Purpose of Smoke Control and Extraction
The primary purpose of smoke control and extraction solutions is to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within the framework of the overall fire-fighting strategy, thereby maximising life safety. These systems aim to maintain breathable air quality, preserve visibility and minimise the risk of occupants encountering dense smoke while evacuating during an emergency.
Preventing smoke from entering critical areas such as stair exits, lift lobbies and escape routes is essential to reduce evacuation times and avoid casualties caused by reduced visibility or breathing difficulties.
Smoke Control Requirements for Different Building Types
Mechanical ventilation and smoke extraction strategies vary depending on the intended use of the building. Shopping malls, hotels, residential complexes, hospitals and educational institutions all have different smoke control system and pressurisation requirements due to their occupancy levels, usage patterns and architectural layouts.
Each project must therefore be evaluated individually in line with regulations, standards and fire consultant requirements, and smoke control scenarios must be tailored specifically to the building.
Components of the Smoke Control System
The smoke control and extraction infrastructure operates through the coordinated control of air-handling units, smoke and fire dampers, smoke extract fans, stair pressurisation fans and lift shaft pressurisation fans. When the fire scenario is activated, the relevant equipment in the affected zones is brought into operation either automatically or via manual commands.
By controlling the pressure difference between the fire zone and escape routes, the system prevents smoke leakage into safe egress paths, allowing the building to be managed in a controlled manner against smoke movement.
Smoke Exhaust Control Panel (Firefighter Mimic Panel)
The smoke exhaust control panel, also referred to as the Firefighter Mimic Panel, is a dedicated control interface designed to monitor and manage all smoke-control devices from a single location. On the project-specific mimic panel, air-handling units, supply and exhaust fans, pressurisation fans, dampers and all duct routes used for smoke control are displayed on a colour-printed single-line diagram of the building.
The positions of field devices are monitored and controlled via the panel; fault, running and stop statuses are clearly indicated to the operator by LEDs in different colours (red, green, yellow), providing an at-a-glance overview of system health and operation.
Manual Priority, Ease of Use and Safe Operation
Using selector switches on the panel, operators can stop equipment (OFF), start it (ON) or leave it under automatic scenario control (AUTO) during a fire event. Since the smoke exhaust control panel is actively operated by a person, all manual commands sent from this panel are executed with higher priority than the automatic fire scenario of the fire alarm system.
This concept enables rapid decision-making and intervention based on real field conditions, while well-defined priority levels and authorisation mechanisms ensure safe and controlled operation at all times.
Mechanical and Digital Smoke Control Panel Solutions
Our company has extensive experience in mechanical and digital smoke exhaust and control panel solutions. For a wide range of projects, including shopping malls, hotels, hospitals, residential complexes and educational buildings, we deliver flexible, intuitive and easy-to-use designs.
With state-of-the-art, practical and aesthetically pleasing panels, detailed monitoring and control capabilities, configurable priority levels and seamless integration with mechanical systems of various sizes, we create future-proof, scalable and fully compliant smoke control and extraction infrastructures.
- Extensive smoke control panel design and implementation for shopping malls, hotels, hospitals, residences and educational facilities
- Mechanical and digital, touch-screen based alternative solutions
- Flexible, intuitive and easy-to-use designs
- Modern, high-technology and user-friendly panel architectures
- Comprehensive monitoring and control capabilities
- Configurable priority levels, with command capability overriding all other controls including the fire system
- Successful mimic implementations integrated with many different types and sizes of mechanical systems
- Future-proof, expandable design concepts
- Design and implementation in line with local and international standards and the requirements of fire brigades, authorities and fire consultants
Sample Mechanical Smoke Exhaust Control Panel Solutions
Sample Digital Touch-Screen Smoke Exhaust Control Panel Solutions
