- Author
- Gross, D.
- Title
- Estimating Air Leakage Through Doors for Smoke Control.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- Fire Technology, Vol. 26, No. 1, 75-81, February 1990 <b>AND</b> Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, 171-177, 1991, 1991
- Book or Conf
- Lund University. Science of Building Fire Safety. Symposium to Honor Professor Ove Pettersson on His Retirement. May 2-4, 1989, Lund, Sweden, 1-3 p., ['1989', '1990', '1991']
- Keywords
- fire safety | building safety | air leakage | doors | smoke control | seals | air flow | door assemblies
- Identifiers
- narrow gaps; labyrinths
- Abstract
- A generalized, nondimensional relationship for flow through defined narrow gaps is used to predict leakage flow past closed door assemblies. Typical gap shapes considered include straight-thorugh; single or double sharp (90 deg) bends; baffle at leading edge; comb-type labyrinth; and filament brush seal. Applications for prediction and design appropriate to smoke control systems are indicated. One of the most difficult design problems in maintaining the fire-safety integrity of separating elements deals with joint and penetration details. Doors within walls represent a major challenge, in terms of both flame penetration and the passage of smoke and gases. With the increased attention now being given to the design of buildings to control smoke movement and to maintain smoke-free areas of refuge, better information on the flow of air and smoke-air mixtures through closed door assemblies is needed.