Fire ventilation

chapter 1
Fire ventilation
The fundamental principle of fi re ventilation is to actively
attempt to change the pressure conditions prevailing in a
burning building with a view to releasing fi re gases. The
work methods, the choice of them, and the tactical structure
of the fi re and rescue operation depend on the objective
and purpose of the measures.
Objective and purpose of gas ventilation
The objective of fi re ventilation is to release heat and fi re
gases into the open. Depending on the type, confi guration
and implementation of the operation, this serves several
purposes. We use fi re ventilation to:
• Reduce the impact of fi re gases and heat on trapped
persons, and to facilitate their evacuation from the
building.
• Facilitate the fi re and rescue operation by reducing the
thermal load, and to improve visibility in the building
for the fi re fi ghting crew.
• Prevent or contain the spread of fi re or fi re gases
through a reduction of the impact of pressure and heat
in the building.
• Enable or facilitate salvage and overhaul at an early
stage of the fi re and rescue operation.
Openings and fi re ventilation
It is very often possible to utilise existing openings such as
doors, windows or vents for the purpose of ventilation. But
openings are also made in structures for the purpose of fi re
Fire ventilation can
have several purposes,
for example to reduce
the effect of smoke and
heat on trapped people
and to improve working
conditions for the fi re
fi ghting crew.
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