What regulations apply to smoke extraction in buildings in France?

Fire safety in buildings is governed by strict regulations. For both new buildings and renovations, the question of natural smoke ventilation is essential, with precise rules to be respected for each type of building. Want to find out more about the standards for natural smoke ventilation? SKYDÔME can help!

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Do you know the smoke extraction rules for each type of building?

1) SMOKE EXTRACTION FOR INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS

Smoke extraction systems must be installed in industrial buildings for :

Premises over 300 m² in area
Blindp premises over 100 m² in area
Basement premises over 100 m² area
Staircases
Enclosed lift shafts
Compartments in buildings where the lowest floor on the top level is more than eight metres above ground level.

References texts (Labour Code)

Art. R 4216-13 à R 4216-16- Art. R 4216-26 and R 4216-27- Art. R 4216-29- Order of 5 August 1992- DRT Circular n°95-07 of 14 April 1955.
The smoke extraction solution chosen must also take into account the standards relating to ICPE installations (Installation Classified for Environmental Protection) and the APSAD R17 rule, a contractual document that defines the various criteria for calculating the useful surface area of an installation.

2) SMOKE EXTRACTION FROM PUBLIC-ACCESS BUILDINGS (ERP)

The legal safety provisions for public buildings are defined by the "safety regulations against the risks of fire and panic in public buildings", with specific general rules for smoke extraction:

For premises of less than 1000 m², the useful installation area will correspond to 1/200th of the floor area. For premises of more than 1000 m²: the useful installation area will comply with the calculation guidelines in IT 246. Premises over 2000 m² will be divided into smoke extraction sections with a maximum surface area of 1600 m². The length of a section must not exceed 60 m.

Legal reference texts

Order of 25 June 1980 as amended - Ministerial Technical Instruction IT 246 - Ministerial Technical Instruction IT 247.

Désenfumage ERP

3)SMOKE EXTRACTION IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Smoke extraction regulations for residential buildings apply to :

Collective dwellings of the 2nd and 3rd families A: staircase to be cleared of smoke (natural smoke extraction): opening (closed in standby position) of 1 m2 located at the top of the highest floor. Pressurised if natural smoke extraction is not possible.
3rd family B collective dwellings: staircase + horizontal corridors to be cleared of smoke (or protected).
4th family collective dwellings: mechanical smoke extraction from horizontal corridors. Minimum extract airflow per extract unit = 1 m3/s with total extract airflow = N/2, N being the number of air supply units.

Legal reference text

Order of 31 January 1986, as amended.

Désenfumage maison d'habitation

4) SMOKE EXTRACTION FROM HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS

The construction of high-rise buildings and their protection against the risks of fire and panic are subject to regulations designed to ensure that their occupants and neighbours are protected against the risks of fire and panic.

These installations must comply with the provisions of the safety regulations and implement smoke extraction solutions for :

Shared horizontal corridors.
Staircases with an outlet at the top with a minimum clear surface area of 1 m².

Désenfumage immeubles