Due　to　located　underground　and　relatively　closed　space,　casualties　would　be　caused　if　fire　happens　in　subway　station.　The　effect　of　suction　velocity　on　the　smoke　control　effect　are　analyzed　to　determine　the　optimal　exhaust　velocity　for　the　safety　evacuation　in　a　subway　station.　In　this　paper,　a　full-scale　experiment　was　conducted　to　obtain　the　effect　of　smoke　exhaust　system　in　a　subway　platform　fire.　Numerical　simulation　on　smoke　control　effect　was　also　conducted　by　Fire　Dynamics　Simulator　software　(FDS).　The　appropriate　parameters　were　verified　by　comparing　the　simulation　results　with　the　experimental　results.　It　has　been　found　that　the　optimal　exhaust　velocity　at　dampers　for　a　platform　fire　was　about　8m/s.　The　results　in　the　paper　may　serve　as　a　useful　reference　for　the　smoke　control　design　in　case　of　subway　platform　fires.　©　2017　The　Author(s).