Safety alert issued over inoperable smoke vents caused by building work

CROSS-UK has issued a safety alert warning of the risks associated with preventing the operation of smoke vents, in particular Automatic Opening Vents (AOVs), by construction work on existing buildings following several reports.

AOVs play a vital role in smoke control by venting smoke during a fire to enable occupant evacuation and aid firefighting efforts. When AOVs are obscured or made inoperable by construction activities, the fire safety system’s effectiveness can be severely compromised. This issue is exacerbated by the common practice of designing AOVs to resemble standard windows, which can lead to accidental obstruction or disconnection.

Reports from CROSS indicate several cases where AOVs were unintentionally disabled during façade refurbishments. For example, during cladding remediation, contractors either disconnected AOVs from their power source or unintentionally blocked them by affixing new materials directly to their frames. In another instance, render applied during façade finishing was mistakenly placed over AOVs, preventing their activation in an emergency.

Key safety recommendations from CROSS include:

1. Enhanced fire risk assessment: Prior to construction work, particularly with cladding or façade materials, a review of the fire risk assessment should focus on fire evacuation strategies and ensure fire safety systems remain functional.
2. Signage and awareness: Temporary and, where possible, discrete permanent signage on AOVs could reduce the risk of inadvertent obstruction, with messages such as "Automatic Opening Vent – do not obstruct".
3. Training and industry awareness: Construction industry workers should be trained to recognise AOVs and understand their critical fire safety function.
4. Regulatory compliance: Under Regulation 7 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, the Responsible Person for high-rise buildings must report faults in essential firefighting equipment, including AOVs, to maintain compliance.

These measures are essential to safeguard occupants and emergency personnel, especially during periods of high fire risk due to construction activity. Read the full report on the CROSS website.