Fresh air and powerful fans
System solutions from D+H have been providing safe smoke extraction in case of fire worldwide for over 50 years with natural smoke and heat exhaust technology (NSE). However, if the thermal conditions are no longer sufficient for natural smoke extraction, motor-driven fans must be used to help. D+H now also offers system solutions for these mechanical smoke and heat exhaust systems (MSE).
How does mechanical smoke extraction work?
In case of fire, a mechanical smoke and heat exhaust system (MSE) ensures that smoke can be extracted safely and reliably, particularly from interior facilities, basement rooms and underground car parks. Shopping centres, large-scale industrial buildings, logistics centres, power plants and heating plants can also be equipped with a mechanical smoke exhaust system. The use of a mechanical smoke exhaust system may be the result of specifications in local building codes and regulations or in the building permit. An MSE system uses motor-driven fans/ventilators to suck smoke out of the building either directly or through an installed duct system. At the same time, a comparable amount of fresh air is fed in through backflow openings. This creates a stable low-smoke layer of air in the lower area of the room where the fire can be fought and people can be rescued. At the same time, the thermal load on the building structure is reduced by targeted heat removal. This makes firefighting operations easier and increases the safety of the firefighters. In addition, at lower temperatures there is a higher chance that a burning building can still be saved. An MSE helps make it possible to rescue people who are still in the building and helps to protect property as well as prevent operating failures. It can also be used for general ventilation as well as for ventilation after a gas leak, such as CO, NO2 or LPG.
What components make up an MSE system?
An MSE system solution is usually customised for a property. In other words, it is planned and then manufactured based on the application. It is therefore not really suitable for mass production. However, such a system does usually consist of smoke extraction fans, automated intake air openings, smoke extraction flaps or fire dampers, smoke detectors and a control panel such as the CPS-M from D+H. The individual components of the system are combined into a complete system, installed and calibrated. After that, the CPS-M guarantees fully automated and coordinated operation of the system. In case of fire, the system activates automatically as soon as smoke is detected. The system can also be triggered manually at any time.
How mechanical smoke extraction works using a D+H solution
D+H has developed a fully comprehensive controller for all application areas, such as a mechanical smoke exhaust system. The CPS-M from D+H is a modular control panel for controlling systems designed to prevent the spread of smoke, heat and fire – and it can be expanded to meet individual requirements. It controls and monitors all components and regulates the power supply for the entire system. In everyday use, it is also suitable for controlling ventilation systems in buildings.
Above all, however, it demonstrates its special capability in complex MSE systems. The programming and structure is based on fire scenarios or on relevant guidelines for the design of ventilation systems. This means, for example, the controller can be used in underground car parks. If sensors detect too much carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the underground car park, then smoke extraction fans controlled by the CPS-M will be started.
Convenient configuration using the D+H SCS software
To automate an MSE system from D+H, all you need is the SCS software developed by D+H. Installers have been using this particularly user-friendly software for years to configure and run diagnostics on larger networks. The CPS-M is easy to configure with this software using drag and drop. It is just as easy to combine multiple lines of detectors and groups of drives with one another in large and complex networks. In this case, it doesn't matter which controller the individual components are connected to. The software can be used to configure all the elements from any desired location.
The CPS-M is thus configured in the familiar environment of the software. It is also just as easy to configure all of the components of the MSE system. When doing so, the installer can rely on familiar functions such as SHEV links. The option of assigning custom names to individual components in the network gives you a clearer overview – even in the case of complex networks. The complete configuration is stored in the network so that no database or similar solution is required for a read-out. Multiple D+H controllers are networked via the VdS-certified bus system AdComNet from D+H. This technology allows control panels to be combined to form a single decentralised and overarching system. This involves linking the controllers in such a way that complex scenarios and individual smoke compartments can be configured depending on space utilisation.
Simple integration into the building technology
The CPS-M supports the Modbus RTU, KNX and BACnet protocols, which means status signals of the individual components and control signals can be forwarded to the building management system (BMS). A shared touch panel can be used to display the operating status of multiple control units in the building. As a result, you can keep track of everything even in large, extensive systems with many nodes.
Natural ventilation is also possible with an MSE system
The principle of a mechanical smoke and heat exhaust system is also generally suitable for the natural ventilation of buildings or individual rooms. The main reason is the theoretical possibility of high air exchange in the shortest conceivable time. To control ventilation, a flexible, high-performance MSE control panel such as the CPS-M is required (for simultaneous operation of the ventilation cycles and of the entire mechanical smoke exhaust system) as well as, in some cases, additional sensors. This enables stale air, aerosols and gases to be quickly expelled. This additional ventilation function can be easily controlled with a touch panel.
Interested building operators or specialist planners are welcome to find our MSE specialists here.
