the key exhibitors at this important event for LABC members and clients.

Throughout the event, SE Controls will be displaying products and solutions from its extensive smoke ventilation range, including the SHEVTEC® Extended Travel Distance System, which recently received full Registered Detail Certification from the LABC.

Held at the Copthorne Hotel in Merry Hill, Dudley, the first of the event’s three days is dedicated purely to LABC clients, where businesses have the opportunity to discuss changes to the building regulations and offer their opinions, following presentations from the LABC and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

The remaining two days are for LABC members only and provide detailed discussion and debate on key issues surrounding building control enforcement and building regulations, as well as a full workshops programme on both days.

SE Controls Managing Director, Will Perkins, commented: “The LABC plays a vital role in maintaining and improving standards to ensure building design, construction and environmental efficiency are compliant with the relevant codes. The conference provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the current issues as well as enabling delegates to see and experience what SE Controls has to offer in terms of products, solutions and expertise.”

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or by calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.

Tesco superstore shoppers stay safe and cool with SE Controls

Introduction

An integrated smoke and natural ventilation solution from SE Controls is helping ensure that Tesco’s recently completed Walkden superstore in Manchester maintains a safe and comfortable environment for shoppers and staff.

Background

Constructed as part of the £80 million Ellesmere Centre retail development and designed by AEW Architects, the new store replaces an existing Tesco on the same site, but has been expanded to provide more than 168,000 sq.ft of floor area, making it one of Europe’s largest Tesco Extra stores.

Smoke Control and Natural Ventilation Strategy

Working to the smoke control strategy defined by consulting engineers Van Zyl & de Villiers, the store’s expansive glazed atrium was separated into three individual smoke and natural ventilation zones to not only provide the specified smoke extraction capacity, but also enable more accurate temperature control.

In normal day-to-day ventilation mode, the natural ventilation system constantly monitors the temperature in each zone, on both the ground floor and mezzanine level, with the average reading from separate sensors being used to signal the actuation of the atrium vents.

When triggered, the vents initially open by 10% of their full capacity and continue to open in 10% increments up to a maximum of 50% if the temperature rise is maintained, before closing using the same incremental approach until the temperature reduces to 21^°C, when the atrium vents are fully closed.

The SE Controls system also enables the operating algorithms and set points to be changed or fine tuned to meet specific conditions, if necessary, as well as allowing night purging to cool the building’s thermal mass, where the vents open 30 degrees. The SE Controls’ solution also monitors weather conditions to ensure that in rain or high winds, the vents are automatically closed to stop the ingress of water and limit any possible damage.

Each smoke and natural ventilation zone uses a dedicated control panel, which is triggered by the fire alarm system in the event of a fire, causing the atrium vents to open fully, allowing smoke to be vented from the building and ensure escape routes are kept clear.

SE Controls CE and EN12101-2 Products

In smoke ventilation mode the vents open to 87 degrees and are hinged on opposing sides to provide optimum operation and maintain safety even in high wind conditions. A separate battery back up system is also installed to comply with EN12101 part 2 and ISO21927-9 regulations, which enables the controlled opening of the vents should a mains power failure occur. The advantage to this approach rather than a ‘fail-safe’ spring operated system is that is removes any possibility of damage due to rapid opening, while maintaining control in natural ventilations mode, protecting the vent against any potential wind damage while the mains power is restored.

Smoke ventilation and control is a key issue and is the subject of a seminar organised by the Smoke Control Association (SCA), where SE Controls’ Managing Director, Will Perkins, will be presenting on natural smoke ventilation technologies as one of the event’s main speakers. The event is being held on 10^th April 2012 at FETA’s headquarters in Hare Hatch, Reading and is aimed at Building Control Officers, the Fire Service and other stakeholders. Details and booking instructions are available from www.feta.co.uk.

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.