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Colt International has developed a new Extended Corridor Solution for means-of-escape corridors in residential buildings. Compared with conventional Automated Opening Vent (AOV) corridors, claims the company, this system offers space and cost saving benefits, while providing a safe evacuation route, with increased smoke extraction. It also aids firefighters by rapidly clearing smoke during the latter stages of a fire.
The first such system is currently being installed in a residential building at the Angel Meadows development in Manchester. By extending the escape distance in the corridor from 7.5m to 18.0m in one direction, it was possible to omit one staircase, gaining useable space and saving building costs.
Colt says that Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) models show its Extended Corridor Solution will out perform the smoke clearing capabilities of conventional dead-end corridors that are compliant with Approved Document B. This document refers to corridors limited to an escape distance of 7.5 m or less, relying on Automated Opening Vents (AOV) of 1.5m2 free area for smoke evacuation.
The solution consists of a corridor extraction system at one end of the corridor and a dedicated air inlet system at the other. Inlet air prevents the corridor from becoming excessively depressurised, which could make it difficult for evacuees and firefighters to open doors, as well as causing extract fans to stall.
Simon O’Hea, marketing director of Colt International, commented: “We expect plenty of interest in the Extended Corridor Solution, principally because of the great space and cost savings it provides developers. However, this does not mean a compromise in safety; its excellent smoke-extraction technology will also save lives.”