Skylights have long been used as attractive additions to a building, bringing in more natural light and helping to make a building a more pleasant space. Did you know that you can also use automatic opening skylights as safety features? In the event of fires, these clever skylight systems will open up to vent out smoke, helping to make a property safer and helping you to meet with buildings regulations with regards to fire safety.

What is an automatic opening skylight? 

An automatic opening skylight will open up when there is a fire, helping to remove smoke and make the building safer. It will usually be opened up in the event of a fire, though some models can also be opened up for natural ventilation of the property. Different models have different functionalities, so you should check before purchasing your selected model.

Why is an automatic opening vent so important? 

Smoke inhalation is one of the most serious problems when there is a fire, and will often cause more injuries than the fire itself. It’s important that people are protected from smoke inhalation by reducing the amount of smoke that is in the space. There are various different ways of operating a vent. They can be set to open on a signal from a fire alarm, as part of a control panel that operates all fire safety systems. This means that if someone sets off a fire alarm, or the fire alarm detects smoke, the vent will also be opened up. There will usually also be manual control panels on each floor of the building, so people can open up the vents if needed. They may be standalone pieces of fire safety equipment, or they might be incorporated into a wider fire safety system.

It might also be a way of providing an entrance for emergency personnel if required, and it can provide easy and safe access onto the roof in case of other emergencies.

Who should install this type of skylight? 

It is important that you install fire safety skylights in the right places to utilise their most important functions. You should think about positioning automatic opening skylights in single-stair blocks of flat, common escape routes, basements, enclosed car parks and stairwells. This will help to make these enclosed spaces safer and will work to strategically vent out the smoke.

If you want further information on choosing an AOV that will be appropriate, you can consult Part B of Building Regulations in England and Wales. This covers fire safety compliance in flats and non-dwellings, and will also tell you the minimum size that a skylight should be. You can also consult the company that will be supplying and installing the automatic opening skylight system for you. They will be able to give you advice on the right systems for your building and help you find the most appropriate sizes, skylight materials, glazing options etc. Make sure they are qualified installers and are used to working on buildings like yours.