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AOV Kit A – Stairwell AOV Louvred Window and Controls
£2,890.00 / £3,468.00 incl. VAT Add to basket -
AOV Kit B – 1.0m² Louvred Stair Vent & Controls
£2,141.00 – £2,291.00 Select options -
AOV Kit C – 1.0m² Hatch Stair Vent & Controls
£2,125.00 – £2,875.00 Select options -
AOV Kit D – Corridor AOV Louvred Window & Controls
£3,611.00 / £4,333.20 incl. VAT Add to basket -
AOV Kit E – Lobby Vent Damper Into Shaft
£2,341.00 / £2,809.20 incl. VAT Add to basket -
AOV Kit F – 1.5m² Louvred Smoke Shaft Vent & Controls
£2,190.00 / £2,628.00 incl. VAT Add to basket -
AOV Kit G – 1.5m² Hatch Smoke Shaft Vent & Controls
£2,145.00 / £2,574.00 incl. VAT Add to basket -
AOV Kit H – Stair Vent Casement & Controls
£4,684.00 / £5,620.80 incl. VAT Add to basket -
AOV Kit I – Lobby Casement & Controls
£4,983.00 / £5,979.60 incl. VAT Add to basket
What are AOV systems?
Automatic Opening Vent Systems (AOV Systems) are used in many applications, including ventilation and smoke clearance in buildings. Under the Construction Products Regulations (CPR) it is a legal requirement to use only certified products for smoke and heat ventilation systems (SHEV).
Group SCS AOV Systems
Group SCS has assembled a range of AOV systems for most common applications, such as stairwell ventilation and lobby protection that are available off-the-shelf at a low cost. Our AOV systems contain ventilators, control panels, smoke detectors, and switches designed to work out of the box without the need for specialist installation or commissioning services. The AOV systems can be installed as either stand-alone or be interconnected to form modular “smoke shaft” systems without the need for additional interfaces or software.
Where are AOV Systems used?
AOV systems are most commonly used in high rise residential buildings, student accommodation and care homes. Stairwell ventilators may also be used in commercial and retail buildings.
Why are AOV Systems needed?
Smoke ventilation is required to meet the requirements of the building regulations to enable people to escape from buildings in the event of a fire and to assist the fire and rescue service. Approved Document B 2019 edition gives detailed guidance on the location, specification, and size of AOVs.
BS 9999:2017 – Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings and BS 9991:2015 – Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings, offer an alternative approach to compliance with the building regulations and provide guidance on the management of fire safety during the whole lifecycle of a building. It applies to the design of new buildings and to material alterations, extensions and material changes of use to existing buildings.
What standards apply to AOV systems?
Under the Construction Products Regulation where a product is covered by a European harmonised standard, it is a legal requirement for the manufacturer to provide a Declaration of Performance which confirms the details of testing and confirm the intended use of the product. Once the Declaration of Performance has been drawn up, the manufacturer must affix a CE or CA marking to the product. The CE/CA marking indicates that the performance of the product has been assessed and that it remains constant.
There are several harmonised standards that apply to AOV systems and compliance with these is mandatory. Using non-compliant products carries a risk of prosecution and can put lives at risk.
Group SCS AOV systems all meet the applicable standards including:
- For ventilators – BS EN 12101-2:2017 – Smoke and heat control systems. Natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators
- For smoke dampers – BS EN 12101-8:2011 – Smoke and heat control systems. Smoke control dampers
- For control panels – BS EN 12101-10:2005 – Smoke and heat control systems. Power supplies, applies to the power supply component of control panels, where a secondary power supply is needed to ensure the system operates in an emergency. BS ISO 21927-9:2012 – Smoke and heat control systems. Specification for control equipment, specifies the product performance requirements, classifications and test methods for control equipment designed for use in smoke and heat-control systems (SHCS) in buildings.
What size do AOVs need to be?
Automatic Opening Vents are designed to provide a given free area of ventilation depending on their type. Details on how to calculate the free area are given in Diagram D7 of Approved Document B Volume 1, 2019 edition.
The nominal free areas required are:
- 1m² for stairwell ventilators
- 1.5m² for smoke vents in lobbies opening directly to outside
- 1.5m² for head of smoke shaft vents
- 1m² for smoke dampers venting a lobby into a smoke shaft
Calculating the free area of a smoke vent can be a little tricky, so we have done it for you in our compliant AOV Systems so you just need to choose the right kit for your application.
Our different types of AOV Systems
Stairwell AOV Systems
A stairwell ventilator/stairwell AOV is an automatic opening ventilator (AOV System) that provides at least 1.0m² of free area when open. The installation is always located at the highest point in an evacuation stairwell and can take a number of forms.
The stairwell ventilator usually serves one of two purposes; removing any smoke that gets in the stairwell of small buildings or more commonly, it provides replacement air for a lobby smoke extract system in large buildings.
If a fire breaks out, resulting in smoke getting into communal lobbies or corridors adjoining the escape stairwell, there needs to be some means of removing smoke from these areas. Solutions to this include the installation of an AOV System or a natural/mechanical smoke shaft system.
Lobby Vent AOV Systems
A lobby vent or lobby AOV system is an automatic opening ventilator (AOV) that provides at least 1.5m² geometric free area when open. The installation is located at high level in the corridor or lobby that connects to the communal escape stairwell.
The lobby ventilator usually serves one of two purposes; removing any smoke that gets in the corridor or lobby of small buildings or more commonly, it provides replacement air for a lobby smoke extract system in large buildings.
If a fire breaks out, resulting in smoke getting into communal lobbies or corridors adjoining the escape stairwell, there needs to be some means of removing smoke from these areas to prevent contamination of the escape stairwell.
Smoke Shaft AOV Systems
Ventilation systems in the lobbies of tall buildings, commonly known as smoke shafts, are used to maintain safe escape routes in the event of a fire. Smoke shaft Ventilators are used for natural ventilation where the head of the shaft ends with an automatic opening ventilator (AOV). The complete AOV system is controlled by an addressable control system that provides automatic operation of the ventilation by interfacing with the fire alarm system or smoke detectors.
