National Research Council o f Canada

Conseil n a t i o n a l de recherches du Canada

AIR LEAKAGE DATA FOR THE DESIGN OF ELEVATOR AND

STAIR SHAFT PRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS

by G . T . Tarnura and C . Y . Shaw

R e p r i n t e d from
ASHRAE TRANSACTIONS 1 9 76
Vol. 8 2 , Part 2 ,
p . 179 - 190

DBR Paper No. 717

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No. 2413

AIR LEAKAGE DATA FOR THE DESIGN OF ELEVATOR

AND STAIR SHAFT PRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS
CEORGE T. TAMURA CHlA YU SHAW
.\\ember ASHRAE

Smoke migration as a r e s u l t o f f i r e can contaminate e l e v a t o r and s t a i r s h a f t s , posing a s e r i o u s

t h r e a t t o f i r e f i g h t e r s and occupants, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n h i g h - r i s e b u i l d i n g s where t h e time f o r
evacuation can be long and t h e f i r e must be fought from i n s i d e . Measures t o p r e v e n t smoke
contamination of e l e v a t o r and s t a i r s h a f t s , t h e r e f o r e , a r e an e s s e n t i a l p a r t of t h e o v e r - a l l
f i r e p r o t e c t i o n system f o r h i g h - r i s e b u i l d i n g s .

P r e s s u r i z a t i o n o f a s h a f t i s one means of maintaining it t e n a b l e d u r i n g a f i r e . This

involves i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r e s s u r e s i n s i d e t h e s h a f t above t h o s e of a d j a c e n t f l o o r spaces by
i n j e c t i n g outdoor a i r i n t o t h e s h a f t with a supply f a n . The d i r e c t i o n of a i r flow would then be
from t h e s h a f t t o t h e f l o o r s p a c e s , p r e v e n t i n g t h e smoke g e n e r a t e d by a f i r e from m i g r a t i n g i n t o
t h e s h a f t . The a i r s u p p l i e d t o t h e s h a f t n o t only a s s i s t s i n p r e v e n t i n g smoke e n t r y b u t a l s o
h e l p s t o d i l u t e smoke which might have migrated i n t o t h e s h a f t p r i o r t o a c t i v a t i o n of t h e
p r e s s u r i z a t i o n system o r when s e v e r a l s h a f t doors a r e opened d u r i n g e v a c u a t i o n and f i r e f i g h t i n g

There a r e v a r i o u s approaches t o t h e d e s i g n of p r e s s u r i z a t i o n systems ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 ) , b u t

i n a l l d e s i g n s a knowledge of t h e a i r t i g h t n e s s of t h e s h a f t w a l l s i s needed t o c a l c u l a t e t h e
supply a i r r a t e needed t o a c h i e v e t h e r e q u i r e d l e v e l of p r e s s u r i z a t i o n . Such information i s n o t
r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e a t p r e s e n t , and hence, a r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t was undertaken t o o b t a i n a i r leakage
v a l u e s of t h e w a l l s of e l e v a t o r and s t a i r s h a f t s . In a d d i t i o n , t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s c h a r a c t e r -
i s t i c s of s t a i r s h a f t s were determined, a s t h e flow r e s i s t a n c e of t h e winding s t a i r c a s e can have
a s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t on t h e v e r t i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of p r e s s u r i z a t i o n .

The e l e v a t o r and s t a i r s h a f t s of e i g h t m u l t i s t o r y b u i l d i n g s r a n g i n g i n h e i g h t from 9 t o 22

s t o r i e s were t e s t e d , and t h e r e s u l t s a r e h e r e i n r e p o r t e d .

METHOD OF TEST

A 50,000-cfm (23.5-m3/s) vane a x i a l f a n was used t o conduct t h e s h a f t a i r leakage t e s t s (Fig. 1).

The f a n Nas mounted on a t r a i l e r s o t h a t it could be t r a n s p o r t e d e a s i l y t o t h e b u i l d i n g s under
t e s t . The f a n i s equipped w i t h v a r i a b l e p i t c h e d blades t h a t p e r m i t manual c o n t r o l of t h e supply
a i r r a t e . The s o u r c e of power supply was e i t h e r a 550-volt c i r c u i t o f t h e b u i l d i n g , i f one was
r e a d i l y a c c e s s i b l e , o r a mobile g e n e r a t o r .

The t r a i l e r and f a n were p l a c e d o u t s i d e and a d j a c e n t t o t h e b u i l d i n g . A s e a l e d plywood box

was placed on t h e ground f l o o r i n f r o n t of t h e door opening of t h e s h a f t t o be t e s t e d . The
e l e v a t o r c a r was moved away from t h e ground f l o o r p r i o r t o i n s t a l l i n g t h e plywood box t o p r e v e n t
t h e c a r from i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h t h e a i r i n j e c t i o n . The d i s c h a r g e s i d e of t h e f a n was connected
t o t h e plywood box by means o f a number of 3 - f t (0.914-m) d i a m e t e r aluminum d u c t s ( F i g . 2 ) .
T o t a l p r e s s u r e averaging t u b e s and s t a t i c p r e s s u r e t a p s were i n s t a l l e d i n t h e ductwork f o r
measuring t h e r a t e of supply a i r . These were c a l i b r a t e d w i t h p i t o t t r a v e r s e s which i n d i c a t e d
t h a t t h e accuracy of t h e flow measurement was w i t h i n 5%.

The a i r leakage measurements of each s h a f t were conducted i n two s t e p s : f i r s t l y with a l l

door c r a c k s s e a l e d with t a p e (between door frame and wall n o t s e a l e d ) and t h e n w i t h a l l t a p e

G.T. Tamura and C . Y . Shaw a r e Research O f f i c e r s i n t h e Energy and S e r v i c e s S e c t i o n , Division of

Building Research, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
removed. Each s t e p involved p r e s s u r i i i n g t h e s h a f t with t h e supply a i r f a n a t f o u r flow r a t e s
a d j u s t e d t o g i v e s h a f t p r e s s u r i z a t i o n of up t o about 0.50 i n . of water (125 N/m2). The r e s u l t a n t
p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a c r o s s t h e s h a f t w a l l a t s e v e r a l l e v e l s were measured w i t h a p r e s s u r e
meter (diaphragm t y p e w i t h s i l i c o n p i e z o - r e s i s t i v e gauge; s t a t i c e r r o r band o f 5% f u l l - s c a l e
o u t p u t ) t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e concomitant s u p p l y a i r r a t e s . The a i r leakage measurements with a l l
door c r a c k s s e a l e d g i v e t h e a i r leakage c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e s h a f t w a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n , and with
t h e door s e a l s removed, g i v e t h e o v e r a l l a i r leakage c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e s h a f t e n c l o s u r e . The
d i f f e r e n c e between t h e two r e p r e s e n t s t h a t of t h e d o o r s .

The d e t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e a i r leakage c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h e e l e v a t o r s h a f t wall c o n s t r u c t i o n

r e q u i r e d , i n a d d i t i o n , e s t i m a t i n g t h e leakage flow through t h e t o p of t h e s h a f t , a s it can be
s u b s t a n t i a l . The leakage openings i n t h e s u b - f l o o r of t h e e l e v a t o r machine room, i . e . , openings
f o r v e n t s , c a r c a b l e s and o t h e r e l e v a t o r a c c e s s o r i e s t h a t could n o t e a s i l y be covered and s e a l e d
f o r t h e t e s t , were measured with a measuring t a p e , and t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e a c r o s s t h e sub-
f l o o r was recorded d u r i n g t h e t e s t . From t h e s e measurements t h e leakage flow through t h e t o p of
t h e s h a f t was c a l c u l a t e d u s i n g t h e e q u a t i o n f o r an o r i f i c e and s u b s t r a c t e d from t h e t o t a l flow
through t h e s h a f t with t h e doors s e a l e d t o a r r i v e a t t h e leakage flow through t h e s h a f t wall
construction.

To measure t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of a s t a i r s h a f t , p l a s t i c t u b e s 1/4 i n .
(6.35 mm) i n d i a m e t e r were s t r u n g v e r t i c a l l y i n t h e s t a i r s h a f t from t h e t o p , t e r m i n a t i n g a t
s e v e r a l l e v e l s s o t h a t t h e ends of t h e t u b e s served a s p r e s s u r e t a p s . A l l s t a i r doors were
s e a l e d except f o r t h e one a t t h e t o p which was l e f t open t o expose t h e t o p of t h e s t a i r s h a f t t o
outdoor ambient p r e s s u r e . Outdoor a i r was i n j e c t e d i n t o t h e s t a i r s h a f t and allowed t o flow up
and o u t through t h e open s t a i r door a t t h e t o p . The p r e s s u r e drop i n s i d e t h e s t a i r s h a f t
t o g e t h e r with t h e supply a i r r a t e were measured d u r i n g t h e t e s t .

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e t e s t e l e v a t o r s h a f t s and s t a i r s h a f t s a r e given i n Table 1 and 2 which

a l s o g i v e t h e dimensions o f b o t h s h a f t and door and t h e t y p e of wall c o n s t r u c t i o n . The
average door c r a c k s given i n t h e t a b l e s a r e based on measurements o f a t l e a s t t e n doors of each
s h a f t w i t h t h r e e measurements p e r s i d e of each door. The e s t i m a t e d s i z e s of t h e opening a t t h e
t o p of t h e e l e v a t o r s h a f t a r e a l s o i n c l u d e d i n Table 1.

A i r Leakage C h a r a c t e r i s t i c of E l e v a t o r S h a f t s

The a i r leakage c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e s h a f t wall of e l e v a t o r s h a f t s i n terms of volume

flow r a t e p e r u n i t w a l l a r e a v s p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e , shown on F i g . 3 , i n d i c a t e consider"ab1e
v a r i a t i o n i n t h e i r v a l u e s . Those of masonry c o n s t r u c t i o n e i t h e r of c o n c r e t e o r hollow c l a y
t i l e block, i n c l u d i n g a ~ h a f t ~ c o n s t r u c t efdr o n t and back of c a s t - i n - p l a c e c o n c r e t e with t h e two
s i d e s o f c o n c r e t e block, gave t h e h i g h e s t leakage v a l u e s of about 1.80 cfm p e r s q f t
(0.00914 m 3 / s p e r m2) of w a l l a r e a a t a p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e of 0.30 i n . o f water (75.0 N/m2) .
Those c o n s t r u c t e d e n t i r e l y of c a s t - i n - p l a c e c o n c r e t e o r a combination o f c a s t - i n - p l a c e c o n c r e t e
on t h r e e s i d e s and c o n c r e t e block on t h e f r o n t s i d e were about o n e - t h i r d o f t h i s v a l u e . A s t h e
c a s t - i n - p l a c e c o n c r e t e w a l l i t s e l f can b e expected t o be r e l a t i v e l y a i r t i g h t , it i s l i k e l y
t h a t t h e leakage flow i n t h e l a t t e r c a s e s occurred mainly through c r a c k openings between door
frame and w a l l and p i p e chases f o r e l e c t r i c a l c o n d u i t s ( l i g h t s , c a l l b u t t o n s , e t c . ) i n t h e
s h a f t walls.

The leakage openings a t t h e t o p of t h e e l e v a t o r s h a f t (Table l ) , determined with a

measuring t a p e , v a r i e d from 4.2 t o 10.5 s q f t (0.39 t o 0.97 m2) except f o r 0.50 s q f t (0.046 m2)
f o r E l e v a t o r S h a f t No. 5,whose openings i n t h e c o n c r e t e f l o o r s l a b were found t o be covered i n
p a r t with s h e e t m e t a l . The p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a c r o s s t h e t o p of t h e e l e v a t o r s h a f t ( s u b - f l o o r
of e l e v a t o r machine room) with t h e s h a f t p r e s s u r i z e d were about o n e - h a l f t h o s e a c r o s s t h e
s h a f t walls.

The a i r leakage v a l u e s f o r e l e v a t o r doors shown on F i g . 4 v a r i e d from 650 t o 950 cfm

(0.307 t o 0.448 m3/s) a t a p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e of 0.30 i n . of water (75.0 N/m2). The average
v a l u e of t h e flow exponent i s about 0.55 which i s s i m i l a r t o t h a t f o r a flow through an o r i f i c e .
The leakage v a l u e s a t 0.30 i n . o f water (75.0 N/m2) c o r r e l a t e approximately with t h e average
crack width around t h e door which v a r i e d from 0.19 t o 0.27 i n . (4.8 t o 6 . 8 mm), a s shown on
F i g . 5 . The a i r leakage v a l u e f o r p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e AP o t h e r t h a n 0.30 i n . of water
(75.0 N/m2) can be o b t a i n e d by m u l t i p l y i n g t h e v a l u e given i n F i g . 5 by ( A P / O . ~ O o) r~ . ~ ~
( A ~ / 7 5 ) 0 . 5 5 f o r v a l u e s i n B r i t i s h and S1 u n i t s r e s p e c t i v e l y .
 An ad hoc t e s t was conducted on E l e v a t o r S h a f t No. 1 t o determine t h e e f f e c t i v e opening
formed by a combination of an open e l e v a t o r door and an e l e v a t o r c a r . A 3000-cfm (1.42 m3/s)
f a n was used t o p r e s s u r i z e t h e box placed i n f r o n t of t h e open e l e v a t o r door and t h e flow r a t e s
and t h e r e s u l t a n t p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a c r o s s t h e s h a f t wall were measured. From t h e s e
measurements t h e leakage a r e a i n terms of an e q u i v a l e n t o r i f i c e a r e a was c a l c u l a t e d t o be about
6 . 0 s q f t (0.56 m2).

A i r Leakage C h a r a c t e r i s t i c of S t a i r S h a f t s

The a i r leakage r a t e s of t h e w a l l s of t h e t e s t s t a i r s h a f t s a r e given i n Fig. 6 . They a r e

i n t h e range of t h e a i r leakage r a t e s f o r w a l l s of e l e v a t o r s h a f t s c o n s t r u c t e d of c a s t - i n - p l a c e
c o n c r e t e . The v a r i a t i o n i n t h e a i r leakage r a t e s i s probably due t o extraneous leakages around
door frames, e l e c t r i c a l c o n d u i t s f o r l i g h t i n g , and s e r v i c e p a n e l s i n t h e w a l l s . The r e l a t i v e l y
high a i r leakage r a t e f o r S t a i r S h a f t No. 6 was probably caused by l a r g e c r a c k s around t h e door
frames through which t h e flow of leakage a i r was f e l t d u r i n g t h e t e s t .

The a i r leakage r a t e s f o r t h e s t a i r doors given i n Fig. 7 i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e y vary from 240

t o 575 cfm (0.113 t o 0.271 m3/s) p e r door a t a p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e of 0.30 i n . of water
(75.0 F4/m2) and t h a t t h e y a r e r e l a t e d t o t h e average crack width between door and door frame
which ranged from 0.08 t o 0.18 i n . (2.03 t o 4.57 mm) (Fig. 5 ) .

P r e s s u r e Loss C h a r a c t e r i s t i c of S t a i r S h a f t s

P r e s s u r e l o s s e s i n s i d e t h e s t a i r s h a f t s were measured w i t h t h e a i r i n j e c t e d i n t o t h e s t a i r
s h a f t on t h e ground f l o o r and t h e s t a i r doors s e a l e d except f o r t h e door a t t h e t o p which was
l e f t open. Measured p r e s s u r e l o s s e s f o r t h e t e s t s t a i r s h a f t s , shown i n Fig. 8 i n d i c a t e t h a t
t h e y a r e l i n e a r w i t h t h e h e i g h t o f t h e s t a i r s h a f t . Also, t h e t o t a l p r e s s u r e l o s s e s f o r each
s t a i r s h a f t a t v a r i o u s flow r a t e s given i n Table 3 i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s i s d i r e c t l y
p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e s q u a r e of t h e flow r a t e .

I t appears t h a t t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s i n s i d e a s t a i r s h a f t behaves much l i k e t h a t caused by

f r i c t i o n i n a r e c t a n g u l a r a i r d u c t . An e q u a t i o n d e s c r i b i n g t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s i n s i d e a s t a i r
s h a f t , t h e r e f o r e , was based on t h a t f o r a r e c t a n g u l a r a i r d u c t .

where
APL = total pressure loss per floor, in. of w a t e r (~/rn')

K = pressure loss coefficient

L = height of s h a f t per f l o o r , f t (m)

De = e q u i v a l e n t d i a m e t e r , f t (m)

V = v e l o c i t y p r e s s u r e , i n . of water ( ~ / r n ~ )
P
The p r e s s u r e l o s s c o e f f i c i e n t K i s analogous t o f r i c t i o n f a c t o r f which depends on t h e
roughness of t h e i n t e r i o r s u r f a c e o f a d u c t .

The e q u i v a l e n t diameter can be c a l c u l a t e d a s f o l l o w s :

where
A = i n s i d e h o r i z o n t a l c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l a r e a of s h a f t , s q f t (m2)

P = o u t e r perimeter of t h e i n s i d e h o r i z o n t a l c r o s s - s e c t i o n of s h a f t ,
f t (m)

Also t h e v e l o c i t y p r e s s u r e of t h e flow of a i r a t s t a n d a r d c o n d i t i o n can be expressed a s follows:

where

Q = flow r a t e , cfm (m3/s)

Note - when S1 u n i t s a r e used, constant, 4005 i n Eq 3 i s r e p l a c e d by 1 . 2 9 .

The values of t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s c o e f f i c i e n t K c a l c u l a t e d from Eq 1 a r e given i n Table 3.

They a r e approximately c o n s t a n t a t d i f f e r e n t flow r a t e s f o r each s t a i r s h a f t . The v a l u e s of K
ranged from 32 t o 38 f o r t h e conventional s t a i r s h a f t s ( S t a i r S h a f t s No. 1 t o 7 ) . These values
compared with t h o s e f o r a i r d u c t s whose f r i c t i o n f a c t o r f v a r i e s from 0.01 t o 0.05 (7) i n d i c a t e
t h a t t h e flow r e s i s t a n c e i n t h e s t a i r s h a f t i s s e v e r a l o r d e r s g r e a t e r than t h a t of an a i r d u c t .

The s c i s s o r s t a i r s d i f f e r from t h e conventional s t a i r s h a f t i n t h a t t h e former c o n t a i n s two

s e p a r a t e s t a i r c a s e s i n t h e one s h a f t . In c a l c u l a t i n g t h e K v a l u e f o r t h e s c i s s o r s t a i r ,
t h e r e f o r e , one-half of t h e c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l a r e a of t h e s h a f t was taken t o determine t h e v e l o c i t y
p r e s s u r e . On t h i s b a s i s , t h e v a l u e of K f o r t h e s c i s s o r s t a i r ( S t a i r S h a f t No. 8) was found t o
be about 15, which i s l e s s t h a n one h a l f t h a t f o r t h e conventional s t a i r s h a f t . I t i s l i k e l y
t h a t t h e lower v a l u e of K f o r t h e s c i s s o r s t a i r s compared with t h a t f o r t h e conventional s t a i r
s h a f t i s mainly due t o t h e d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e number of 180-deg t u r n s : two p e r f l o o r f o r t h e
conventional s t a i r s h a f t and one p e r f l o o r f o r t h e s c i s s o r s t a i r s a s i t s s t a i r c a s e c o n t i n u e s
i n t h e same d i r e c t i o n between f l o o r s .

The flow r e s i s t a n c e of a s t a i r s h a f t can a l s o be r e p r e s e n t e d by an o r i f i c e a t each f l o o r

l e v e l assuming no r e s i s t a n c e between f l o o r s . The s i z e of t h e o r i f i c e can be c a l c u l a t e d from
t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s c o e f f i c i e n t K by t h e following equation.

where

A. = o r i f i c e a r e a , sq f t (m2)

Cd = c o e f f i c i e n t of d i s c h a r g e f o r an o r i f i c e (C = 0.60 f o r t u r b u l e n t flow)
d

This equation was obtained by equating Eq 1 and t h e equation f o r c a l c u l a t i n g p r e s s u r e l o s s

through an o r i f i c e . The c a l c u l a t e d v a l u e s of A,/A f o r t h e t e s t s t a i r s h a f t s a r e given i n
Table 3. I t i s seen t h a t t h e s i z e of t h e o r i f i c e v a r i e s from 24 t o 32% of t h e c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l
a r e a of t h e s h a f t .

The p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e a c r o s s a s h a f t wall a s a r e s u l t of p r e s s u r i z a t i o n depends n o t only

on t h e a i r leakage c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e s h a f t w a l l s but a l s o on t h o s e of t h e w a l l s i n t e r v e n i n g
between t h e p r e s s u r i z e d s h a f t and o u t s i d e . Where only a few s h a f t s a r e p r e s s u r i z e d , t h e e f f e c t
of t h e i n t e r v e n i n g w a l l s may n o t be s i g n i f i c a n t , but where a l a r g e number a r e p r e s s u r i z e d , t h e
p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a c r o s s t h e p r e s s u r i z e d s h a f t can be l e s s than expected, a s t h e leakage
flow would r a i s e t h e p r e s s u r e s of t h e f l o o r space a d j a c e n t t o t h e s h a f t . The c a l c u l a t i o n of
t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e s a c r o s s t h e w a l l s of a p r e s s u r i z e d s t a i r s h a f t i s f u r t h e r complicxited by
t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s e s t h a t occur i n s i d e it. I t s e f f e c t i s t o cause nonuniform p r e s s u r i z a t i o n of
t h e s t a i r s h a f t with t h e h i g h e s t p r e s s u r i z a t i o n near t h e p o i n t of a i r i n j e c t i o n and t h e l e a s t
a t t h e o p p o s i t e end ( 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 ) . T r i a l and e r r o r c a l c u l a t i o n s a r e r e q u i r e d t o achieve a
system which w i l l g i v e t h e r e q u i r e d l e v e l of p r e s s u r i z a t i o n b u t n o t exceed t h a t which w i l l
i n t e r f e r e with door o p e r a t i o n . A computer program t o a s s i s t i n t h e d e s i g n of p r e s s u r i z a t i o n
systems i s given i n Ref ( 8 ) .

CONCLUSION

The r e s u l t s of t h e a i r leakage t e s t s on e l e v a t o r and s t a i r s h a f t s of e i g h t m u l t i s t o r y b u i l d i n g s

a r e r e p o r t e d . They can be used i n t h e design of p r e s s u r i z a t i o n systems f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of
e l e v a t o r s and s t a i r s h a f t s from smoke contamination i n t h e event of a f i r e .

Fig. 3 g i v e s t h e a i r leakage of w a l l s of e l e v a t o r s h a f t s . I t i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e leakage

v a l u e s f o r w a l l s c o n s t r u c t e d of masonry u n i t s a r e c o n s i d e r a b l y h i g h e r than t h o s e of c a s t - i n -
p l a c e c o n c r e t e . Fig. 4 gives t h e a i r leakage r a t e s of e l e v a t o r d o o r s , which c o r r e l a t e d with
t h e average crack width between door and door frame a s shown on Fig. 5. Table 1 i n d i c a t e s t h a t
t h e t o t a l a r e a of openings a t t h e t o p of t h e s h a f t can be s u b s t a n t i a l ; t h e y v a r i e d from 0 . 5
t o 10.5 s q f t (0.046 t o 0.97 m2). F i e l d measurements i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p r e s s u r e d i f f e r e n c e
a c r o s s t h e openings a t t h e t o p of a p r e s s u r i z e d s h a f t can be taken t o be one-half of t h a t
a c r o s s t h e s h a f t wall. The a i r leakage r a t e of an open e l e v a t o r door w i t h t h e c a r i n p l a c e can
be c a l c u l a t e d assuming an e f f e c t i v e opening with an e q u i v a l e n t o r i f i c e a r e a of 6 . 0 s q f t
(0.56 m2).

The a i r leakage r a t e s of t h e w a l l s of s t a i r s h a f t s given i n Fig. 6 i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e y a r e

s i m i l a r t o t h o s e of t h e e l e v a t o r s h a f t s c o n s t r u c t e d of c a s t - i n - p l a c e c o n c r e t e , a s t h e w a l l s of
t h e t e s t s t a i r s h a f t s c o n s t r u c t e d of masonry were u s u a l l y e i t h e r parged o r p l a s t e r e d . The
v a r i a t i o n i n t h e a i r leakage r a t e s of t h e w a l l s of s t a i r s h a f t s could n o t be r e l a t e d t o t h e
type of wall c o n s t r u c t i o n a s was t h e c a s e f o r t h e e l e v a t o r s h a f t s . I t depended, probably, on
t h e workmanship i n s e a l i n g crack openings around door frames, l i g h t f i x t u r e s and s e r v i c e panels
i n t h e w a l l s . Fig. 7 g i v e s t h e a i r leakage r a t e s of s t a i r doors which c o r r e l a t e d with t h e
average crack width between door and door frame a s shown on Fig. 5.

The v a l u e of t h e p r e s s u r e l o s s c o e f f i c i e n t , K , was determined t o be about 35 f o r t h e

conventional s t a i r s h a f t and 15 f o r t h e s c i s s o r s t a i r s ; t h e l a t t e r v a l u e being based o n l y on
t h e one s t a i r s h a f t and, hence, r e q u i r i n g a d d i t i o n a l t e s t i n g t o confirm t h i s v a l u e . As t h e s e
values i n d i c a t e , t h e i n t e r n a l flow r e s i s t a n c e of a s t a i r s h a f t i s s u b s t a n t i a l and it must be
taken i n t o account, t h e r e f o r e , i n d e s i g n i n g a s t a i r s h a f t p r e s s u r i z a t i o n system.

REFERENCES

1.
DeCicco, P . R . , C r e s c i , R . J . , and C o r r e a l e , W.H., "Report of F i r e T e s t s , Analyses and
Evaluation of S t a i r P r e s s u r i z a t i o n and Exhaust i n High-Rise O f f i c e Buildings," Performed
f o r t h e New York C i t y F i r e Department. Center f o r Urban Environmental S t u d i e s ,
Polytechnic I n s t i t u t e of Brooklyn, September 1972.
2.
Koplon, N.A., "Report of t h e Henry Grady F i r e Tests," C i t y of A t l a n t a Building Department,
A t l a n t a , Georgia, January 1973.
5.
Fung, F.C.W., "Evaluation of a P r e s s u r i z e d S t a i r w e l l Smoke Control System f o r a 12 S t o r e y
Apartment Building," Center f o r Building Technology, I n s t i t u t e f o r Applied Technology,
National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. NBSIR 73-277, June 1973.
4'
Tamura, G.T., "Experimental S t u d i e s on Pressurized Escape Routes, "Division of Building
Research, National Research Council Canada, NRCC 14566, r e p r i n t e d from ASHRAE TRANSACTIONS
Vol. 80, P a r t 2, 1974.

E r d e l y i , B . J . , "Test R e s u l t s of a Ducted S t a i r w e l l P r e s s u r i z a t i o n System i n a High Rise

Building,It ASHRAE TRANSACTIONS P a r t I , Vol. 81, 1975.

Shaw, C .Y., Tamura G .T. , "Design of a S t a i r s h a f t P r e s s u r i z a t i o n System f o r T a l l Buildingst',

ASHRAE JOURNAL, February 1976.
7'
ASHRAE HANDBOOK OF FUNDAMENTALS, Chapter 5 , "Fluid Flow," 1972. -

Shaw, C.Y., Sander, D.M., and Tamura, G.T., "A F o r t r a n IV Program t o Simulate S t a i r - S h a f t
P r e s s u r i z a t i o n System i n Multi-Storey Buildings," Division of Building Research, National
Research Council Canada, DBR Computer Program No. 38, December 1974.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The a u t h o r s a r e indebted t o t h e Department of Public Works and Glenwood R e a l t y f o r t h e i r

cooperation i n making t h i s study p o s s i b l e , and wish t o acknowledge t h e a s s i s t a n c e of R.G. Evans
i n t h e f i e l d t e s t s and i n t h e p r o c e s s i n g o f t e s t r e s u l t s .

This paper i s a c o n t r i b u t i o n from t h e Division of Building Research, National Research

Council of Canada and i s published with t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e D i r e c t o r of t h e Division.
 Table 1

Description of Test Elevator S h a f t s

Shaft Average Opening

Inside Door Crack Width a t Top
Test Dimension Opening of Door of Shaft
Shaft No. o f No. of ft X ft f t X ft in. sq f t Wall
No. Stories Cars (m X m) (m X m) (m) (m21 Construction

cast-in-place
concrete except two
s i d e s of concrete block

c a s t - i n - - p l a c e concrete
except f r o n t of
concrete block

cast-in-place
concrete

concrete block

cast-in-place
concrete

c l a y t i l e block

cast-in-place
concrete except f r o n t
of concrete block
 Table 2

Description of Test S t a i r Shafts

Shaft Average
Inside Door Crack Width
Test No. of Dimension Opening of Door
Shaft Stories ft X ft ft X ft in. Wall
No. Served (m X m) (m X m) (mm) Construction

cast-in-place
concrete, parged

cast-in-place
concrete, parged

cast-in-place
concrete, parged

cast-in-place
concrete, parged

I(

cast-in-place concrete
except f r o n t and back
of concrete block

c a s t - i n place
concrete, parged

clay t i l e block
plastered

cast-in-place concrete
except f r o n t of clay
t i l e block

* double door
** s c i s s o r s t a i r s h a f t , a l l others a r e conventional s t a i r s h a f t s
 Table 3

P r e s s u r e Loss C o e f f i c i e n t s of S t a i r S h a f t

Flow Pressure
Test Height Rate Los S Pressure
Shaft ft. cfm i n . of water Coefficient Ao/A*
No. (m) (m31s) (N/m2) K per floor

* A. = flow r e s i s t a n c e i n terms of e q u i v a l e n t o r i f i c e a r e a p e r f l o o r , s q f t (m2)

A = c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l a r e a of s h a f t , s q f t (m2)

* * s c i s s o r s t a i r s h a f t , a l l o t h e r s a r e conventional s t a i r s h a f t s
Fig. 1 Air s u p p l y f a n a n d d u c t w o r k Fig. 2 A i r supply system
outside test building connected t o test
elevator shaft

2
PRESSURE D I F F E R E N C E A C R O S S S H A F T W A L L S , N/m

E L E V A T O R SHAFT
N O S . 3,s - CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE
N O S . 2.7 - CAST-IN-PLACE C O N C R E T E , EXCEPT 18.0
FRONT O F CONCRETE BLOCK
NO. 1 - CAST-IN-PLACE C O N C R E T E , EXCEPT
T W O SIDES O F C O N C R E T E B L O C K
NO. 4 - CONCRETE BLOCK 16.0
- NO. 6 - C L A Y TILE BLOCK

PRESSURE D I F F E R E N C E A C R O S S S H A F T W A L L S , I N C H O F W A T E R

Fig, 3 A i r l e a k a g e r a t e s of e l e v a t o r shaft walls

 PRESSURE D I F F E R E N C E A C R O S S E L E V A T O R DOOR, N/m 2

P
D O O R O P E N I N G S ARE
3 . 5 X 7 . 0 FT ( 1 . 0 7 X 2 . l 3 m )
EXCEPT 0.10
N O . 2 OF 4.0x7.0FT (1.22x2.13m)
N O . 3 OF 3.3x7.0FT (1.00x2.13m)

0.05

PRESSURE DIFFERENCE ACROSS ELEVATOR D O O R , I N C H O F WATER

Fig. 4 Air l e a k a g e r a t e s o f e l e v a t o r d o o r
 A V E R A G E C R A C K W I D T H BETWEEN D O O R
A N D D O O R FRAME, m m

NOTES
0.80
1. F L O W RATES AT PRESSURE D I F F E R E N C E A C R O S S
D O O R ( A P ) O F 0 . 3 0 I N C H O F WATER ( 7 5 N / ~ ~ )
FOR O T H E R h p , M U L T I P L Y L E A K A G E RATE BY
( A ~ / 0 . 3 0 ) ~O'R~ (~ A ~ / 7 5 ) ~ W
" ~
H E N 51 U N I T S 0.70
1400 -
ARE U S E D

i
2. F O R O T H E R D O O R S I Z E , A D J U S T L E A K A G E RATE
I N P R O P O R T I O N TO T O T A L CRACK L E N G T H
q
"5
0.60
l200
3 . AVERAGE CRACK WIDTH -
AVERAGE OF
0
M E A S U R E M E N T S O N F O U R SIDES E
LL
0
0 0.50
0 1000
e
W

W ELEVATOR DOOR 0.40

c 800 ( 3 . 5 FT BY 7 . 0 F T . 1 . 0 7 x 2 . 1 3 m )
4
LL

W
0 0.30
4 600
4
2
W
SlAlR DOOR
1 3 . 0 FT BY 7 . 0 F T , 0 . 9 1 4 X 2.13 m)
0.20
"- 400
4

200 0.10

0 0

A V E R A G E C R A C K W I D T H BETWEEN D O O R
A N D D O O R FRAME, I N C H

Fig. 5 A i r l e a k a g e r a t e of d o o r
vs a v e r a g e c r a c k w i d t h
PRESSURE DIFFERENCE ACROSS SHAFT WALLS, N/,'

STAIRSHAFT
- N O S . 1,2,3,4,6 - CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE,
PARGED
NO. 5 - C A S T - I N - P L A C E C O N C R E T E , PARGED
- EXCEPT F R O N T A N D BACK O F
CONCRETE BLOCK
NO. 7 - C L A Y T l L E B L O C K , PLASTERED
NO. 8 - C A S T - I N - P L A C E CONCRETE, PARGED
EXCEPT D O O R SIDE O F C L A Y T l L E
- BLOC K

PRESSURE DIFFERENCE ACROSS SHAFT WALLS, I N C H O F WATER

Fig. 6 A i r leakage r a t e s o f
stairshaft walls
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