In modern construction, more and more diverse architectural forms are relevant and the design of related service systems, in particular, ventilation systems, is becoming more complicated. Their direct purpose - supplying consumers with air - they must fulfill in compliance with the highest fire safety standards.
In the event of a fire in any part of the building, combustion products spread primarily through ventilation lines. In the event of fires, the bulk of people die not from high temperatures, but primarily from gas and smoke mixtures. Therefore, the correct arrangement of ventilation systems in order to prevent fires and explosive situations is of decisive importance for ensuring fire safety. During operation, the possibility of the formation of hazardous gas-air and dust mixtures that contribute to the spread of fire and smoke must be excluded. Therefore, to ensure fire safety, it is necessary to strictly and strictly observe the rules and tolerances adopted in the design, installation and operation of ventilation systems.
Do not burn or explode
It is also necessary to take into account the fact that in order for a dangerous situation to arise in ventilation communications, the concentrations of gases, various substances and dust in them can be significantly lower than the threshold norm necessary for a fire or explosion. This is true for vapors of acetone, gasoline, kerosene, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and other substances. In these cases, ventilation communications serve as conductors and distributors of hazardous gas mixtures. Therefore, for fire safety purposes, it is prohibited to work with volatile harmful gases in closed rooms that do not have natural ventilation.
Cleanliness is the key to safety
The source and cause of fire hazardous situations can be not only the ventilation systems themselves, but also their individual units, equipment elements. This is especially true for rooms that are dangerous in terms of fires and explosions, for example, chemical laboratories or galvanic workshops, from which volatile harmful substances are removed through air ducts. The serviceability of related equipment in ventilation systems at such facilities should be under special control. For example, it is enough for any particle to enter the fan, which ensures air flow through the ventilation systems, breakage of its blades or overheating of its shaft, even a small malfunction of the electric motor - and a spark, fire, explosion, massive release of poisonous combustion products from the air ducts can cause large human victims.
The accumulation of dust in ventilation ducts and equipment can lead to the same sad consequences when there is a high probability of static electricity and, as a consequence, fire. Therefore, cleanliness is a guarantee not only of health, but also of safety. These rules are also relevant for the design and subsequent operation of air conditioning systems, which, if the ventilation is not turned off, can serve as additional sources of ignition.
In general, measures for fire safety of ventilation systems should be implemented in two directions: prevention of fires and explosive situations, exclusion of the spread of combustion products in buildings and structures.
