Smoke and fire dynamics in atria and large enclosures: an overview

Abstract

The inclusion of atria within modern large buildings is relatively recent. An atrium can be defined as a large open space connecting two or more storeys. Atria are important architectonical features since the 60’s and can be found among others in shopping centres, office buildings and high-rise buildings, airports, stations and sports centres. However, the atria represent a new, innovative, complex and non conventional architectonical element that can lead to fire environments diverging significantly from those used for the development of current codes and standards. Atria are a source of discussion in the fire safety community because smoke can easily spread from one floor to another making the traditional methodologies for compartmentation of little or null effect. The design of smoke management in atria was/has been based on prescriptive codes since the 70’s. It was at mid 80´s when the study of fire within atria started, both experimentally and numerically. Since then, many researches, improvements and developments have been carried out and achieved. It is because of the subsequent improved understanding on fire and smoke dynamics together with the increased computing power that nowadays there is a progressive movement from prescriptive-based to more performance-based codes. The aim of the present review is to provide the reader with a broad overview of the current state-of-the-art of fires in atria. A brief introduction to the characteristics and types of atrium structures is presented first. Then, a description of the fire dynamics as well as the main problems that arise in case of fire within atria is included. An historical discussion of the state-of-the-art of experimental and numerical studies is presented in detail and current design methodologies are discussed. The final part of the review deals with the present proposals towards the introduction of performance-based fire protection codes and regulations. The review discusses current trends and perspective of this field. It also highlights the numerous improvements achieved and the need for extensive studies and interaction between numerical and experimental investigation.