1. The benefits of determining smoke visibility

In many fires, the evacuation of people is one of the key factors that can lead to a tragic outcome. People who are present when a fire starts must escape quickly. This evacuation cannot take place in the best conditions if visibility is inadequate. Smoke production at the start of a fire must therefore be low, or it must be diluted or evacuated by an appropriate smoke extraction system [C 3 280] . This means quantifying smoke opacity. Furthermore, smoke induces the presence of soot, which can present a risk to individuals. This very fine soot is inhaled and can block the airflow to the respiratory...