What term describes a strong airflow pattern in vertical shafts within high-rise buildings?

The term that describes a strong airflow pattern in vertical shafts within high-rise buildings is known as the stack effect. This phenomenon occurs due to the differences in temperature and density between the air inside a building and the outside air. In high-rise structures, warmer air tends to rise because it is less dense, creating a natural upward airflow. This creates a pressure difference where cooler air enters from lower openings to replace the warm air that is rising and escaping from the top.

Understanding the stack effect is crucial in fire safety as it can significantly influence smoke movement and the overall smoke control strategies in the event of a fire. High-rise buildings need to be designed with this effect in mind to ensure that smoke does not spread uncontrollably throughout the building, which can jeopardize the safety of occupants and hinder evacuation efforts.

Other terms listed, such as the Venturi effect and Bernoulli principle, refer to different concepts often related to fluid dynamics but do not specifically address airflow patterns in vertical shafts in buildings. Drafting, while it relates to airflow, does not encapsulate the unique characteristics of vertical air movement influenced by temperature and pressure variations as thoroughly as the stack effect does.