Navigating smoke control requirements in building design can be challenging, especially with the variety of building types, occupancies, and configurations outlined in the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) and other jurisdiction codes based on the IBC. Adding to the complexity, smoke control systems are often referred to by different names throughout the IBC. This cheat sheet streamlines these requirements, providing a clear and concise reference for engineers and architects.
Smoke control is required under the IBC in specific circumstances, including high-rise buildings, atriums, underground buildings, and more. Requirements are based on factors such as building height, occupancy type, and fire safety needs. For example, high-rise buildings mandate smokeproof enclosures for stairs and ventilation systems for smoke removal. Atriums may need smoke control depending on the number of connected stories and other criteria.
This cheat sheet is tailored for design professionals—engineers, architects, and consultants—who need a concise and informal resource to streamline code compliance checks. It provides quick insights into when and where smoke control systems are required, with references to relevant IBC sections for deeper dives into the details.
Disclaimer
This cheat sheet table is intended as general reference tools to guide engineers toward key code provisions but are not comprehensive. It omits various exceptions and details of the code requirements and may contain errors due to typos or misinterpretations by the author. Users are responsible for verifying the information, identifying any discrepancies, and sharing corrections with their team. Engineers must maintain a thorough understanding of the relevant codes and standards, referring directly to the official publications during design and review processes to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Tip: If you are viewing the cheat sheet tables on a cell phone, turn your phone sideways to landscape mode for better text readability and spacing.
| Building/Occupancy Type | Smoke Control Requirements | 2024 IBC Code Reference |
| Covered Mall and Open Mall Buildings | (1) Atriums connecting three or more stories in a covered mall building shall be provided with a smoke control system in accordance with Section 909. | (1) 402.7.2 |
| High Rise Buildings | (1) To facilitate smoke removal in post-fire salvage and overhaul operations, buildings and structures shall be equipped with natural or mechanical ventilation for removal of products of combustion in accordance with one of the following listed in 403.4.7. (2) Every required interior exit stairway serving floors more than 75 feet (22,860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access shall be a smokeproof enclosure in accordance with Sections 909.20 and 1023.12. | (1) 403.4.7 (2) 403.5.4 |
| Atriums | (1) A smoke control system shall be installed in accordance with Section 909. – Exception #1: In other than Group I-2, and Group I-1, Condition 2, smoke control is not required for atriums that connect only two stories. – Exception #2: A smoke control system is not required for atriums connecting more than two stories when all of the following are met: 2.1. Only the two lowest stories shall be permitted to be open to the atrium. 2.2. All stories above the lowest two stories shall be separated from the atrium in accordance with the provisions for a shaft in Section 713.4. (2) Atrium spaces shall be separated from adjacent spaces by a 1-hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. With Exceptions. | (1) 404.5 (2) 404.6 |
| Underground Buildings | Definition of Underground Building: Building spaces having a floor level used for human occupancy more than 30 feet (9,144 mm) below the finished floor of the lowest level of exit discharge. With exceptions. (1) A building having a floor level more than 60 feet (18,288 mm) below the finished floor of the lowest level of exit discharge shall be divided into not fewer than two compartments of approximately equal size, separated by a smoke barrier. With other requirements and exceptions. (2) A smoke control system is required to control the migration of products of combustion in accordance with Section 909 and the provisions of this section. Smoke control shall restrict movement of smoke to the general area of fire origin and maintain means of egress in a usable condition. (3) Where compartmentation is required, each compartment shall have an independent smoke control system. The system shall be automatically activated and capable of manual operation in accordance with Sections 907.2.18 and 907.2.19. (4) Every required stairway serving floor levels more than 30 feet (9,144 mm) below the finished floor of its level of exit discharge shall comply with the requirements for a smokeproof enclosure as provided in Section 1023.12. | (1) 405.4.1 and 405.4.2 (2) 405.5.1 (3) 405.5.2 (4) 405.7.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Related Occupancies | (1) Mechanical ventilation systems for enclosed parking garages shall operate continuously or shall be automatically operated by means of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors applied in conjunction with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) detectors. Such detectors shall be listed in accordance with UL 2075 and installed in accordance with their listing and the manufacturer’s instructions. Automatic operation shall cycle the ventilation system between the following two modes of operation: – Full-on at an airflow rate of not less than 0.75 cfm per square foot [0.0038 m³/(s × m²)] of the floor area served. – Standby at an airflow rate of not less than 0.05 cfm per square foot [0.00025 m³/(s × m²)] of the floor area served.” (2) While not mandated by the IBC, certain jurisdictions, particularly those outside the USA, often require a post-fire smoke control system in accordance with BS-7346-7. This typically involves achieving 6-10 Air Changes Per Hour (ACH). Additionally, 2023 NFPA 88A, Section 6.3, provides other valuable guidelines for such systems. | (1) 2024 IBC-406.6.2 and 2024 IMC-404 (2) BS 7346-7 and 2023 NFPA 88A |
| Group I-2 | (1) Smoke barriers shall be provided to subdivide every story used by persons receiving care, treatment, or sleeping into not fewer than two smoke compartments. Smoke barriers shall be provided to subdivide other stories with an occupant load of 50 or more persons into not fewer than two smoke compartments. The smoke barrier shall be in accordance with Section 709. (2) Stories shall be divided into smoke compartments with an area of not more than 22,500 square feet (2092 m²) in Group I-2 occupancies. With exceptions. (3) Refuge areas shall be provided within each smoke compartment. The size of the refuge area shall accommodate the occupants and care recipients from the adjoining smoke compartment. Where a smoke compartment is adjoined by two or more smoke compartments, the minimum area of the refuge area shall accommodate the largest occupant load of the adjoining compartments. With other requirements. | (1) 407.5 (2) 407.5.1 (3) 407.5.3 |
| Group I-3 | (1) Occupancies in Group I-3 shall have smoke barriers complying with Sections 408.6 and 709 to divide every story occupied by residents for sleeping, or any other story having an occupant load of 50 or more persons, into not fewer than two smoke compartments. With exceptions. (2) The number of residents in any smoke compartment shall be not more than 200. The distance of travel to a door in a smoke barrier from any room door required as exit access shall be not greater than 150 feet (45,720 mm). The distance of travel to a door in a smoke barrier from any point in a room shall be not greater than 200 feet (60,960 mm). (3) Not less than 6 net square feet (0.56 m²) per occupant shall be provided on each side of each smoke barrier for the total number of occupants in adjoining smoke compartments. This space shall be readily available wherever the occupants are moved across the smoke barrier in a fire emergency. | (1) 408.6 (2) 408.6.1 (3) 408.6.2 |
| Windowless Buildings | (1) For the purposes of this section, a windowless building or portion of a building is one with nonopenable windows, windows not readily breakable or without windows. Windowless buildings shall be provided with an engineered smoke control system to provide a tenable environment for exiting from the smoke compartment in the area of fire origin in accordance with Section 909 for each windowless smoke compartment. | (1) 408.9 |
| Motion Picture Projection Rooms | (1) No additional smoke control requirements. | (1) 409 |
| Stages, Platforms, and Technical Production Areas | (1) Where a proscenium wall is required to have a fire-resistance rating, the stage opening shall be provided with a fire curtain complying with NFPA 80, horizontal sliding doors complying with Section 716 having a fire protection rating of not less than 1 hour, or an approved water curtain complying with Section 903.3.1.1 or, in facilities not utilizing the provisions of smoke-protected assembly seating in accordance with Section 1030.6.2, a smoke control system complying with Section 909 or natural ventilation designed to maintain the smoke level not less than 6 feet (1,829 mm) above the floor of the means of egress. (2) Emergency ventilation shall be provided for stages larger than 1,000 square feet (93 m²) in floor area, or with a stage height greater than 50 feet (15,240 mm). Such ventilation shall comply with Section 410.2.7.1 or 410.2.7.2. (3) 410.2.7.1: Two or more vents constructed to open automatically by approved heat-activated devices and with an aggregate clear opening area of not less than 5 percent of the area of the stage shall be located near the center and above the highest part of the stage area. Supplemental means shall be provided for manual operation of the ventilator. Curbs shall be provided as required for skylights in Section 2610.2. Vents shall be labeled. (4) 410.2.7.2: Smoke control in accordance with Section 909 shall be provided to maintain the smoke layer interface not less than 6 feet (1,829 mm) above the highest level of the assembly seating or above the top of the proscenium opening where a proscenium wall is provided in compliance with Section 410.2.4. | (1) 410.2.5 (2) 410.2.7 (3) 410.2.7.1 (4) 410.2.7.2 |
| Special Amusement Buildings | (1) No additional smoke control requirements, just normal ventilation. | (1) 411 |
| Aircraft-Related Occupancies | (1) Stairways in airport traffic control towers shall be in accordance with Section 1011. Exit stairways shall be smokeproof enclosures complying with one of the alternatives provided in Section 909.20. Exception: Stairways in airport traffic control towers are not required to comply with Section 1011.12. (2) Smoke removal in airport traffic control towers shall be provided in accordance with Section 403.4.7: To facilitate smoke removal in post-fire salvage and overhaul operations, buildings and structures shall be equipped with natural or mechanical ventilation for removal of products of combustion in accordance with one of the following listed in 403.4.7. | (1) 412.2.2.1 (2) 412.2.3.3 |
| Combustible Storage | (1) Refer to requirements for S-1 and High-Piled Combustible Storage Below | (1) 413 |
| Hazardous Materials | (1) Specific ventilation and explosion control requirements. | (1) 414 |
| Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, and H-5 | (1) Specific ventilation and explosion control requirements. | (1) 415 |
| Application of Flammable Finishes | (1) Specific ventilation requirements. | (1) 416 |
| Drying Rooms | (1) No additional smoke control requirements. | (1) 417 |
| Organic Coatings | (1) No additional smoke control requirements. | (1) 418 |
| Artificial Decorative Vegetation | (1) Specific ventilation requirements. | (1) 419.8 |
| Groups I-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 | (1) Smoke barriers shall be provided in Group I-1, Condition 2 to subdivide every story used by persons receiving care, treatment or sleeping and to provide other stories with an occupant load of 50 or more persons, into not fewer than two smoke compartments. Such stories shall be divided into smoke compartments with an area of not more than 22,500 square feet (2,092 m²) and the distance of travel from any point in a smoke compartment to a smoke barrier door shall not exceed 200 feet (60,960 mm). The smoke barrier shall be in accordance with Section 709. (2) Refuge areas shall be provided within each smoke compartment. The size of the refuge area shall accommodate the occupants and care recipients from the adjoining smoke compartment. Where a smoke compartment is adjoined by two or more smoke compartments, the minimum area of the refuge area shall accommodate the largest occupant load of the adjoining compartments. With additional requirements. | (1) 420.6 (2) 420.6.1 |
| Hydrogen Fuel Gas Rooms | (1) Specific ventilation and explosion control requirements. | (1) 421 |
| Ambulatory Care Facilities | (1) Where the aggregate area of one or more ambulatory care facilities is greater than 10,000 square feet (929 m²) on one story, the story shall be provided with a smoke barrier to subdivide the story into not fewer than two smoke compartments. The area of any one such smoke compartment shall be not greater than 22,500 square feet (2,092 m²). The distance of travel from any point in a smoke compartment to a smoke barrier door shall be not greater than 200 feet (60,960 mm). The smoke barrier shall be installed in accordance with Section 709 with the exception that smoke barriers shall be continuous from outside wall to an outside wall, a floor to a floor, or from a smoke barrier to a smoke barrier or a combination thereof. With additional requirements. | (1) 422.3 |
| Storm Shelters | (1) No additional smoke control requirements. | (1) 423 |
| Play Structures | (1) No additional smoke control requirements. | (1) 424 |
| Hyperbaric Facilities | (1) Specific ventilation requirements per NFPA 99. | (1) 425 |
| Combustible Dusts, Grain Processing and Storage | (1) Specific ventilation and explosion control requirements. | (1) 426 |
| Medical Gas Systems | (1) Specific ventilation and self-closing smoke- and draft-control assembly requirements. | (1) 427 |
| Higher Education Laboratories | (1) Specific ventilation requirements. | (1) 428 |
| Group F-1 and S-1 | (1) Smoke and heat vents installed in accordance with Section 910.3 or a mechanical smoke removal system installed in accordance with Section 910.4 shall be installed in buildings and portions thereof used as a Group F-1 or S-1 occupancy having more than 50,000 square feet (4,645 m²) of undivided area. In occupied portions of a building equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 where the upper surface of the story is not a roof assembly, a mechanical smoke removal system in accordance with Section 910.4 shall be installed. | (1) 910.2.1 |
| High-Piled Combustible Storage | (1) Smoke and heat removal required by Table 3206.2 of the International Fire Code for buildings and portions thereof containing high-piled combustible storage shall be installed in accordance with Section 910.3 in unsprinklered buildings. In buildings and portions thereof containing high-piled combustible storage equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, a smoke and heat removal system shall be installed in accordance with Section 910.3 or 910.4. In occupied portions of a building equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, where the upper surface of the story is not a roof assembly, a mechanical smoke removal system in accordance with Section 910.4 shall be installed. | (1) 910.2.2 |
Recent Posts
The NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) exam is a valuable credential for fire protection and life safety professionals. While enrolling in a credible exam prep course—such as the...
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam: 10 Steps to Study and Pass
Preparing for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam can feel overwhelming. It’s a 6-hour, 110-question test spanning up to 18 subjects, but you don’t need to master everything to succeed....