Responsibiltiy for Smoke Control Systems 1

[helmley]

In my place of work, there is a debate as to who is responsible for the design of the smoke removel/control system. The HVAC engineer believes that the Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) is responsible for the design of the system. The FPE believes otherwise.<br>
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The HVAC engineer believes that since NFPA has the smoke control standard, this belongs to the Fire Protection Engineer.<br>
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The FPE believes that ASHRAE authored the Design of Smoke Management Systems, therefore this is a work for the HVAC engineers with input from FPE. The ASHRAE organisation deals more with HVAC than sprinkler and the likes. Also, room and building pressures are dependent on HVAC system rather than fire protection. The smoke control also utilizes duct works and fans the same way as HVAC does. The FPE deals with hydraulics and not air or gas movement.<br>
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Any advise is highly appreciated.

 

Well, It is a tough question to answer. As an HVAC system designer, I believe that the duty of smoke control system is a mutual exercise that has to be worked out harmoniously between the HVAC engineer and the FPE.
Yet, the larger part of the problem lies on the HVAC guy's own turf; Smoke exhaust fans, smoke, fire/smoke dampers and fire dampers, AHU's operation during fire are some of the HVAC system designer sole responsibilities.
Not to mention, exhaust system from commercial kitchen hoods of different kinds and sizes especially, in multi-story buildings.

 

[mrmel]

Both are responsible that the system works. Whats the problem. Contractual is a different problem. If they give you problems move on too someone else who will do your right

 

[Henn]

mrmel is correct: BOTH. With respect to legal and contractual issues, the engineers' licensing law of the jurisdiction where the project is located, governs. The engineer who signs and seals the plan is responsible for all that is shown on that plan, i.e she/he is the engineer of record (EOR). Further, an EOR is required to be competent by training and experience in the work shown on these drawings. Thus, if the duct system, fans and controls on HVAC plans are also used for smoke removal/control, the HVAC engineer is the EOR, and is responsible. So, if something goes wrong or if the plans are not coordinated, the HVAC engineer has a problem.

If the HVAC engineer gets data for system design from the FPE, then that FPE's input has to be clearly identified on the HVAC drawings, and the FPE should be required to sign and seal those drawings as well. This then establishes the responsibility of the FPE as the EOR for smoke removal/control.

The engineer licensing laws are to protect the life, health and safety of the public, and identifying the EOR for each engineering decision is an integral part of this protection. The EOR is identified by his dated signature and seal.

BTW -- &quot;helmley&quot; observes that ASHRAE does not have standards for fire protection. Agreed, the acronym does not include V for ventilation, but HVAC certainly does.