University of York

Consisting of two phases, Colt supported SES Engineering and Stothers M&E in providing effective smoke ventilation systems for 19 new student accommodation buildings at the University of York.

The new residential developments will help York University increase its accommodation provision by around 1,400 new student bedrooms on its eastern campus. Designed to optimise the beautiful surrounding landscape, the development is built with respect for the existing ecological diversity around the lake.

Colt was brought onto the project to design and install a fully compliant and effective smoke control solution for the buildings. We provided custom-designed systems to protect the common areas such as corridors, as well as escape routes – in the event of a fire, the Colt systems will ventilate smoke away and out of the building quickly. This allows the occupants to escape safely and also allows firefighters to gain entry and locate to the seat of the fire more effectively.

The Colt systems on this project consisted of smoke extract fans, smoke dampers and our EN-Seefire Natural Louvred Ventilators. Certified according to EN 12101-2, Seefire is a natural smoke and heat extract ventilator. It has been tested for permanent fall-through protection and has been classified according to EN 1873.

The Seefire can be adapted to all kinds of projects as the result of its wide range of product variants. The ventilator can allow the entry of natural daylight. It also has an ingenious drainage system and has proven its worth a thousand times over as a robust and durable natural smoke and heat ventilator.

The louvres of the Seefire are centrally pivoted, which, due to their own weight, open smoothly even when there is no voltage or pressure. Seefire’s control and operation are cost-effective and efficient, making it one of our most well-known and popular vents.