Recent reports from Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures (CROSS-UK) have stressed key issues where Automatic Opening Vents (AOVs) have been rendered inoperable during building work.
This alarming trend highlights the need for greater awareness, training and proactive measures to protect these critical fire safety systems.
The Role of AOVs in Fire Safety
AOVs are an integral part of a building’s fire safety strategy. Designed to automatically operate during a fire, they allow smoke and heat to escape, keeping escape routes clear for occupants and aiding firefighting efforts.
AOVs often resemble standard windows for aesthetic reasons, which can lead contractors to overlook their significance or fail to recognise their function entirely.
CROSS-UK reports have detailed incidents where building works compromised AOV functionality. For example, contractors disconnected AOVs during cladding replacement and left them inoperative for months.
In other cases, screws used to secure new cladding damaged the vents’ frames, preventing them from opening. Protective masking during façade works inadvertently blocked AOVs, rendering them non-functional in an emergency.
These cases illustrate the unintended but dangerous consequences of poor planning during construction.
Safeguarding AOVs During Building Work
To preserve the functionality of AOVs during construction, building managers, contractors, and fire safety professionals must collaborate closely.
Identifying and clearly labelling AOVs is essential to ensure contractors understand their importance and take steps to avoid obstructing or damaging them. Signage, such as “Automatic Opening Vent – Do Not Obstruct,” can serve as a simple but effective reminder.
Fire risk assessments should be reviewed and updated to address new risks introduced by building work, including the potential impact on fire safety systems like AOVs.
Training for contractors and sub-contractors is also vital to raise awareness about the role of AOVs and their importance in fire safety.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 place a duty on the “Responsible Person” to ensure fire safety measures remain operational during construction. For AOVs, this includes monitoring functionality, implementing safeguards, and reporting faults, particularly in high-rise residential buildings.
Amthal’s Commitment to Fire Safety
Amthal is committed to safeguarding critical fire safety systems like AOVs during all stages of a building’s lifecycle. We work closely with building managers, contractors, and Responsible Persons to guarantee compliance with regulations and to reduce risks.
Our approach includes conducting comprehensive fire risk assessments tailored to construction activities, identifying and protecting vital systems, and providing ongoing monitoring, advice and training.
By creating collaboration and implementing robust safety measures, we ensure AOVs remain functional, compliant and offer total protection.
