Smoke Ventilation

All commercial premises need many different provisions for fire. Whether you are working in an environment with more fire hazards, such as a commercial kitchen, or you run an office or other commercial building, fire safety is always a key consideration. Smoke ventilation is often a key component of a fire safety system, and can help to give people the best chance of a safe escape in the event of a fire.

Robinsons Facilities Services offers a team of experienced SafeContractor-approved professionals, who can guide and consult on every aspect of your fire safety including mechanical smoke ventilation systems.

What Do Smoke Ventilation Systems Do?

A smoke ventilation system is designed to remove smoke from a building in the event of a fire. This can be done through natural or mechanical means, and the right system for your property will depend on its size, layout, and use.

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

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 automatic smoke control systems are becoming more popular, too. These work by using smoke detectors to automatically open vents and doors, allowing smoke to be quickly removed from an area and helping suppress the effects of the fire. They can also function as a part of your everyday ventilation system.

These mechanical smoke ventilation systems incorporate sensors for temperature, humidity and CO2 to control the opening of the smoke vents.

Smoke Ventilation Building Regulations

In the UK, smoke ventilation is governed by UK Building Regulations. These state that smoke ventilation should be provided in buildings where people are present, in order to give them a safe means of escape in the event of a fire.

Fire safety is also outlined by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Occupiers and owners of commercial premises need to ensure that they comply with fire safety.

There are a variety of different guidelines for AOV smoke ventilation systems, too. BS EN12101 certified and CE marked smoke vents (AOVs) are the only ventilation systems that are approved for UK use.

Commercial Smoke Ventilation System Maintenance

The regulations also state that smoke ventilation systems should be regularly tested and maintained to ensure they are working correctly. This should be done by a qualified engineer, and you should keep records of all tests and maintenance. We recommend getting your AOV smoke vents tested at least once annually.

There are a lot of other considerations for fire safety, and testing of your fire alarms and other systems should also be carried out on a regular basis.

If you would like to find out more about smoke ventilation, or you need assistance with your fire safety provision, please get in touch. We offer a comprehensive range of services to help keep your premises safe and maintenance services across Yorkshire to ensure that your fire alarm systems are compliant.

Our experienced team can advise you on fire safety and security and work with you to create a planned preventative maintenance schedule, taking care of all aspects of your fire security management, visiting your premises in the north of England, and giving you peace of mind that you have adequate fire systems in place.

Smoke ventilation is just one part of your fire security system, but it is a potential life saver and should be installed and maintained with due care.

Working across Yorkshire, we cover North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and offer a fast, efficient response time to all breakdowns and repairs. Contact us today for all planned, reactive maintenance or emergency call out. Call 01423 226578 or get in touch to see how Robinsons Facilities Services can help.

Our customers love us! Read our testimonials.