Start with the smoke control narrative and its design approach, then trace each zone into the architectural plans, mechanical equipment, dampers, openings, and control sequences. AI can flag document conflicts; the responsible engineer confirms the design analysis and compliance.
What does NFPA 92 cover?
NFPA 92 is the Standard for Smoke Control Systems. NFPA describes it as establishing requirements for the design, installation, and testing of smoke control systems used to mitigate the impact of smoke from fire.
NFPA’s official NFPA 92 page identifies the 2024 edition as current when checked on October 1, 2026. Confirm the edition, local amendments, and project scope that actually govern the work. The publisher’s newest edition does not establish local adoption.
Whether a building needs smoke control comes from the adopted building code and the project’s design basis, not from this standard alone. Record what triggers the system, which approach the engineer chose, and which spaces it serves. The NFPA 90A HVAC guide covers the ordinary air-distribution interfaces that a dedicated or shared smoke control system also touches.
Gather the narrative, zones, and equipment
Collect the smoke control narrative or rational analysis summary, zone plans, architectural floor plans and sections, mechanical plans, fan and damper schedules, control sequences, fire alarm interface information, and the relevant specifications. Add the electrical documents that power fans and dampers.
Confirm that the zone plan, the narrative, and the sequence share the same zone names and revision. A narrative written for an earlier layout often survives into later issues. Record any analysis or modeling report that the package cites but does not include.
Trace each smoke zone through the package
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Design approach | Narrative, code summary, mechanical general notes | Resolve different descriptions of the approach and the spaces it serves. |
| Zone boundaries | Zone plan, architectural plans, rated barrier plans | Identify zone edges that no longer match walls, doors, or openings. |
| Fans and dampers | Equipment schedules, mechanical plans, damper tags | Match each fan and damper named in the sequence to a scheduled, located item. |
| Makeup air and openings | Narrative, architectural openings, louvers, door schedule | Ask the engineer to confirm each opening the design relies on still exists. |
| Control sequence | Sequence of operations, fire alarm matrix, control diagrams | Reconcile which signal starts each mode and which device reports status. |
| Power and supervision | Electrical one-line, panel schedules, controls documents | Trace fan and damper power and monitoring to their electrical sources. |
Carry alarm initiation and status questions into the NFPA 72 interface review, and use the HVAC controls specification guide to compare the written sequence with the controls section.
Example: a revised atrium edge changes a smoke zone
Hypothetical example. The latest architectural plan encloses part of an atrium edge with a new glazed wall, while the smoke control zone plan and narrative still describe the earlier open boundary. The damper schedule lists an exhaust damper at a location that is now inside the enclosed room.
The current architectural plan changes the atrium boundary used by the smoke control narrative and zone plan. Please confirm the intended zone limits and coordinate the narrative, damper locations, and control sequence.
The responsible engineer decides whether the design analysis is affected and revises the zone plan, narrative, and schedules. The drawing conflict shows a coordination question, not a failed smoke control design.
Review smoke control coordination with Groundbook
Upload the current project PDFs and relevant specifications to Groundbook. Identify the governing issues and add the applicable NFPA 92 reference from a copy you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading it. State the edition, amendments, review area, and known exclusions in your instructions.
Compare the smoke control narrative and zone plan with current architectural plans, mechanical fan and damper schedules, control sequences, and fire alarm interface documents. Flag conflicting zones, missing equipment, and undocumented openings. Use the supplied NFPA 92 reference where applicable and cite both sources for each question.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the source sheets and specification sections. Verify the zone name, revision, and equipment tag before sending a question to the engineer, and keep missing analysis documents separate from drawing conflicts.
Document review does not perform or validate smoke control calculations, modeling, fan sizing, or acceptance testing. Those remain with the responsible engineer, the special inspector where required, and the authority having jurisdiction.