Automatic smoke ventilation

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Discussion

Eleven

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all

We are looking for a cost-effective smoke ventilation system to comply with building regs. It's to vent a stairway.

Velux does a smoke window at £1500 (plus the cost of fitting) but I'd wager there is a cheaper solution. Has anyone any experience in this area please?


Royce44

394 posts

112 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
Hey, long time stalker but thought id chime in with some help here.

My solution would be to fit a single zone aov cntrol panel, 1 smoke detecter with relay base, then fit a 24v actuater to the roof vent window.

Smoke detecter sees smoke, triggers relay, powers actuater to open window.

Job done.

Oh and regarding price, id say £500 for parts plus fitting

Eleven

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
Royce44 said:
Hey, long time stalker but thought id chime in with some help here.

My solution would be to fit a single zone aov cntrol panel, 1 smoke detecter with relay base, then fit a 24v actuater to the roof vent window.

Smoke detecter sees smoke, triggers relay, powers actuater to open window.

Job done.

Oh and regarding price, id say £500 for parts plus fitting
Thanks.

There is an existing fire system we can tap into. There is no window so we will need to fit one.

I am surprised velux is so expensive if the parts required are only 500 quid or so.

Royce44

394 posts

112 months

Friday 21st November 2014
quotequote all
Sorry i did forget to include the window in the estimate, but it only requires a hinged end.

What fire alarm is it as that could save further costs, a photo of the panel? I do this for a living so nice to be useful for once

Eleven

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
Royce44 said:
Sorry i did forget to include the window in the estimate, but it only requires a hinged end.

What fire alarm is it as that could save further costs, a photo of the panel? I do this for a living so nice to be useful for once
I cannot remember for sure but it may be a C-tek L1 system. I can probably get a snap of the panel if required.

Your advice is greatly appreciated. Mind if I drop you an email?

dav123a

1,220 posts

158 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
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Bookmarked , my job also involves fire alarms id be interested to see how you get on. Happy to help if needs be.

robwilk

818 posts

179 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
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Not sure on the regulations so I maybe way off here but surely if you open the window soon as smoke is detected you create a chimney in the escape route which could cause the fire to intensify and block the stairs and hence the escape.
I would have thought that you would only open a smoke clearance window after the cause of the smoke is determined and under control / out.
Just my thoughts though as Ive not seen the Regs.
Maybe I should find out before replying but this is PistonHeads after all!

Eleven

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
robwilk said:
Not sure on the regulations so I maybe way off here but surely if you open the window soon as smoke is detected you create a chimney in the escape route which could cause the fire to intensify and block the stairs and hence the escape.
I would have thought that you would only open a smoke clearance window after the cause of the smoke is determined and under control / out.
Just my thoughts though as Ive not seen the Regs.
Maybe I should find out before replying but this is PistonHeads after all!
That was one of my first comments. But apparently that's what the building control chap wants. His comment was that the building is quite safe as it is but the vent is required to comply with the regs.

Royce44

394 posts

112 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
Thats no problem at all, im guessing email is actually a pm?

c-tec is a well known panel and will house the capacity to run the aov from.

this is a smoke management system, in my previous firm i maintained the pan peninsula, 2 towers at 47 floors each, this had 2 shafts at each end of the corridor with 2 huge fans at the top of each one, when a fire is detected, on that floor both vents will open and then one fan will blow, the other suck. This creates a huge amount of airflow and works very effectively. Yhe building imspecter is referring to bs5839 no doubt.

Happy to help anyone so fire away.

Eleven

Original Poster:

26,271 posts

221 months

Saturday 22nd November 2014
quotequote all
Royce44 said:
Thats no problem at all, im guessing email is actually a pm?

c-tec is a well known panel and will house the capacity to run the aov from.

this is a smoke management system, in my previous firm i maintained the pan peninsula, 2 towers at 47 floors each, this had 2 shafts at each end of the corridor with 2 huge fans at the top of each one, when a fire is detected, on that floor both vents will open and then one fan will blow, the other suck. This creates a huge amount of airflow and works very effectively. Yhe building imspecter is referring to bs5839 no doubt.

Happy to help anyone so fire away.
Okay, I will drop you a mail next week when I am back in the office. Thanks.

SVS

3,824 posts

270 months

Sunday 23rd November 2014
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Royce44 said:
fire away.
laugh