Commercial Smoke Ventilation Systems
Compliant airflow control systems for safer escape routes
Smoke ventilation systems are an important part of a building’s overall fire protection system, helping to ensure a safer exit in case of emergency. As your trusted life safety partner, we’ll take care of the professional testing and maintenance of your smoke ventilation systems. We can ensure ongoing compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
What is smoke ventilation and why is it important?
Smoke inhalation is the number one cause of fire-related deaths. It is also a significant factor in delaying safe escape, and smoke in the air can make it difficult to see.
So smoke ventilation is important in order to reduce the amount of smoke in the air and make the environment safer for occupants and firefighters in the event of a fire. Connected to the central fire safety system, smoke ventilation systems are triggered by heat or smoke detectors. They control the spread of smoke in the building by opening vents to extract the smoke.
Types of smoke ventilation systems
Your choice of commercial smoke ventilation system will depend on the needs of your organisation and the type of buildings you manage.
Natural smoke ventilation systems (AOV)
Natural smoke ventilation systems can include roofs, window vents, smoke shafts and skylights. They are also sometimes known as Automatic Opening Vents (AOV).
They are opened automatically when heat and smoke sensors are triggered.
These systems are designed to provide a means of escape in the event of a fire by creating a ventilation path to remove smoke and hot gases from the building.
They can also be used in non-emergency situations, providing natural airflow for stuffy offices or overheated shopping centres.
Mechanical smoke ventilation systems
Mechanical smoke ventilation systems are very similar to natural smoke ventilation, but they operate at a more advanced level.
Mechanical extract shafts are used to forcibly remove smoke from a building.
These can be placed in corridors, lobbies and stairwells – any areas commonly used as main escape routes.
Smoke is prevented from drifting into other areas of the building using fans inside the shaft, helping to ensure the safe evacuation of people during a fire.
These systems are typically used in larger buildings, such as shopping centres or warehouses, where there is a large volume of smoke that needs to be removed quickly.
Testing, maintenance and compliance
A smoke ventilation system may fall under the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as part of a responsible person’s duty to ensure that building occupants have an effective emergency exit route.
Under the legislation, any fire safety equipment must be properly inspected and maintained.
As your trusted life safety partner, we will ensure guaranteed compliance, now and always. You can rely on the experts at Amthal to carry out monthly inspections to ensure continuing safety and compliance.
Contact Us…
Contact us for smoke ventilation systems testing and maintenance.
EMAIL: info@amthal.co.uk
PHONE: 0800 093 7818