Tricky Air and Smoke Problem Solved by PSB System

Taking and making commercial decisions can impact on building projects at any stage and at any time. So, when last minute changes to the venting areas on the Galliards, Bear Lane, Central London underground car park project took place, a revised solution for the air and smoke system was essential.

The building changes, to introduce greater access to the commercial areas, reduced the space and ceiling height in the single level car park for the assisted natural opening venting scheme making this original approach no longer appropriate.

PSB, a leading UK designer and manufacturer of smoke control systems, proposed a redesign utilising impulse fans linked to a CO monitoring and a smoke/ heat detection system which activates the extract ventilation. During normal daily ventilation the impulse fan run at low speed and should a fire be detected all impulse fans run at full speed to clear any smoke in the car park.

For the new system, based on the actual building structure, a 3 dimensional computer model was built electronically using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). Simulating actual working venting conditions the design was developed and proposed and re-issued to the client and gained swift approval.

PSB’s new plan continued to provide, in spite of the reduced space, a car park maximising the number of valuable vehicle spaces much to the delight of main contractors Galliard Homes’ Project Manager, Paul Harold.

José Figueira, National Sales Manager PSB UK confirmed “This wasn’t a large project but it was awkward. The complex CFD computer modeling pre-demonstrates to us, the client, building controllers and fire officers where the fans will be positioned and utilises their best performance characteristics. We ‘ran’ modeling tests using fire locations to evaluate air and smoke flow direction, speed, pressure and temperature calculations. Once installed we undertook a cold smoke test of the system to verify its operation and to allow the signing off of the project by a delighted client”