Common　design　guides　on　smoke　management　in　atria　will　be　reviewed　in　this　paper.　Different　approaches　used　in　those　guides　are　outlined.　It　is　observed　that　the　engineering　principles　behind　those　design　guides　are　basically　the　same,　though　the　approaches　might　be　different.　Smoke　ventilation　appears　to　be　a　common　approach　for　smoke　management　in　an　atrium.　An　acceptable　smoke　layer　height　can　be　kept,　or　at　least　the　descending　rate　of　the　smoke　layer　could　be　reduced.　Designs　based　on　different　guides　are　compared　by　referring　to　some　real　cases　in　Hong　Kong.　There　are　deviations　among　different　guides　even　under　the　same　fire　scenarios.　At　the　moment,　these　guides　only　give　general　design　principles,　not　yet　covering　all　atria,　especially　the　tall　ones　in　the　Far　East.　In　other　words,　only　simplified　design　procedures　for　systems　under　some　agreed　fire　scenarios　in　an　atrium　are　outlined.　Guidance　on　solving　practical　problems　frequently　encountered　in　atria　apart　from　those　cases　is　discussed,　taking　the　huge　development　in　the　construction　industry　of　China　as　an　example.　©　2005　ASHRAE.