What type of power should smoke control systems be supplied with?

Smoke control systems are critical for the safety of building occupants during a fire situation, requiring reliable power supply to function effectively. Standby power is specifically designed to ensure that systems like smoke control can operate during a power outage, as these systems need to remain functional when normal power sources are interrupted.

Standby power systems are usually designed to engage automatically in response to a loss of primary power, allowing for continuous operation of essential services. This is particularly important for smoke control systems since their failure could lead to unsafe conditions by preventing smoke from being effectively managed within a building.

The other types of power listed—primary, backup, and emergency—do not have the same focus on the specific requirement for maintaining operation during a power failure in the context of life safety systems. While backup power may seem relevant, it typically refers to alternative energy sources without the assurance of automatic response required for smoke control systems. Emergency power systems, while crucial for many applications in life safety, often prioritize essential services that may not be exclusively smoke control related. Thus, standby power is the most appropriate and effective way to ensure smoke control systems can function at all times during emergencies.