A Study on Over-Pressure Difference owing to the Inlet Air Discharge Device of the Vestibule Pressurization System

Abstract

The inlet air discharge device of the vestibule pressurization system is used to obtain critical velocity that prevents the intrusion of smoke into the escape route. However, when the vestibule door on the fire floor is closed, high door–opening forces can result in occupants having difficulty owing to an increase in the differential pressure. In this study, the air flow rate and difference pressure were analyzed through variable air volume exhaust damper by pressure difference (hereinafter referred to as VAVED) and installed automatic opening windows facing the exterior wall. COMTAM transient simulations were used for analysis under stack conditions. The adequacy of exhaust dampers was confirmed by adding field experiments. In the case of VAVED, simulations and experiments confirmed that the problem of evacuation obstacles was resolved. However, in the case of automatic opening windows, the pressure differences on the third and 13th floors were 73.9 Pa and 112.6 Pa, respectively, in simulations, causing difficulty for occupants to escape from the vestibules.