Pressure levels are directly linked to the air tightness of Smoke Control Dampers (SCD’s). They are important in function of the height of the building, when connected to vertical ducts for air supply and air release or smoke evacuation.

The higher a building, the longer the ductwork, the more dampers connected per duct and the stronger the ventilators need to be to cope with sum of leakages and pressure losses. Stronger ventilators mean higher pressures applied to the SCD’s close to the ventilators. The same applies for natural ventilation based on pressure differentials due to stack effects. This is where the pressure level classification of a SCD comes into play.

This white paper aims to clarify the relationship between pressure levels, leakage requirements and cycle testing for Smoke Control Dampers covered by the test standard EN1366-10, the classification standard EN13501-4 and the product standard EN12101-8. It also relates pressure levels to an advised use in relation to the height of the building in which the SCD will be installed.

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