The soot particles of the fire smoke, occurring in a short time, reduce the range of visibility and the ability to differ colours and contrasts ( e. g. of exit signs) very fast. With the increase of eye irritation by smoke the visual acuity also diminishes.

The existing sight range has also a great influence of the behaviour of human beings.

• > 20 Metres sight range >> well being
• 10 to 15 Metres >> uncertainty
• < 10 Metres >> upcoming panic

The fast reduction of the orientation abitlity during a smoke logging causes that

• people cannot find exits and escape routes and therefore stay in dangerous areas,
• the risk of injury at dangerous places increases,
• fire fighters also need a lot of time to find and to rescue people who have not yet escaped,
• fire fighters need a lot more time to localise the source of fire that is to be fought at all.

 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the most occuring breathing poison in fires. This colourless, odourless and flavourless breathing poison is responsible for the most of death cases by fires.

Only the installation of SHEVS establishes a smoke free layer in case of fire which enables the self rescue, the third party rescue und a selective fire-fighting method of the fire fighters.


Tasks of a Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation System (= SHEVS)

SHEVS does not prevent a fire. But in case of fire it is an effective instrument for damage limitation. It helps

1. to rescue people,
2. to preserve buildings,
3. to protect goods.

A fire in a company is just the beginning of a long causal chain: Starting with the demolition of the building, a stop of production leads to a temporary closure of a company. The reconstruction requires a lot of time depending on the complexity of the damage, until facilities, machinery and equipment are ready to operate again. Losses in production and the elimination of stock goods cause a delivery stoppage. Agreed dates cannot be complied with. Long lasting customers might switch to competitors, too. The economic base for any entrepreneurial activity disappears.

The conservation of real and building values allows in this case after a fire the continuation of business as well, deficits of profit can be limited and the preconditionsfor a successful restart can be arranged.


Multiple Benefits of Individual and Continuous Rooflights

The installation of rooflights as individual or continuous rooflights has a lot of advantages especially for large area buildings:

• The perched high rooflight openings are available for supply of healthy natural daylight. Daylighting saves energy for illumination of rooms and the dynamic involved produces a good mood for human beings.
  
  
• In combination with openers as ventilation devices rooflights provide fresh air in offices and factory workshops and dissipate used air without energy costs.
  
  
• The installed individual or continuous rooflights can be used as smoke exhaust (Smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system = SHEVS) and for thermal relief (heat exhaust ventilation system = HEVS) in case of fire. SHEVS create a smoke free layer, which enables the self rescue, the third party rescue und a selective fire-fighting method of the fire fighters.

For further information please contact your national association.