Smoke control and evacuation, evidenced by simulation.
Smoke ventilation, fire propagation and evacuation studies using robust, novel simulation methods. These studies underpin performance-based fire strategies where prescriptive rules cannot deliver the architecture the client wants.
1 · Sector needs with respect to CFD
Life-safety arguments hinge on tenability over time, so the sector needs coupled fire, smoke and occupant modelling with conservative assumptions the approving authority will accept.
| REQUIREMENT | WHAT IT DEMANDS OF THE SIMULATION |
|---|---|
| Tenability over time | Visibility, temperature, radiant flux and toxic species tracked along escape routes for the full evacuation duration, not just at steady state. |
| Design fire justification | Heat release rate curves, growth rates and fuel packages selected and defended from recognised data rather than assumed. |
| Smoke control performance | Extract rates, make-up air, plug-holing risk and clear-layer height demonstrated for the critical fire locations. |
| Coupled evacuation | Occupant movement modelled alongside smoke spread so available and required safe egress times can be compared directly. |
| Sprinkler and detection interaction | Activation timing and the effect of suppression on plume behaviour, including sprinkler-smoke interaction in tall spaces. |
2 · Typical representative cases
Large-volume smoke reservoir design, extract sizing and clear-layer maintenance for open connected spaces and voids.
Jet-fan and ducted systems assessed for smoke clearance and for firefighting access conditions in basement and enclosed parks.
Longitudinal and semi-transverse ventilation, critical velocity and backlayering control for road, rail and station fires.
Pressure differential systems verified against door-opening scenarios, leakage assumptions and stack effect in tall buildings.
External flame spread over facades, balconies and cavities, including re-entry through openings on upper floors.
Occupant egress simulation combined with smoke results to compare ASET and RSET with a defensible safety margin.
3 · Policy and standards verifiable through CFD
Simulation supports — and in several frameworks explicitly permits — demonstration of compliance. Acceptance criteria and validation evidence are agreed with you and the approving body before the study begins.
| FRAMEWORK | HOW CFD SUPPORTS VERIFICATION |
|---|---|
| EN 12101 series | Smoke and heat control systems. Performance of natural and powered smoke ventilators, and of pressure differential systems, can be demonstrated by simulation where standard sizing rules do not apply. |
| EN 1991-1-2 (Eurocode 1) | Actions on structures exposed to fire. Permits natural fire models — including CFD-derived gas temperatures — as an alternative to nominal curves for structural fire design. |
| BS 7974 / PD 7974 | Application of fire safety engineering. The framework and sub-system guidance our reports follow for design fires, smoke movement and tenability criteria. |
| NFPA 92 / NFPA 204 | Smoke control and smoke/heat venting. Defines design objectives, tenability criteria and modelling documentation expectations for smoke management systems. |
| NFPA 130 | Fixed guideway transit and passenger rail. Station and tunnel emergency ventilation criteria, including the six-minute egress objective, verified with coupled smoke and evacuation modelling. |
A complete outsourcing solution: an engineering description of your problem, the geometry or area to analyse and the operating flow conditions are enough to start. All work is carried out by CompFlow personnel at company premises under strict bidirectional non-disclosure agreements, on in-house computing facilities including a 120-core cluster.
Engagement is project-based (predefined deliverables and deadlines) or yearly (a set number of consultancy hours). Related services: CFD Consulting · Code Development · Flow Measurements · 3D Design & Scan · CFD Training · CFD Support.