A well-designed smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system (SHEVS), should be able to maintain a smoke-free clear layer of at least 2.5 meters above the highest occupied space, thus provide escape conditions allowing the building to be safely evacuated with minimum risk of smoke inhalation, injury or death. Critical Fire Defence (CFD) continually explore new solutions to smoke control problems.

All Critical Fire Defence (CFD) smoke and heat exhaust ventilation products comply with the latest South African Building Standards SANS 10400 Part T
Specifications. Our natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems are designed to extract smoke from the interior of a building through automatically operable roof-mounted ventilators. With access to a wide network of suppliers and partners, we can provide a solution to meet any requirements.

Critical Fire Defence (CFD) also install powered smoke and heat exhaust systems to enhance systems. These systems not only ensure that fans and cabling comply with the relevant part of the EN 1201
code. The success of a powered exhaust system is its ability to pre-empt elevated temperature and ensure a sufficient fresh air route is in place to allow the extraction of smoke and hot gas, without fanning the fire. In designing an effective smoke control system, smoke containment is a critical and often overlooked design consideration.  Successful smoke containment is often achieved by the introduction of physical barriers, such as smoke curtains.

Fire, the visible effect of the process of combustion, can lead to the destruction of buildings within minutes, ruin stock, injure and kill. In extreme cases fire can undermine the survival of a business. The cost of fire claims against South African insurers for direct damage and consequential loss is extensive. Preventive maintenance is there for imperative.  The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act requires that all safety equipment be maintained and records kept of such maintenance. The time where regular maintenance was regarded as an unnecessary additional expense, or even as a luxury, no longer applies because sub-standard maintenance practices are simply not an option.

The fire safety systems are a fundamental element of the fire strategy. It is essential that measures are taken to ensure the continued reliability of these systems, in the event of a fire. By entering into a preventive maintenance agreement, you are fulfilling your obligation under SANS 10400: Part T and SANS 10139 Building Standards, and acknowledge responsibility to ensure that all requisite systems function as intended. Maintenance and regular checks are required under title SANS 10400: Part T Building Standards and should be recorded within log books.

Throughout a building’s lifecycle, the fire safety equipment must be fit for purpose, properly maintained and regularly tested. It is crucial that the building is periodically evaluated over the course of its entire life – in other words; not just as an operational building, but also taking into account the architectural design, construction, operational purpose, demolition potential and waste treatment. Consequently, when attempting to improve an operational feature of a building that is related to how a building was designed, requires specialist knowledge. However, this level of expertise is not normally within the scope of mainstream building services or even a department managing amenities. Equipment, particularly compressors and/or electric control panels that act as the heart of the system should be thoroughly checked at regular intervals, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. The soundest approach is to appoint specialists to guarantee compliance with the service schedule requirement of our system.  CFD provides such a service.

Service means providing our clients with a tailored maintenance contract to ensure optimum product performance, whilst certifying that legislative obligations are met. In the event of equipment malfunction, service means a fast and efficient call-out and repair process. Fire safety systems are  life-saving practices and it is therefor essential that regular preventive maintenance is carried out to the required standards, by competent personnel who are thoroughly familiar with the relevant legislation and equipment being serviced. Under the SANS 10400: Part T Building Standards legislation service and preventive maintenance is the responsibility of the property management company or the landlord. All fire safety equipment must be maintained to ensure optimal working order. In the event of property damage or the health/life of occupants in a building being compromised due to fire, maintenance records may be called upon for both legal and insurance purposes. Regular preventive maintenance can extend the lifespan of these essential safety systems. Regular planned preventive maintenance also ensures that any defects are identified and repaired/replaced before critical situations arises.