What Influences Smoke's Behavior?

3/29/2019 (Permalink)

There are several factors that influence smoke behavior. Understanding these factors will help the Project Manager understand where the odors went and how to remove them. They are as follows:

• Combustion temperatures
• Air pressure changes
• Magnetism
• Ionization
• Impingement

In every fire, some surfaces will become deeply embedded with soot and smoke odors while others will be less affected. The high temperatures generated by combustion create expansion of the air, forcing smoke-laden air deep into cracks, crevices and outside walls, glass and metallic fixtures.

Metallic surfaces can become magnetized when heated. Smoke particles, which also carry electrical charges, are attracted to the screw heads and other metallic fasteners used to fix drywall and other materials to a stud wall, also know as "nail pops".

Ionization refers to particles of smoke with opposite charges attracting to each other. The formations of these smoke chains are referred to as "soot webs". Soot webs mimic cobwebs. They are usually found at upper corners of rooms, around drapery pleats, or inside of cabinets or drawers due to the unique air movement in and around these spaces. The presence of soot webs indicates combustion of synthetic materials, not spider webs or cobwebs as some believe.