Insight

Balanced Risk Engineering Solutions

The Interaction of Sprinklers

with Smoke and Heat Vents
Understanding the Risk
The potential mutual interference of automatic fire
sprinkler systems and smoke & heat ventilation systems
has been subject to extensive debate over the years but
resulting in little agreement on definitive guidance. This
AIG Insight Guide aims to outline the potential issues to
help facilitate informed consideration. Implications are
significant and factors require detailed consideration on
a case by case basis so please consult your local AIG
Risk Engineer at the early stages of project specification
for specific advice.

How Each System Works Roof smoke vent

Automatic Fire Sprinklers
Smoke control systems are primarily specified to:
Sprinklers are a means of controlling the development
and spread of fire that have been proven to be effective • Keep escape routes below a defined level clear of
th
since their initial development in the 19 century. Only smoke
the sprinklers in the immediate area of a fire are • Provide a smoke free layer to aid access for manual
operated by hot gases from the fire activating the heat fire fighting activities
sensitive element of individual sprinkler heads. Once • Relieve the accumulation of heat within the enclosed
activated the flow of water from sprinklers is discharged space
over the area of the fire, suppressing fire and controlling The effectiveness of smoke ventilation systems is
fire spread by pre-wetting combustible materials. dependant upon the actual fire not exceeding the
The provision of sprinklers may be specified to: magnitude of the “design fire” assumed for the design of
the ventilation system.
• Protect assets and continuity of business operations
&/or
• Control fire development to facilitate the escape of Adverse Effects of Smoke Ventilation / Control
occupants
Systems on Sprinklers
Smoke & Heat Exhaust Ventilation Systems (SHEVs)
Increased Fire Intensity
When a fire occurs in an enclosed space thermal
The operation of smoke ventilators can increase burning
convection currents carry smoke and hot gases upwards
intensity and fire spread by aiding the flow of oxygen to
to the roof or ceiling where they subsequently spread
the fire. This may necessitate an increased density of
and fill the space with a progressively lowering smoke
water discharge from sprinklers to achieve fire control
level. A correctly specified and engineered smoke and
than was otherwise determined to be necessary by fire
heat ventilation system in conjunction with smoke
tests carried out without the interaction of smoke vents.
curtains can control the smoke layer within prescribed
limits. This is achieved by exhausting the smoke and Delayed Sprinkler Operation
heat from the building utilising “natural” convection
through roof vents or “mechanical” powered fans. Vents Sprinklers are activated by the hot gases rising and
can be activated in zones by smoke detection systems triggering the heat sensitive elements of the sprinklers.
or by remote manual controls. Alternatively they may The early opening of smoke vents and exhausting of hot
open individually on activation of heat sensitive fusible gases may delay or prevent the accumulation of heat to
links or be simple drop out thermoplastic panels. activate sprinklers.

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The Interaction of Sprinklers with Smoke and Heat Vents Insight
Skewed Area of Sprinkler Operation • lowering the smoke layer
• reducing the rate of natural ventilation
The draw of hot gases up the slope of a roof to vents • facilitating the migration of smoke beneath barriers/
situated near the apex may skew the area in which curtains
sprinklers operate from directly above the fire source
towards the open vents. This may result in:
• No water discharge above part of the fire source, General Recommendation for the Protection
adversely effecting fire control. of Assets & Continuity of Business Operations
• The activation of sprinklers away from the fire source:
• depleting the available pressure and flow where it Provision of appropriate sprinkler protection to control
is needed fire at the earliest opportunity, minimising fire growth and
• extending the area of secondary water damage the associated generation of smoke. AIGInsurance
consider this is most effectively achieved if there is not
Draft / Smoke Curtains
an automatic smoke ventilation system.
If not equally located between sprinklers above a clear
Local statutory codes may require the provision of
aisle draft / smoke curtains may deflect heat to operate
smoke / heat ventilation for life safety purposes. Such a
sprinklers away from the immediate fire area and
prescriptive requirement may not normally consider the
obstruct the water discharge pattern from operating
presence of sprinklers and it may be possible to seek
sprinklers.
dispensation from the authority having jurisdiction by
presenting the provision of an adequately specified,
designed and maintained sprinkler system as an
alternative means of addressing the perceived life safety
risks, alleviating the need for vents.
If both sprinklers and smoke / heat vents are required
configuration for manual operation by the fire service is
recommended.
If automatic operation of smoke / heat vents is required it
is possible to minimise the adverse effects on sprinklers
by vent operation controlled by flow switches with time
o
delays or high temperature fusible links (182 C).
The acceptability of such by the authority having
jurisdiction is dependant upon the perceived life safety
risk, it possible to utilise smoke modelling to calculate for
particular fire sizes and growth rates the time expected
for smoke layers to drop to levels that will threaten life.
Fixed Smoke curtain

Reference Sources
Adverse Effects of Sprinklers on Smoke
Ventilation / Control Systems • NFPA13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems
Delayed Vent Operation • NFPA204 Standard for Smoke & Heat Venting
• The Loss Prevention Council Rules for Automatic
The cooling effect of operating sprinklers may delay the
activation of fusible link operated smoke vents. Sprinkler Installations incorporating BSEN12845
• Comité Européen Des Assurances CEA4020:
Reduced Smoke Buoyancy February 1999
Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Systems (NSHES)
The cooling effect of operating sprinklers reduces Planning and Installation
convective action and the buoyancy of smoke:

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