INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION - SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS
Bureau Veritas inspects your smoke control system
Smoke poses a major risk to people during a fire. Smoke control systems are intended to help protect people, buildings and assets from the effects of fire.
There are various reasons for installing a smoke control system. A building user or owner may commission a system to reduce fire risks. Public authorities may also require a smoke control system as a condition for granting a building or environmental permit. If a building cannot otherwise meet the fire safety requirements of the Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving (Bbl), the appropriate type of smoke control system may provide an equivalent level of fire safety.
To determine whether the smoke control system provides the intended protection, an inspection certificate may be required. Bureau Veritas independently assesses the system against the documented objective, the basis-of-design document (Uitgangspuntendocument, UPD) and the applicable inspection criteria. Depending on the scope of the inspection, we assess the basic design, the detailed design and the installation on site. The findings are recorded in an inspection report. Where the agreed assignment includes inspection of the completed system, an inspection certificate may be issued following a positive final inspection conclusion.
Types of smoke control systems
There are three main types of smoke control systems:
- A smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system (SHEVS, known as an RWA system in Dutch) is designed to support evacuation during a fire. It can also support internal firefighting operations, extract smoke and heat to facilitate post-fire activities and help limit fire damage to the building.
- Jet-fan ventilation systems are generally used in underground car parks. Under normal conditions, they extract vehicle exhaust gases. During a fire, they can operate at full capacity to extract smoke rapidly.
- Pressurisation systems maintain positive pressure in areas such as stairwells during a fire, helping to keep these important escape routes free from smoke.
Applicable standards
A wide range of standards may apply to the inspection of a smoke control system:
- BR 368
- NEN 1087
- NPR 6095-1
- NEN 6098
- NFPA 92
- NFPA 92A
- NFPA 92B
- NFPA 204
- NPR-CEN/TR 12101-4
- NPR-CEN/TR 12101-5
- NEN-EN 12101-6
- NPR 6095-2
- SBR publication 233
- TNO report B-90-084
- 96-CVB-T0330, parts 1 to 4
- VdS 2098
- VdS 2221
- VdS CEA 4020
- Technical Paper 7
- Technical Paper 10
Depending on the derived objective of the smoke control system, the basis-of-design document must specify which of the above standards apply to the system concerned.
Inspection under the CCV inspection schemes
The inspection may be carried out against derived objectives under the applicable CCV inspection scheme for fire protection. Depending on the scope, Bureau Veritas assesses the basic design, the detailed design and the installation on site. Any non-conformities with the documented criteria are identified in the inspection report. Where the agreed assignment includes inspection of the completed system, an inspection certificate may be issued following a positive final inspection conclusion.
RvA accreditation
For inspection activities that fall within the accredited scope, Bureau Veritas is accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA) under registration number I 002 as an independent Type A inspection body. Depending on the system and agreed scope, this may include inspections against derived objectives and inspections of conformity with applicable standards.
More information
For more information about our services and their possible applications, please contact our Fire Safety team directly on +31 (0)88 450 5670.