AOV and smoke ventilation, installed and serviced
Automatic opening vents, smoke shafts and mechanical extract for blocks of flats and commercial buildings, installed, serviced and certificated to BS 7346-8.
- Free survey, fixed quote
- BS 7346-8 certificate every visit
- Takeover of any existing system
Request a call back
Name and number are all we need to arrange a call back and a free survey.
- SSAIB approved for intruder alarmsFor intruder alarms
- BS 5839 fire alarmsCertificated every visit
- Since 2001Family-run in SW17
- 20+ five-starGoogle reviews
How we work
At Security Red Alert, we design, install, service and test smoke ventilation systems for managing agents, freeholders, housing providers and commercial landlords across London, from a single stairwell AOV to a full smoke shaft with mechanical extract.
Smoke ventilation is the life-safety system most often found lapsed when we take over a building. We put it on a proper twice-yearly schedule alongside the fire alarm and emergency lighting, fix what has failed, and hand you a certificate after every visit so the compliance file stays audit-ready.
What's included
- AOV installation for stairwells, corridors and lobbies
- Natural smoke shafts and mechanical smoke extract (MSVS)
- Smoke vent control panels, actuators, detectors and manual call points
- BS 7346-8 servicing, two planned maintenance visits per year
- Annual functional and cause-and-effect testing with written records
- EN 12101-2 certified vents with Declaration of Performance
- Fault finding, remedial works and obsolete control panel replacement
- Certificates and golden-thread documentation issued after every visit
What you get from working with us
Compliance You Can Evidence
BS 7346-8 recommends at least two service visits a year for smoke control systems. We issue a certificate and test record after every visit, so you have the paperwork ready for insurers, fire officers and building safety audits.
Built for London Blocks of Flats
Stairwell and lobby AOVs, smoke shafts and communal corridor ventilation are what we work on daily, purpose-built blocks, converted buildings and HMOs across all 32 London boroughs.
One Contractor for Fire Safety
Smoke ventilation sits alongside fire alarms, emergency lighting and extinguishers on the same maintenance schedule and the same invoice, one visit, one point of contact, no gaps between contractors.
Paperwork Your Auditor Accepts
EN 12101-2 vents with a Declaration of Performance, commissioning records with cause-and-effect, and a BS 7346-8 service certificate after every visit, the documents fire risk assessors, insurers and building safety managers ask for.
Managing agents & block managers
Twice-yearly BS 7346-8 servicing across your portfolio, with the dates held by us and a certificate per block. We take over systems installed by anyone.
Housing providers & freeholders
Condition surveys of existing smoke control, prioritised remedial quotes and obsolete panel replacement without renewing the whole installation.
Commercial buildings & developers
Design, supply and commissioning of natural and mechanical smoke ventilation for offices, mixed-use schemes, car parks and new-build blocks, with cause-and-effect documentation for handover.
Smoke Ventilation Systems We Work On
Stairwell & Lobby AOVs
Automatic opening windows, louvres and roof vents that clear smoke from the protected stair and common lobbies. The most common arrangement in London purpose-built blocks, and the one most often found faulty at audit.
Natural Smoke Shafts
A vertical shaft with vents at each level, opening on the fire floor to draw smoke away from the corridor. We install, commission and maintain shaft vents, actuators and the control logic that decides which vent opens.
Mechanical Smoke Extract (MSVS)
Fan-driven extract for taller buildings and constrained layouts where natural ventilation will not perform reliably, including car park smoke clearance and pressurisation systems.
Control Panels & Remedials
Smoke vent control panels, actuators, detectors, manual override points and battery backup. Obsolete panels can usually be replaced without renewing the whole installation, we quote the remedial, not a rip-out, wherever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an AOV?
AOV stands for Automatic Opening Vent. It is a window, louvre or roof vent that opens automatically when smoke is detected, clearing smoke from stairwells, corridors and lobbies so escape routes stay usable and firefighters can work safely. AOVs are triggered by smoke detectors and can also be opened manually from a control panel.
How often should an AOV system be serviced?
BS 7346-8 recommends a minimum of two planned maintenance visits per year for smoke control systems, covering functional tests, actuator and control panel checks, battery and power supply inspection and fault log review. The responsible person should also carry out simpler routine checks between visits.
Do blocks of flats in London need smoke ventilation?
Most purpose-built blocks with internal common corridors or lobbies need smoke ventilation to satisfy Approved Document B. A typical natural solution is a 1 m2 vent at the head of the stair with 1.5 m2 lobby vents, or a smoke shaft serving each level. The right answer depends on building height and layout, which is what the survey establishes.
What is the difference between natural and mechanical smoke ventilation?
Natural systems use AOVs and smoke shafts to let hot smoke rise and escape on buoyancy alone. Mechanical systems (MSVS) use fans to extract smoke and are used where the building is taller, the shaft is smaller or the layout makes natural ventilation unreliable. We install and maintain both.
Can you take over servicing of an AOV system someone else installed?
Yes. We survey the existing system, report on its condition and any remedial work needed, then take it onto a maintenance contract regardless of who originally installed it. Obsolete control panels can usually be replaced without renewing the whole system.
Arrange a free AOV survey
Tell us about the building and we will call you back to book a free, no-obligation survey. You get a fixed written quote after every visit.
- Free survey, fixed quote
- BS 7346-8 certificate every visit
- Takeover of any existing system
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