AS 1668.1:2015 The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings, Part 1: Fire and smoke control in buildings
Standards Australia
Supersedes: AS/NZS 1668.1:1998 The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings, Part 1: Fire and smoke control in buildings
Supersedes: AS 1668.3-2001 The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings, Part 1: Fire and smoke control in buildings
Supersedes: AS/NZS 1668.1:1998 AMDT 1 The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings, Part 1: Fire and smoke control in buildings
Supersedes: MP 47.C1-1980 The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings, Part 1: Fire and smoke control in buildings
Draft Designation: DR AS 1668.1:2015Amended by: AS 1668.1:2015 Amd 1:2018 The use of ventilation and air conditioning in buildings, Part 1: Fire and smoke control in buildings
The objective of this Standard is to provide standardized minimum requirements for mechanical air-handling and mechanical smoke control systems for use by designers, installers, inspectors and regulators of these systems.
There is a considerable body of fire research that indicates that when a fire occurs in a building, the smoke from the fire is a far greater hazard to occupant safety than the fire itself, that is:
(a) Smoke obscures vision, preventing occupants from finding safe escape routes.
(b) Smoke hinders the emergency services personnel during intervention activities (including search and rescue operations).
(c) Smoke can kill by asphyxiation or by poisoning people well before the temperature of the fire or smoke causes injury.
The fundamental purpose of this document is, therefore, life safety.
The main technical changes made in this edition are as follows:
(i) A hot layer smoke control arrangement has been added.
(ii) The function of car park ventilation systems has been revised.
(iii) The requirements for detection and initiation of smoke control systems have been transferred to AS 1670.1.
(iv) The requirements for construction and installation of fire dampers, smoke dampers and air dampers have been transferred to AS 1682 series.
(v) Mandatory requirements for baseline data have been included.
(vi) Inclusion of requirements for flame and spark arrestance in certain kitchen exhaust systems.
(vii) Amendments to text to clarify various clauses of the previous edition, which were often misunderstood.
(viii) Additional informative appendices including guidance on subduct use and testing criteria exit pressurization systems.
The terms ‘normative’ and ‘informative’ have been used in this Standard to define the application of the appendix to which they apply. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part of a Standard, whereas an ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.
Statements expressed in mandatory terms in notes to tables are deemed to be requirements of this Standard.
Figures provided in this Standard are informative.
First published in Australia in part as AS1668.1-1974. Second edition 1979. MP 47.C1 first published 1980. AS 1668.1-1979 and MP 47.C1-1980 revised, amalgamated and designated AS 1668.1-1991. Jointly revised and designated AS/NZS 1668.1:1998. AS 1668.3 first published in 2001. AS/NZS 1668.1:1998 and AS 1668.3-2001 jointly revised, amalgamated and designated AS/NZS 1668.1:2015. Reissued and redesignated as AS 1668.1:2015 incorporating Amendment No. 1 (December 2018).
The first edition of AS 1668.1, published in 1974, prescribed a smoke control system intended to restrict the movement of smoke by way of air-conditioning and ventilation ducting within a multistorey office building. This philosophy did not address smoke movement in a building by way of paths other than the air-handling system. Since the original publication, the Standard has changed, the zone pressurization system was added and the Standard has been applied (correctly and incorrectly) to buildings other than multistorey offices.
The objective of the Standard was also expanded to limit smoke spread in a building by way of paths other than simply the ductwork. This revision looked deeper into the application of the Standard within buildings with varied uses and, hence, offers designers more options to find solutions for particular building types and further clarifies the intended application of the Standard.
This edition of the Standard includes provisions for an additional method of smoke control within large interconnected volumes whereby smoke is allowed to collect in smoke reservoirs in the vicinity of the ceiling/roof and is removed by fans from the high level reservoirs, with make-up air at low level. This hot layer smoke control system arrangement is similar to that detailed previously in AS 1668.3—2001, The use of ventilation and air- conditioning in buildings, Part 3: Smoke control systems for large single compartments or smoke reservoirs; however only the mechanical exhaust arrangement has been incorporated into this Standard. (The buoyancy driven arrangement is not incorporated in this Standard.)
This Standard sets out minimum requirements for the design, construction, installation and commissioning of mechanical smoke control systems in buildings. Specific methods of smoke control are defined and the appropriate requirements specified for each. The design information given in this Standard in respect to hot layer smoke control is based on a single axisymmetric plume, which is confined to one reservoir. Smoke plumes spilling across multiple reservoirs are not considered.
Requirements for the maintenance of smoke control systems are not included.
This Standard applies to Class 2 to Class 9 buildings where smoke control is required.
NOTES:
1 The Standard does not identify those buildings in which smoke control systems or pressurization systems are required. This is covered in the National Construction Code (NCC).
2 AS 1851 outlines management procedures for maintaining the fire and smoke control features of mechanical services.
Contents:
Section 1: General
Section 2: Air-Handling Systems—General Requirements
Section 3: Fire Protection Of Openings In Fire-Resistant Elements
Section 4: Smoke Control Systems—General Requirements
Section 5: Miscellaneous Systems
Section 6: Kitchen Exhaust Hood Systems
Section 7: Shutdown Systems
Section 8: Zone Pressurization Systems
Section 9: Hot Layer Smoke Control Systems
Section 10: Protection Of Fire-Isolated Exits
Section 11: Air Purge Systems
Section 12: Lift Shaft Pressurization System
Appendix A: Horizontal Zone Smoke Control In Health And Aged Care Buildings
Appendix B: Principles Of Subducts Within This Standard
Appendix C: Reliability
Appendix D: Wiring Systems Fire Resistance
Appendix E: Smoke Control System Commissioning Tests
Appendix F: Application Of Hot Layer Smoke Exhaust
Appendix G: Building Geometry
Appendix H: Hot Layer Inlet Requirements
Appendix I: General Design Information
Appendix J: Open Access Ramps And Balconies
Appendix K: Guide To Design And Testing Of Exit Pressurization
Ventilation and Airconditioning.
Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors Association; Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council; Australian Building Codes Board; Australian Industry Group; Australian Institute of Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating; Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers; Climate Control Companies Association; Consumer Electronics Suppliers Association; Department of Health and Human Services, Tas.; Engineers Australia; Facility Management Association of Australia; Institute of Refrigeration Heating and AirConditioning Engineers of New Zealand; Insulation Contractors Association of Australia, NSW; NATSPEC; Victorian Building Authority.
