Estimating the Air Leakage Rate of Smoke Control Doors for Calculations Procedures, Part 1
Copyright (c) 2026 Mihály István
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Abstract
The extent of smoke spread during building fires is critical, as it can adversely affect both evacuation and firefighting intervention. Smoke migration can occur through structural gaps, the potential for which should be minimised. One way to exclude smoke is to pressurise the structure, and an important starting parameter for the design of this is to know the leakage areas. The need for knowledge of the size of structural gaps has been high since the inception of design methods. This article aims to identify the potential for improving the calculation procedures by using the results of measurements on existing smoke control doors in pressurised vestibules. In this section, the author presents the relevant literature on the leakage area of the openings and the air flow coefficient of the openings. It describes the measurement method for determining the air flow through doors and structures and the calculation procedure currently used.
Keywords:
How to Cite
References
ACHAKJI, George Y. (1987): NRCC Experimental Fire Tower for Studies on Smoke Movement and Smoke Control in Tall Buildings. Internal Report No. 512. Ottawa: National Research Council Canada Institute for Research in Construction. Online: https://doi.org/10.4224/20338144
ALMÁSI, Csaba – KÁTAI-URBÁN, Lajos – CIMER, Zsolt (2023): ABV-felderítő eszközök bemutatása és fejlesztési lehetőségei. Védelem Tudomány, 8(Különszám), 195–205.
BARNA, Lajos (2015): Tüzelőberendezések égési levegő ellátása. Előadás. „A szén-monoxid mérgezések hatékony megelőzése” Országos szakmai konferencia, Budapest, 5 March 2015. Online: http://www.vedelem.hu/files/UserFiles/File/aktualis/20150403/04.pdf
BARRETT, Richard E. – LOCKLIN, David W. (1969): A Computer Technique for Predicting Smoke Movement in Tall Buildings. Fire Technology, 5(4), 299–310. Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02600417
BAUMANN, Mihály (2005): Tüzelőberendezések légellátása. Magyar Installateur, 15(10–11), 28–30.
BAUMANN, Mihály (2011): Épületek légforgalma. 17th “Building Services, Mechanical and Building Industry Days” International Conference, Debrecen, 13–14 October 2011. Online: https://www.e-gepesz.hu/files/cikk9422_EUG_Baumann.pdf
BEDA, László (2011): Gondolatok az épületek tűzbiztonságáról. Magyar Építőipar, 56(3), 94–98.
BEDFORD, Thomas – CHRENKO, Frank Ambrose eds. (1974): Bedford’s Basic Principles of Ventilation and Heating. London: H. K. Lewis.
BÉRCZI, László – BADONSZKI, Csaba (2021): A tűzvédelmi tervezés fő tartópillérei a tűzvédelmi műszaki irányelvek. Védelem Tudomány, 6(2), 66–96. Online: https://ojs.mtak.hu/index.php/vedelemtudomany/article/view/13473
BÉRCZI, László (2025): Új kihívások és alternatív megoldások a tűzoltásban. Tűzvédelem, 32(2), 19–23.
BERGER, Ádám – KÁTAI-URBÁN, Lajos – NÉMETH, Zsolt – ZSITNYÁNYI, Attila – KÁTAI-URBÁN, Maxim – CIMER, Zsolt (2024): Applicability of Design Methodology for the Remediation Bund of Flammable Dangerous Liquid Storage Tanks. Fire, 7(7). Online: https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7070246
BLUME, Gary – HEGGER, Thomas Fr. (2021): Rauch‐ und Wärmeabzug. In FOUAD, Nabil A. (ed.): Bauphysik Kalender 2021. Brandschutz, 21. Jahrgang. Berlin: Ernst & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG, 459–499. Online: https://doi.org/10.1002/9783433610572.ch19
British Standards Institution (1978): BS 5588-4:1978 Fire Precautions in the Design and Construction of Buildings. Part 4. Code of Practice for Smoke Control in Protected Escape Routes Using Pressurisation. London: British Standards Institution.
British Standards Institution (1998): BS 5588-4:1998 + A2:2004 Fire Precautions in the Design, Construction and Use of Buildings. Part 4. Code of Practice for Smoke Control Using Pressure Differentials. London: British Standards Institution.
BUTCHER, Edward G. – PARNELL, Alan C. (1979): Smoke Control in Fire Safety Design. London: E. & F. N. Spon Ltd.
CEN (2005): EN 12101-6:2005 Smoke and Heat Control Systems. Part 6. Specification for Pressure Differential Systems. Kits. Brussels: Technical Committee of the European Committee for Standardisation.
CEN (2016): EN ISO 9972:2016 Thermal Performance of Buildings. Determination of Air Permeability of Buildings. Fan Pressurisation Method (ISO 9972:2015). Brussels: Technical Committee of the European Committee for Standardisation.
CEN (2022): EN 12101-13:2022 Smoke and Heat Control Systems. Part 13. Pressure Differential Systems (PDS). Design and Calculation Methods, Installation, Acceptance Testing, Routine Testing and Maintenance. Brussels: Technical Committee of the European Committee for Standardisation.
CHO, Heejin – LIU, Bing – GOWRI, Krishnan (2010): Energy Saving Impact of ASHRAE 90.1 Vestibule Requirements: Modeling of Air Infiltration through Door Openings. Technical Report, PNNL-20026. Online: https://doi.org/10.2172/1017117
ÉSZK (1984): ME-04–132–84 Füstmentes lépcsőházak követelményei. Budapest: Építésügyi Szabványosítási Központ.
GÁBOR, László – ZÖLD, András (1981): Energiagazdálkodás az építészetben. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó.
GROSS, Daniel (1981): A Review of Measurements, Calculations and Specifications of Air Leakage Through Interior Door Assemblies. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology. Online: https://doi.org/10.6028/NBS.IR.81-2214
GROSS, Daniel (1991): Estimating Air Leakage Through Doors for Smoke Control. Fire Safety Journal, 17(2), 171–177. Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/0379-7112(91)90040-6
HOBSON, P. J. – STEWART, L. J. (1972): Pressurisation of Escape Routes in Buildings. Fire Research Note No. 958. Bracknell: Heating and Ventilating Research Association. Online https://publications.iafss.org/publications/frn/958/-1/view/frn_958.pdf
KANYÓ, Ferenc – VÁSÁRHELYI-NAGY, Ildikó (2019): Research for New Physical Ability Testing Method for Firefighters in the V4 Countries. Műszaki Katonai Közlöny, 29(1) 161–166. Online: https://doi.org/10.32562/mkk.2019.1.13
KLEMS, Joseph H. (1983): Methods of Estimating Air Infiltration Through Windows. Energy and Buildings, 5(4), 243–252. Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7788(83)90012-9
KLOTE, John H. (1987): An Overview of Smoke Control Technology. Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology. Online: https://doi.org/10.6028/NBS.IR.87-3626
KLOTE, John H. – MILKE, James A. (1992): Design of Smoke Management Systems. Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers – Boston, MA: Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
KLOTE, John H. – MILKE, James A. (2002): Principles of Smoke Management. Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
KLOTE, John H. – MILKE, James A. – TURNBULL, Paul G. – KASHEF, Ahmed – FERREIRA, Michael J. (2012): Handbook of Smoke Control Engineering. Atlanta, GA: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
KRONVALL, Johnny (1980a): Airtightness. Measurements and Measurement Methods. Stockholm: Swedish Council for Building Research.
KRONVALL, Johnny (1980b): Air Flows in Building Components. PhD Thesis. Lund University.
LIDDAMENT, Martin W. (1986): Air Infiltration Calculation Techniques. An Applications Guide. Coventry: The Air Infiltration and Ventilation Centre. Online: https://www.aivc.org/resource/air-infiltration-calculation-techniques-applications-guide
LIS, Piotr – LIS, Anna (2021): The Required Amount of Ventilation Air for the Classroom and the Possibility of Air Infiltration through the Windows. Energies, 14(22). Online: https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227537
MAINKA, Georg-Wilhelm – WINKLER, Heiko (2010): Influence of New External Protective Glazing on Historic Painted Windowpanes in Medieval Churches. Online: http://eprints.sparaochbevara.se/610/1/31_Mainka%5B1%5D.pdf
MAJOROSNÉ LUBLÓY, Éva Eszter – MAJOR, Zoltán – SZÉP, János – HLAVIČKA, Viktor – BIRÓ, András (2023): Méretezés tűzteherre az Eurocode szerint. Vasbeton, acél-, fa-, falazott és öszvérszerkezetek tervezése. Budapest: TERC Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Kft.
MIHÁLY, István – BÉRCZI, László – BOGNÁR, Balázs – KÁTAI-URBÁN, Maxim – TÓTH, Levente – KÁTAI-URBÁN, Lajos – VASS, Gyula – VARGA, Ferenc (2025): Experimental Study to Determine the Leakage Area of Single-Leaf Smoke Control Doors in the Design of Pressure Differential Systems. Fire, 8(1). Online: https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8010005
National Directorate General for Disaster Management (2025): Tűzvédelmi Műszaki Irányelv [Fire Protection Technical Guideline]. Hő és füst elleni védelem [Protection against Heat and Smoke Spread]. TvMI 3.6:2025.02.01. Belügyminisztérium, Országos Katasztrófavédelmi Főigazgatóság. Online: https://www.katasztrofavedelem.hu/application/uploads/documents/2024-12/84963.pdf
RECKNAGEL, Hermann – SPRENGER, Eberhard – SCHRAMEK, Ernst-Rudolf (2000): Fűtés- és klímatechnika 2000. I. kötet. Budapest–Pécs: Dialóg Campus.
RIDLEY, Ian – FOX, J. – ORESZCZYN, Tadj – HONG, Sung-Hugh (2003): The Impact of Replacement Windows on Air Infiltration and Indoor Air Quality in Dwellings. International Journal of Ventilation, 1(3), 209–218. Online: https://doi.org/10.1080/14733315.2003.11683636
SHERMAN, Max Howard (1995): The Use of Blower‐Door Data. Indoor Air, 5(3), 215–224. Online: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.1995.t01-1-00008.x
TAMURA, George T. (1970): Computer Analysis of Smoke Movement in Tall Buildings. Research Paper No. 452. Ottawa: National Research Council of Canada, Division of Building Research. Online: https://doi.org/10.4224/40000451
TÓTH, Levente (2005): CCTV magyarul. Budapest: BM Nyomda Kft.
USEMANN, Klaus W. (2003): Brandschutzanlagen. In Brandschutz in der Gebäudetechnik. VDI-Buch. Berlin–Heidelberg: Springer, 333–437. Online: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19001-8_3
VÁRFALVI, János [s. a.]: Ablakszerkezetek légáteresztése. Online: http://152.66.45.150/EPFIZ/Ablakszerkezetek_legatreresztese.pdf
YOUNES, Chadi – SHDID, Caesar Abi – BITSUAMLAK, Girma (2011): Air Infiltration through Building Envelopes: A Review. Journal of Building Physics, 35(3), 267–302. Online: https:///doi.org/10.1177/1744259111423085
ZHENG, Xiaofeng – WOOD, Christopher J. (2020): On the Power Law and Quadratic Forms for Representing the Leakage-Pressure Relationship – Case Studies of Sheltered Chambers. Energy and Buildings, 226. Online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110380
Legal sources
- 1996. évi XXXI. törvény a tűz elleni védekezésről, a műszaki mentésről és a tűzoltóságról [Act XXXI of 1996 on Fire Prevention, Technical Rescue and Fire Brigades]. Online: https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/1996-31-00-00
- 9/2008. (II. 22.) ÖTM rendelet az Országos Tűzvédelmi Szabályzat kiadásáról [Decree 9/2008 (II. 22.) of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development on the Issuance of the National Fire Protection Regulation]. Online: https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2008-9-20-1V.2#CI
- 54/2014. (XII. 5.) BM rendelet az Országos Tűzvédelmi Szabályzatról [Decree 54/2014 (XII. 5.) of the Ministry of the Interior on the Issuance of the National Fire Protection Regulation]. Online: https://njt.hu/jogszabaly/2014-54-20-0A