Services

Smoke Extraction Systems

Roof vent systems that remove smoke and heat as quickly as possible in a fire.

About the system

When a fire breaks out in an enclosed space, thermal convection currents carry smoke and hot gases towards the ceiling and then fill the space with an ever-rising smoke layer. The main task of smoke control and heat extraction systems is to remove smoke and heat from the facility as quickly as possible and to keep the smoke layer at a controlled level in the space.

This preserves visibility along escape routes, extends the available evacuation time and lets the fire brigade reach the seat of the fire more safely. It also reduces the temperature to which the structural steel is exposed, lowering the risk of early collapse and limiting post-fire damage.

The system can be arranged as natural or mechanical extraction. In natural extraction, vents placed in the roof open automatically in a fire and let the buoyancy of the hot smoke drive it out; in mechanical extraction, smoke fans extract at a designed flow rate. In both cases the make-up air openings that let an equivalent volume of fresh air into the space at low level are just as important as the extraction itself.

Roof vents are not limited to the fire scenario. The same units can be opened in a controlled way for daily ventilation and, with translucent dome options, bring daylight into the space, reducing both energy consumption and the need for artificial lighting.

Applications

Logistics warehouses and high-bay stores
Production plants and industrial hangars
Shopping centres and commercial buildings with atria
Indoor sports halls and event venues
Car parks and plant rooms
Schools, hospitals and public buildings, together with stair pressurisation

Installation process

01
Fire scenario and calculation
Space height, fire load, smoke zones and the target clear layer height are established, and the required extraction area or flow rate is calculated.
02
System selection
Depending on the building geometry and code requirements, natural vents, mechanical fans or a hybrid solution are selected, and smoke curtains and zone boundaries are laid out.
03
Layout and roof integration
Vent and fan positions are planned around the purlin grid and roof detailing; upstands, connections and weathering details are resolved together with the roof system.
04
Installation
Upstands are set, units are mounted and pneumatic or electric actuator groups are installed with their control lines.
05
Control system integration
Integration with the fire detection panel, break-glass units and ventilation controls is completed, and scenario-based opening settings are configured.
06
Function test and handover
Each unit is opened and closed under test, the scenarios are trialled, and the system is handed over with operating and periodic maintenance instructions.

Available materials

Natural smoke and heat exhaust vent (roof vent)Mechanical smoke extraction fanTranslucent dome and rooflightSmoke curtain and zone separatorMake-up air louvresPneumatic / electric actuators and control panel

Natural or mechanical extraction?

In high-bay warehouses and production halls with direct access to the roof, natural extraction is usually the simpler solution with lower running costs. Mechanical extraction is needed where ceiling height is limited, where vents cannot be placed in the roof or where smoke zoning is complex. The decision follows from the space geometry and the fire scenario calculation.

Why is make-up air so important?

Smoke can only be extracted as long as air replaces it. Without sufficient low-level make-up air openings the system cannot reach its design flow rate, and negative pressure in the space can even make doors hard to open. Inlet openings are therefore sized alongside the extraction area and linked to the control system.

Can the same vents be used for daily ventilation?

Yes. With suitable actuators and controls, roof vents can be opened partially for day-to-day ventilation, and automatic closing can be added with wind and rain sensors. The fire scenario always overrides the ventilation command.