Which system is required to control smoke in a building?

Active fire protection systems are essential for controlling smoke in a building because they actively work to detect, suppress, or manage smoke and fire hazards. These systems include smoke control systems, fire alarms, smoke barriers, and sprinklers, which can help maintain tenable conditions for occupancy during a fire event. The presence of smoke control systems is particularly important in larger or more complex buildings, where smoke management can help protect egress routes and minimize smoke exposure to occupants and firefighters.

On the other hand, passive fire protection systems are designed to contain fires or slow their spread through the use of fire-resistive materials, compartmentalization, and fire walls, but they do not actively control smoke during a fire event. Thermal insulation systems primarily focus on maintaining temperature control and energy efficiency and do not address smoke management. Electrical safety systems are critical for ensuring the safe operation of electrical equipment and preventing electrical fires, but they do not play a direct role in controlling smoke. Thus, the active systems are specifically designed with mechanisms to address smoke control effectively.