Ensuring Safety in Public Venues: The Importance of Hot Smoke Testing in Theatres
Hot Smoke Testing in Historic Theatre: Real-World Safety Assurance with Concept Smoke Systems
In public venues where large numbers of people gather—such as theatres, concert halls, and auditoriums—fire safety systems must not only be well-designed but thoroughly validated under realistic conditions. To meet this standard, Concept Smoke Systems was commissioned to conduct a hot smoke test in a historic theatre, offering a detailed assessment of smoke behaviour and system performance in a live emergency scenario.
Realistic Simulation with the ViCount Smoke System
Using its industry-leading ViCount smoke system, Concept’s expert team delivered a controlled simulation that visualised smoke flow, evaluated extraction systems, and monitored the activation of fire alarms, smoke curtains, and evacuation procedures. In heritage buildings where infrastructure may not align with modern fire codes, this kind of testing is essential to identify real-world performance gaps and enhance safety planning.
The Unique Challenges of Theatres
Theatres present complex environments for fire safety:
- Tiered and enclosed seating
- Hidden backstage areas
- High-level lighting rigs and curtain systems
- Aged ventilation systems
These factors create diverse airflow patterns and potential smoke traps that cannot be fully understood through modelling alone.
Why Hot Smoke Testing Matters
Unlike cold smoke or computational modelling, hot smoke testing introduces thermally buoyant smoke that behaves like real fire smoke—rising, layering, and spreading. This enables stakeholders to:
- Visualise actual smoke movement during a fire
- Assess natural and mechanical ventilation performance
- Test emergency systems, including alarms and curtain deployment
- Identify delayed extraction points and visibility challenges in escape routes
The ViCount Advantage: Heat-Resistant, Realistic Smoke
Concept employed its ViCount smoke generator, designed to produce dense, oil-based smoke with fine particulates and high temperature resistance. Unlike water-based theatrical smoke—which can evaporate near heat sources like stage lights—the ViCount maintains realistic density and behaviour, even in high-temperature conditions.
This capability is vital for reliable testing in environments where elevated temperatures can cause less advanced smoke systems to underperform, potentially leading to a false sense of safety.
Expertly Managed, Outcome-Focused Testing
Concept’s trained operators ensured the test met all operational and safety requirements of the venue. Smoke was introduced gradually and strategically, allowing fire officers, consultants, and building managers to monitor detection response times, curtain activation, and safe visibility across evacuation routes.
Beyond validating the performance of current fire safety infrastructure, the test delivered key data to inform future system upgrades and emergency planning—especially critical in older venues where retrofits must respect historical architecture.
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