The Role of CFD Modeling in Smoke Control Design for California Airports
Large international airports like San Francisco International (SFO) and Los Angeles International (LAX) present unique challenges when it comes to CFD modeling smoke control airports at scale. These structures include expansive terminals, interconnected concourses, and underground tunnels—all of which influence how smoke behaves in an emergency. Advanced modeling tools are essential to ensure passenger safety, code compliance, and performance under real-world conditions.
CFD, or computational fluid dynamics, is a simulation method used to predict how smoke will move in a complex environment during a fire event. Unlike simple calculations or zone models, CFD modeling provides a detailed three-dimensional analysis of airflow and smoke spread. At airports like SFO and LAX, this level of detail is critical. High passenger volumes, diverse architectural zones, and pressure differences caused by HVAC systems all affect how smoke may behave. Without modeling these interactions, it’s impossible to know with confidence how a smoke control system will perform when it matters most.
Zari Consulting Group uses CFD modeling to test and validate smoke control strategies before implementation. We evaluate how smoke could migrate from a single fire event across terminals, through escalator wells, into jet bridges, or down into baggage claim areas. We also assess how natural stack effects and forced air systems interact under emergency conditions. This helps inform the design of pressurization systems for stairwells and elevator shafts, and ensures that egress routes remain tenable during a fire.
In our work with airport projects across California, we’ve seen firsthand how early CFD analysis leads to better outcomes. It allows architects and project stakeholders to visualize scenarios, refine the geometry of smoke barriers or exhaust paths, and eliminate costly redesigns late in the construction process. It also helps ensure the system will pass authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) inspections and third-party performance testing with fewer surprises.
CFD modeling for smoke control in airports is a proven approach to improve life safety and code compliance in large-scale terminals. Simulation enables engineers to design smoke control systems that perform predictably and consistently, even in complex airflow environments.
Ultimately, smoke control in an international airport is about protecting life and minimizing disruption. CFD modeling gives engineers and owners the ability to make informed decisions, grounded in science and aligned with codes like NFPA 92 and the California Building Code. For transportation hubs that serve tens of millions of travelers annually, that precision can make all the difference.
At Zari Consulting Group, our fire protection engineers specialize in designing and testing smoke control systems for high-risk, high-profile environments. Whether you’re planning a new terminal or upgrading an existing facility, we can help you apply CFD modeling to develop compliant, effective, and life-saving smoke control solutions.
