Combined ducting system for ventilation and smoke extraction

If you want to protect a building against fire, you need a reliable smoke extraction system. When a fire breaks out, a fast and effective extraction of smoke via channels, dampers and fans will help people to escape the building safely. It will also allow the fire fighters to detect and extinguish the fire. Until today, fire smoke extraction channels needed to be installed next to the existing service channels for ventilation, air conditioning and heating. This not only makes the construction more complex and expensive, but it also increases the carbon footprint of a building.

To develop a solution that is both cost-effective and sustainable, Promat joined forces with scientists from Ghent University to design and test a revolutionary new system that combines the 2 main functions - ventilation and smoke extraction – within only one channel. This optimised combined ducting system dramatically reduces the need for raw materials, labour, maintenance and most of all, saves energy and tons of carbon during its lifetime. This new solution was successfully installed during the renovation of the Pergamon Museum in Berlin and shows how fire safety and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Today’s renovation wave invites architects and building engineers to redefine the role of existing buildings to make them energy friendly and sustainable. As older buildings often lack space for extra systems and services, this new combined ducting system brings the architect the best of both worlds: we now can create a well-insulated and ventilated building that meets the highest fire safety standards.