Title: Means for retarding the spread of fire from a building space

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Abstract: Means for retarding the spread of fire from a building space, comprising an upwardly extending duct, the cross-sectional area of which is related by formulae to the cross-sectional area for air intake to the space, and has an access gate at the lower end for connecting the duct with the building space, and preferably a release gate at the upper end for connecting the duct with the outside atmosphere. Preferably the access gate and release gate are thermally actuated by having heat destructible components which are destroyed by flames from a fire in the space. The cross-sectional area of the duct and of the air intake are determined by design to i) drain away flames and smoke, ii) produce a depression in the building space thereby retarding the spread of fire, and iii) draw sufficient air to the building space to ensure relatively low fire temperature and a relatively short fire duration. The same ducts may serve a number of building spaces above one another at different floor levels. Open plan buildings and corridors may have drop curtains which isolate the or each building space in the event of fire, but leave openings for the designed air intake.


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