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SOLARIS
SPECIAL INSPECTION SERVICES
SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEM
PRELIMINARY
Initial Phase
INTRODUCTION
Special inspection services for the Solaris smoke control system are performed by Thompson
LifeSafety Consulting on behalf of Schirmer Engineering Corporation. Schirmer Engineering
provided the Smoke Control Rational Analysis for the smoke control system design and retained
Thompson LifeSafety Consulting to provide the special inspection and commissioning services
for the smoke control system.
The Solaris project in Vail, Colorado, is being developed in phases with the Town of Vail. The
smoke control system for Solaris, however, is being brought on line for the entire building at the
initial phase and will remain in service for the duration of completion of construction and for the
life of the building.
Consideration is being given to the construction process with the utilization of temporary heat
detection in construction areas used for activation of the smoke control system in locations
where smoke detection will be provided once construction is complete in those areas. This will
prevent false activation of alarms as well as the smoke control system from the dirty and dusty
environment of construction. Other than this consideration, the entire smoke control system is
permanent in nature at the initial phase.
BACKGROUND
The Solaris smoke control system is a very simplistic design consisting of pressurization of six
stairwell shafts and two elevator hoistway shafts. Each shaft is independently pressurized with a
dedicated pressurization fan for each shaft. Smoke control system design detail is provided in
the Smoke Control Rational Analysis for the project. This Smoke Control Rational Analysis has
been approved and is on file with the Town of Vail.
Activation of the smoke control system occurs for each of the pressurized shafts simultaneously
upon initiation from specific life safety system devices in the building. Smoke control activation
will occur upon initiation of any one of the following:
1. Initiation of an automatic sprinkler system flow switch in the building.
2. Initiation of a fire alarm smoke detector located in close proximity (5— 10 ft) of a
pressurized stairwell entrance door on any level of the building. In construction zones
(levels) during early phases of the project, these devices may be temporary heat
detectors due to the dirty environment and avoidance of false initiation.
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Solaris
Speciai Inspection Services
Smoke Control System
Preliminary
3. Initiation of a fire alarm smoke detector in the elevator lobby of a pressurized elevator
hoistway on any level of the building. In construction zones (levels) during early phases
of the project, these devices may be temporary heat detectors due to the dirty
environment and avoidance of false initiation.
There are some locations in the building where a pressurized stairwell entrance door is also a
dwelling unit exit door. These dwelling unit exit doors are considered second exits from these
dwelling units. In these instances fire alarm detection devices are provided within the dwelling
unit within close proximity of the pressurized stairwell entrance door. In most cases these
dwelling unit devices are smoke detectors that upon initiation will activate smoke control
systems throughout the building as well as activating notification within the specific dwelling unit
only.
In at least one instance the dwelling unit second exit door is not only an entrance to a
pressurized stair but is also residing directly in the dwelling unit kitchen area. To avoid false
alarms and false activation of the smoke control system resulting from typical kitchen process
generated smoke (burnt food, etc.) in this dwelling unit, the device within close proximity to the
pressurized stairwell entrance door is a heat detector instead of a smoke detector. However,
activation of this fire alarm heat detector will not only activate the building smoke control system
throughout but will also activate the building fire alarm system general alarm.
SPECIAL INSPECTION TESTING
The testing of the smoke control system was conducted in two phases. The testing of the
mechanical features of the smoke control system was conducted on February 16, 2010. The
functional or sequence of operation features of the smoke control system was conducted on
March 21, 2010.
Mechanical Features
During the mechanical feature testing of the smoke control system the fire alarm system was
not substantially complete. Activation of the smoke control system was performed by manual
initiation of a fire alarm system flow switch that was in place.
The initial portion of this test consisted of verification of the firefighter smoke control panel
(FSCP) being operational by witnessing proper status indication as well as manually controlling
each pressurization fan from the FSCP while witnessing proper operation of the outside air
damper and starting/stopping of each fan. Times were identified for the process of manually
turning a fan on from the FSCP as well as for changing from on status to off status and vice
versa. Verification of proper sequence of the position of the outside air damper in relation to the
fan status was performed. Also inspected was the manual control of each of the elevator
hoistway smoke vents with verification of each vent position.
Manual activation of the flow switch results in activation of the entire smoke control system as
was the design of this system. Other than through the manual control of individual components
via the FSCP, the smoke control system is either entirely on or entirely off through automatic
means except when initiation of a smoke detector at the top of any shaft occurs, resulting in that
associated fan to shut down. The remainder of this test was a test of the pressure differential
across each individual door as well as a test of the door force necessary to open each door
while the smoke control system was on. Pressure differentials were measured across each door
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Solaris
Special Inspection Services
Smoke Control System
Preliminary
by use of a pressure differential manometer gauge with rubber hose to pass beneath the door.
Door opening force was measured for each door with a pressure force gauge applied at the
proper location for opening each door. Pressure differentials were verified to be above the code
prescribed minimum of 0.1 inches water column and below the calculated 0.4 inches of water
column where these specific doors approach their 30 Ib force opening limit. Door opening force
measurements were verified to be less than the 30 Ib opening limit.
Sequence of Operation Features
At the completion of the fire alarm system installation and approval from the engineer of record
for the fire alarm system that the system was installed and tested for this initial phase of the
project, the sequence of operations of the fire alarm system and smoke control system were
tested.
Activation of the smoke control system as a result of initiation of specific fire alarm devices as
described above was verified.
Sequence of operation of the following was verified:
1. Initiation of the smoke detector in the top of each stairwell shaft to automatically shut
down the associated fan once the smoke control system had been activated.
2. Verification that the elevator smoke vent opens upon initiation of the smoke detector in
the top of each pressurized elevator hoistway shaft.
Manual control of each fan from the FSCP subsequent to initiation of the smoke detector at the
top of each shaft was also verified.
Visual Inspection
The entire smoke control system was also visually inspected. Visual inspections included proper
labeling of smoke control associated equipment. Fire alarm devices that are associated with
smoke control were verified to be labeled as such. Building automation equipment associated
with the smoke control system was verified to be labeled as such. Visual inspections also
included inspection of proper construction techniques. Shaft construction was visually inspected
to be tight and without obvious leakage points. Fire-resistance rated construction of rooms
where smoke control system equipment resides was inspected for proper fire stopping and
construction techniques.
Emerqency Power Observation
The smoke control system was observed to properly operate while transfer of the building
normal power to the building emergency generator power takes place. Likewise, it was
observed that activation of the smoke control system occurs while the building emergency
generator power is on. Allowable times for the system to switch over were observed.
TEST RESULTS AND FINDINGS
The following items are identified as punch list items that need correction as a result of the
special inspection of the smoke control system:
1. The normal (white) LED on the FSCP for Stair 5 is burnt out and needs replaced.
Page 3 of 3
Solaris
Special Inspection Services
Smoke Control System
Preliminary
2. It has been discovered that the pre-programmed weekly self test does not latch fault
conditions to the FSCP. This is a condition not capable of this system as it was built by
the manufacturer. As a result, an initial print out of the pre-programmed weekly self test
must be provided. In addition, it is required that the print out of this weekly test be
maintained on record in a 3 ring binder in the Fire Command Center for observation by
the Town of Vail Fire Department. This was an agreement with Deputy Chief, Mike
McGee with the Town of Vail Fire Department.
3. At the time of testing, the fire alarm contractor did not have the ability to change the pre-
programmed time at which the weekly self test of the smoke control system occurs. As
such, this special inspector was not able to test the weekly self test and verify that this
test does not interFere with proper operation of activation of the smoke control system
during the weekly self test. This testing remains to be performed by this special
inspector.
CONCLUSION
Special inspection test results of the Solaris smoke control system for this initial phase are
considered acceptable. The smoke control system is considered in proper installation and
operation for the initial phase of the building construction. This testing and report is considered
preliminary as the smoke control system will require subsequent testing and verification at the
final phase of construction. Any cause for suspicion that the smoke control system has been
modified or changed during the intermediate phases of construction would also be cause for
subsequent testing of the smoke control system before the final phase of construction.
As special inspector for the Solaris smoke control system I approve the system ready initial
phase of the project.
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March 23, 2010
Brian O. Thompson, PE
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