What are AOV’s?
In Smoke Ventilation, when we talk about AOV’s, this stands for “Automatic Opening Vent”.
For use in Natural and Smoke Ventilation, this system will control how and when your windows or vents open. Sometimes fans are used to ‘suck’ the smoke out of a building. The system is usually triggered by a smoke alarm which will indicate where the fire is located. The AOV system will make sure that that correct windows or hatches open in order to vent the smoke out of the building.
Your AOV system will determine how large your windows need to be and zoned controls will link to motorised openers (actuators) that operate the windows or vents.
Why are AOV’s so important?
In a series of recent studies, it has been established that smoke can spread through a building in a matter of minutes and it is smoke that poses the greatest threat to life in case of a fire.
When we install Automatic Opening Vents as part of a compliant integrated fire system, we can achieve the following essential protection for building occupants.…
- Reducing the presence of smoke and harmful gases.
- Providing a safe route of escape through communal areas.
- Maximising visibility in stairwells, lobbies and corridors.
- Allowing emergency services to quickly access and extinguish the fire.
Why do I need to have AOV’s?
Due to changes in building regulations after extensive research into the effects of smoke inhalation, a new set of regulations govern smoke ventilation for buildings in the United Kingdom. With regards to AOV products, in order to comply with UK building regulations, check for ‘CE marked’ AOV’s. Smoke vent products must be BS EN12101 certified.
These regulations you will see referred to as EN12101-10 for AOV Panels and EN12101-2 for Chain Drive Actuators. EN12101-8 for Dampers and EN12101-3 for Fans.
With regards to standards and AOV system/scheme specifications, you can find more detailed information about the building regulations that govern Automatic Opening Vents on our ‘Regulations Information’ page.
