AOV Smoke Ventilation Systems in Newcastle

An AOV (Automatic Opening Vent) system is a life-safety smoke control system designed to keep escape routes — typically stairwells and lobbies in residential blocks — clear of smoke during a fire. It is mandatory under Approved Document B in most new-build residential blocks over a certain height and is governed by BS 9991 (residential) and BS 7346 (smoke and heat control). We install and service complete AOV systems from manufacturers including SE Controls, Colt, Window Master and Smoke Control Engineering. A typical install includes optical smoke detection at each lobby, a head-end control panel, 24V control wiring, electric or pneumatic actuators on roof vents or façade windows, and break-glass override units at fire service entry points. Servicing is required at least annually — and ideally six-monthly — under the manufacturer instructions and the building fire strategy. We test cause-and-effect, actuator stroke and timing, battery backup, manual overrides and detection sensitivity, then issue a full service certificate. We work across new-build and retrofit projects in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham and the wider North East. We also take over inherited systems from main contractors at handover and bring them under a single accountable maintenance contract.