Fitting the right, fully-certified smoke vent is critical for safety. As long-standing experts in AOV smoke ventilators, we are able to offer specialist advice on a wide range of smoke vents, automatic opening vents (AOV’s) and SHEV units.

We've included some information below pertaining to the different regulations that should be considered for all smoke vents.  

Legislation

A brief overview of relevant smoke vent legislation

Approved Document B 2006 Fire Safety

  • For smoke ventilators, Approved Document B states that the free area of a smoke ventilator may be measured by either the aerodynamic area in accordance with the EN 12101-2 or the total unobstructed at cross sectional area measured in the plane with areas at a minimum and at right angles to the direction of air flow. There is nothing in Approved Document B to specify a specific opening angle for smoke ventilators; however if they open to anything less than 90°, this would affect the air flow calculation. Approved Document B only requires the rooflights to finish 150mm above finished roof level, but EN 12101-2 states that it must be a minimum of 300mm.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

  • The aim of this reform is to simplify, rationalize and consolidate existing legislation. This provides a risk based approach to fire safety allowing a more efficient and effective enforcement by the fire and rescue services and other enforcing authorities. Among many other things it details the ‘responsible person’ and the duties imposed on them including general fire precautions, risk assessments, fire-fighting and emergency routes and exits.

Guidance

Guidance notes you may find helpful when specifying smoke vents.

BS 7346-8 2013 Guidance Components for Smoke Control Systems – Part 8: Code of Practice for Planning, Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance

  • This British Standard gives recommendations for the planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of smoke control systems, including smoke clearance, in and around buildings. The recommendations are applicable to systems intended for the protection of life and/or protection of property, including:

This British Standard is not applicable to non-fire-related functions of smoke control systems.

This British Standard does not give recommendations as to whether or not to install smoke control systems in any given premises BS9999.

This British Standard gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of buildings to achieve reasonable standards of fire safety for all people in and around buildings. It is not applicable to individual dwelling-houses, and might have only limited applicability to certain specialist buildings and areas of buildings (e.g. areas of lawful detention).

BS 9991 – 2015 – Fire Safety in the Design, Management and use of Residential Buildings

  • This British Standard gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of residential buildings. It covers dwellings, residential accommodation blocks and residential housing. It applies to the design of new buildings and material alterations and extensions to existing buildings. Its intentions are to safeguard the lives of building occupants and fire-fighters.

BS 9999 – 2017 – Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Buildings

  • This British Standard gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of buildings to achieve reasonable standards of fire safety for all persons in and around the building. It is a comprehensive document covering design of buildings, fire protection, means of escape, access and facilities for fire-fighting personnel and management of risk assessments of occupied buildings.