True or False: A hallway should be under negative pressure as compared to apartments?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Depends on ventilation design
• D. Hallways must always be at negative pressure relative to apartments

Answer: (B)

Hallways are part of the safe path of egress and smoke-control strategy. If a hallway were kept at negative pressure relative to apartments, air would flow from the higher-pressure living spaces into the hallway through cracks and door gaps. That can drive contaminants or smoke toward the exit routes, increase energy loss, and undermine occupant safety during a fire or in normal operation. In practice, hallways are kept at neutral or slightly positive pressure compared with adjacent living spaces to help keep the exit path cleaner and to resist smoke or odors migrating into the corridor. So the statement is not correct.