top of page

SMOKE VENTS

SMOKE VENTS

Servicing your AOVs (Automatic Opening Vents) is a critical safety requirement in the UK, essential for maintaining smoke control during a fire, ensuring legal compliance, and protecting lives. Several British Standards and UK fire safety laws mandate their regular maintenance.


🔥 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SERVICE YOUR AOVs?


🛡️ 1. Legal Requirement – Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO), the “responsible person” must:

“Ensure that fire safety equipment, including smoke control systems, is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.”

Failing to maintain AOVs could result in:

  • Prosecution or fines

  • Invalidated insurance

  • Increased liability if a fire causes injury or death


📘 2. Conformance to British Standards


✅ BS 7346-8

“Code of practice for planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of smoke control systems”

  • Recommends:

    • Quarterly inspections

    • Annual servicing of all smoke control components, including AOVs

    • Documented evidence of testing and maintenance

  • Ensures systems work as intended under fire conditions


💨 3. Life Safety and Smoke Management

  • AOVs are designed to:

    • Extract smoke and heat from escape routes (e.g., stairwells, corridors)

    • Improve visibility and breathable air for occupants and firefighters

  • If an AOV fails due to lack of maintenance, escape routes may fill with smoke, increasing the risk of injury or death


⚙️ 4. Operational Reliability

Regular servicing ensures:

  • Smoke detection triggers correctly activate AOVs

  • Backup power supplies (e.g., batteries) are operational

  • Mechanical parts (actuators, hinges, controls) are clean, lubricated, and functioning

  • Manual override switches operate as intended


📑 5. Compliance Records and Insurance

  • Insurers and fire risk assessors may request evidence of regular servicing in line with:

    • BS 7346-8

  • Lack of maintenance records can result in:

    • Invalid insurance claims

    • Enforcement notices from the fire service

    • Failure to pass fire risk assessments


✅ Summary

Regular servicing of your AOVs is vital to:

  • Comply with UK fire safety law (RRO 2005)

  • Meet the requirements of BS 7346-8

  • Ensure AOVs operate effectively during fire emergencies

  • Protect life, property, and legal liability

bottom of page