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Smoke Ventilation

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Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration

Smoke Ventilation

All commercial premises need various fire safety provisions. Smoke ventilation is vital to every fire safety system, giving people the best chance of a safe escape during a fire.

Robinsons Facilities Services offers a team of SafeContractor-approved professionals who can guide and consult on every aspect of your company’s fire safety. This includes commercial smoke ventilation systems. Contact us today at 01423 226578 or send an enquiry for more information or a free quote.

What Do Smoke Ventilation Systems Do?

A smoke ventilation system removes smoke from a building in the event of a fire, allowing occupants to safely escape and enabling firefighters to fight the fire in its early stages. The appropriate system for your commercial property will depend on its size, layout, and use.  

Types of Smoke Ventilation Systems

There are several different types of smoke ventilation systems for your commercial property. They include:

Natural Smoke Ventilation

Natural smoke ventilation uses rising hot air to draw smoke out of a building through an opening in the roof. It is often used in smaller properties or where no people are present during a fire.

Mechanical Smoke Ventilation

Mechanical smoke ventilation systems use powered fans to remove smoke from a building. This type of system is more common in larger commercial premises and can be used to assist in specific areas of a building.

AOV System

AOV (Automatic Opening Vent) smoke control systems are becoming more popular in commercial buildings. They use smoke detectors to automatically open vents, windows and doors, allowing for rapid smoke ventilation and helping suppress the effects of the fire. They can also function as a part of your everyday ventilation system.

Smoke Ventilation Building Regulations

UK Building Regulations require smoke ventilation in occupied buildings to enable safe escape during fires. According to British regulations, smoke ventilation systems must be serviced twice a year at a minimum. Qualified engineers must conduct maintenance in compliance with the British Standard BS7346-8 for smoke vent inspection and testing. 

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 also mandates fire safety for commercial premises. Only BS EN12101-certified and CE-marked smoke vents (AOVs) are approved for use in the UK.

Commercial Smoke Ventilation Maintenance in Yorkshire

Regular, professional testing and maintenance are the best ways to ensure that your fire safety system functions correctly and meets UK building regulations. At Robinsons Facilities Services, we will work with you to create a bespoke planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedule for your commercial fire safety system.

After each service, our SafeContractor-approved technicians will provide you with a detailed maintenance report. This will outline the condition of your smoke ventilation systems, any identified issues, and recommended actions for smoke ventilation maintenance or repairs. Our expert technicians are even available 24/7/365 in case of emergencies.

Learn more about Planned Preventative Maintenance →

Get In Touch

We understand the critical role that smoke ventilation plays in safeguarding lives and property. Offering planned, reactive maintenance or emergency callouts across Yorkshire, we pride ourselves on being one of Yorkshire’s leading fire safety service providers, so you know you’re in good hands. 

If you want to learn more about smoke ventilation or need assistance with your fire safety provision, please get in touch. Call 01423 226578 or send an enquiry to see how Robinsons Facilities Services can help.

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Smoke Ventilation FAQs

Non-compliance can result in fines, litigation, property damage, or even imprisonment in cases of injury or loss of life.

Automatic smoke vents are triggered by smoke alarms and other fire alarm systems. The vents then open and allow smoke and fumes out of the premises, and fresher air to enter to replace it.

Section 6 of the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations dictates that an employee has to ‘ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air’. A smoke ventilation system can be a big part of this for factories, kitchens, and other commercial buildings.

Smoke vents are permanent openings that ventilate the space, but AOV (automatic opening vent) are vents that open when an outbreak of fire is detected by a fire detection system.

Average costs range from around £200 to over £1000 annually depending on system size and complexity.

Properly installed and maintained smoke ventilation may qualify your building for lower insurance premiums by reducing fire risk.

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