In smoke control systems, what is primarily managed during a fire?

In smoke control systems, the primary focus during a fire is the movement of smoke. This is because managing smoke movement is crucial for maintaining visibility, limiting smoke inhalation hazards, and creating safe egress paths for occupants. Effective smoke control strategies help to direct smoke away from areas where people are present and work to keep escape routes clear, enhancing overall safety during a fire event.

While factors like temperature control certainly play a role in fire safety and can affect smoke behavior, the primary goal of smoke control systems is to manage the flow and containment of smoke itself. Options such as evacuation efficiency and communication to emergency services are also important in the context of fire safety, but they do not directly pertain to the function of smoke control systems, which is specifically designed to address the challenges posed by smoke during a fire. Thus, the management of smoke movement is the key focus area, making it the correct answer.