Smoke is the major killer in building fires, and smoke control provides significant protection from the threat of smoke.
Most of fire deaths are not caused by burns, but by smoke inhalation. Often smoke harms so quickly that people gets suffocate very badly and can’t make out the way to escape from building. Research has shown that roughly 7 out of 10 fire fatalities are due to smoke inhalation.The synthetic materials commonplace in today’s buildings produces especially dangerous substances. As a fire grows inside a building, it will often consume most of the available oxygen, slowing the burning process. This “incomplete combustion” results in toxic gases.
To avoid these accidents, mechanical system use to provide in the building to pressurize the stair case and lift well in accordance with NFPA 92 (National Fire Protection Association). But if the system is not working according to the intended design, it won’t be of any use and you won’t get a clear smoke free way to exit.
Though the system is designed and installed with good engineering practices, it should be balanced and commissioned in accordance with the NFPA 92 test procedure to confirm its intended performance and reduce the risk to life.