The present work deals with a comparative study on various methods for thermal characterization of a fire-induced smoke layer. Models predicting both excess temperature and mean thickness of the smoke layer are focused on. These models are thermodynamically, dynamically or experimentally based. According to the considered models, a preliminary dimensioning is performed for smoke and heat evacuation systems (SHEVS). The obtained results are discussed and confronted with those provided by thermodynamic calculations based on US and European standards. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.