What is a smoke clearance ?

Smoke control and smoke clearance are two closely related but distinct concepts in fire safety and emergency response. Smoke control refers to the measures taken to manage and control the spread of smoke during a fire event. It involves the use of mechanical systems and strategies to prevent the spread of smoke from the fire area to other parts of the building.Smoke control measures include the creation of smoke barriers, pressurization systems, exhaust systems, and natural or mechanical ventilation systems. These measures aim to reduce the amount of smoke in the building, maintain safe air pressure, and prevent the smoke from infiltrating other areas of the building.

On the other hand, smoke clearance is focused on removing smoke from a building after a fire has been extinguished. It involves the use of natural or mechanical ventilation systems to extract smoke and introduce fresh air into the affected areas. The goal of smoke clearance is to restore habitability and ensure a safe environment for re-entry.

Both smoke control and smoke clearance are critical components of fire safety and emergency response. While smoke control focuses on managing the spread of smoke during a fire event, smoke clearance focuses on removing the smoke from a building after a fire has been extinguished. Together, these concepts work to ensure that occupants are able to evacuate safely and that the fire is contained and cleaned up efficiently.