SPECIFICATION FOR THE COLT AOV (AUTOMATIC OPENING VENT)

Introduction
In apartment buildings in excess of 11m in height, or where travel distances exceed 4.5m, it is a requirement of Approved Document B to the Building Regulations that any corridor adjacent to a staircase requires smoke ventilation.There is a choice of either an AOV (Automatic Opening Ventilator), AOV (natural) Shaft, a Mechanical System or a Pressurisation System. 

More information on AOVs (Automatic Opening Vents) is to be found on the Smoke Control in Apartments page. Please click here for alternative solutions such as the Colt Shaft and Colt Extended Corridor.

Specification for Automatic Opening Vents
The AOV shall be [select] Colt Kameleon type / Seefire type LS/. / Coltlite type .. , with an open area of 1.5m², mounted vertically in the external wall.

Where the corridor or landing has no external wall, the AOV shall be connected to the corridor or landing by a nominally straight, horizontal, fire resistant duct of the same cross section, terminating in a low resistance grille to the corridor or landing.

The AOV shall be activated by the building fire detection system / a dedicated fire detection system incorporating smoke detectors in each corridor or landing and supplied as part of the AOV system or by operation of a manual break glass switch. Only the AOV - Automatic Opening Vent - in the space where smoke is detected shall open.

Control shall be (select) via the Colt OPV system (or) via an intelligent fully addressable control system.

The control system shall:

• be specifically designed and optimised for fire protection use

• use manufacturer's fully tested and proven standard control panels

• incorporate a mimic panel for fire service use

• be user re-configurable for basic operating parameters

• be capable of operating all equipment simultaneously, without need of cascade control

• provide full battery backup so that a maintained supply is not required

• provide local battery backup providing at least 70 operations

• provide visible and audible fault and fire condition warning at the control panel.

The design, manufacture, installation, wiring and commissioning of the complete system shall be carried out by one specialist company and their approved sub-contractors. The specialist company shall be responsible for gaining Building Control approval for the AOV system.

The specialist company shall be a BSI registered firm for the design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of smoke control systems in accordance with ISO 9000. Proof of certification shall be provided with tender submission.