Why is smoke control accounted for in performance-based design?

Smoke control is a critical component of performance-based design because it directly addresses the need to minimize smoke damage and hazards during a fire event. Smoke can create serious threats to life safety and property by obscuring visibility, impairing evacuation efforts, and contributing to toxic conditions. By incorporating smoke control measures into the design, systems are instituted that manage the movement and accumulation of smoke to enhance safety for occupants and reduce damage to the building.

In performance-based design, the objective is to achieve specific performance criteria tailored to the unique characteristics of the building and its intended use. This can involve strategies such as smoke ventilation systems, smoke barriers, and pressurization of stairwells. These strategies are not only vital for maintaining a safe egress path for occupants but also serve to protect the integrity of the building’s structure and the contents within it.

While considerations like ease of access for fire crews, effectiveness of evacuation procedures, and overall cost efficiency are relevant to fire protection systems, they are secondary to the primary goal of minimizing smoke-related hazards. Therefore, focusing on the design aspects that reduce smoke exposure and damage is crucial in ensuring an effective response during a fire incident.