Smoke ventilation systems are generally installed in shopping malls, industrial, residential buildings, retail and private warehouses to provide protection to people escaping the building in case fire breaks out. Automatic opening vents will open actuators, windows or vents to create ventilation when a detector is triggered. Such devices are particularly beneficial to the buildings where the escape routes to the outside are greater than the recommended building recommendations due to design.
Purpose of Installing Automatic Opening Ventilators
Automatically operated ventilators are installed to ensure that smoke is vented from the zone and a layer of clean air is available. The clean air will help people escape the building safely. Such devices release the life-threatening smoke into the open air or dilute the concentration of the smoke. Therefore, the danger gets reduced before smoke engulfs the exit routes and makes escape difficult for the occupants.
Automatic opening ventilators can be fitted to windows, rooftop lights or entryways. These devices will be connected to a focal control board, complete with a battery back-up system in case the main battery fails. This control panel can then be activated from either manual switches local to the ventilator as well as the ground floor, by smoke detectors, or simply by interfacing with an external fire alarm or smoke detection system.
Importance of Automatic Opening Ventilators
In multi-storied buildings, the main escape route is primarily through common corridors or lobbies which lead to protected stairs. Smoke can very easily spread through the escape route in the event of a fire accident. Even if a door is kept open for a brief period, smoke can quickly fill a corridor or lobby and can make escape tough for occupants. Besides, smoke entering the stairs can also make escaping difficult for those who stay in the higher stories.
Moreover, fire and rescue service fighters require clear access to stair and lobbies in taller buildings in order to form a bridgehead to run operations. One tried and tested method to combat the issues of smoke is to install smoke ventilation system which includes automatic opening vents.
How to Choose The Right AOV System
You need to identify how many items you will require to open separately and then classify each item as a zone. Consider the following two scenarios:
Scenario 1:
You have one window or roof vent that must open when fire alarm triggers.
In this scenario, you have one zone. You need to find out whether the roof vent or window operates manually or not. If it is manual, then you will need an AOV actuator which will be used to open or close. If fire system is already installed, then smoke detectors may already be fitted. In such case, you can opt to install an AOV single zone.
Scenario 2:
You have 5 floors each having a window and vent for a shaft on the roof
In this situation, you have 6 zones. In such case, you can use AOV multi-zone control panel which has the ability to open or close independently. It may be required that the vent should open together when any zone is triggered.