Smoke is recognised as the leading cause of death and serious injury during fire outbreaks. It can spread quickly to areas remote from the scene of the original blaze, threatening life, restricting escape, delaying fire fighting and damaging property.
Stairwells and elevator shafts frequently become smoke logged, blocking evacuation routes and preventing firefighters and other rescue teams from doing their critical jobs.
Thor Duct® Smoke Extract ductwork is a key component of a fire strategy, by routing smoke safely out of a building in a controlled manner.
All Thor Duct® products are correctly tested and compliant across all European codes. If you would like an inhouse CPD, please contact us.
Exhausting smoke across fire compartments creates a potential flashover risk. Flashover, sometimes referred to as rapid fire progress, occurs when the heat and energy being produced by the fire can no longer be absorbed by the materials in the room, and when the temperature reaches its ignition temperature fire breaks out all at once over all the surfaces. Exhausting hot gases creates a potential flashover risk as the heat and energy is removed through the building. As part of the EN tests, insulation will help prevent flashover, and is tested with the ductwork. Section 6.3 of EN1366-8:2004 states “The test shall be made on a test specimen representative of the complete duct assembly, including integral or intended insulation on which information is required”.
Where thermocouples in a type A or B fire test exceeds 140°C average or 180°C single point, the maximum performance of the insulation has been reached. This is stated in minutes and classified(I), 30, 60, 90, 120, 240.
The inclusion of insulation during fire testing means that the system becomes the product. Use of untested combinations of duct and insulation is not permitted without completing a full test program.
Thor Duct® Smoke Extract ductwork is comprehensively tested to comply with CEN standard, hEN12101-7 which has been in place throughout the EU since July 2013.
✓ EN1366-9 - Single-
compartment
✓ EN1366-8 - Multi-
compartment
Thor Duct® Smoke Extract is tested in a flexible wall and is suitable for:
✓ Stud partition
✓ Block wall
✓ Concrete floors
All
Thor Duct® Smoke Extract
systems are installed under third party certification (Firas) as per DW144.
✓ Square standard maximum
size multi-compartment
smoke 1250x1000mm
✓ Square standard maximum
size single compartment
smoke 1900x1700mm
✓ Fire resisting ducts (non
smoke applications)
maximum size 2500x
1250mm
✓
Round up to 1000 Ø
Manufacturing Standards
Both the product and the insulation have been tested as a system in accordance with test standards which includes access doors, silencers and bracketry.
All tests were conducted in EOTA approved laboratories, and each licensed manufacturing location has a factory production control (FPC) in place to ensure exacting standards of manufacture.
Installation Standards
You can be 100% sure that your installation has been properly managed and is fit for purpose when called upon in the event of a fire.
Thor Duct® has been tested to the latest EN standards and as required by law, provides CE marking on products where a harmonised standard exists.
Whilst Thor Duct® makes every effort to reflect the industry wide understanding of fire resisting duct standards, we do not suggest replacing a thorough research of CEN documents with our Blog posts. We make every effort to be accurate and true, and, as the passive fire protection industry experience and knowledge grows, we may update our guidance to reflect this. The design, selection, and supervision of fire strategies must always be managed by qualified Fire Engineers.