AOV and smoke ventilation for Bangor buildings
Wales has its own rules for rented homes under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and its own building safety programme, so landlords and building owners here need advice that reflects Welsh law rather than English.
In most blocks of flats, smoke ventilation is what keeps the common corridor and stair usable during a fire, for residents leaving and for firefighters coming in. If the vent does not open, or opens late, the escape route can fill with smoke in minutes.
AOV systems are usually triggered by smoke detectors on each landing and are linked to a control panel with battery backup. We test the detection, the actuators, the free area at the opening, the panel and its batteries, the firefighter override switches, and the link to the fire alarm. Where a system is failing, we repair or replace actuators and panels from most major manufacturers.
The rules that apply in Bangor
In Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to non-domestic premises and the common parts of residential buildings, as amended for Wales by the Fire Safety Act 2021. The Welsh Government is reforming building safety separately from England, so duties for taller residential buildings in Wales follow Welsh legislation and guidance rather than the English higher-risk building regime.
What is included
- Functional testing of AOVs and smoke shafts
- Actuator, motor and window mechanism checks
- Control panel, battery and charger tests
- Firefighter override switch tests
- Cause and effect checks with the fire alarm
- Repairs and like-for-like replacements
- Service reports and logbook entries
Buildings we work on in Bangor
- Blocks of flats
- Managing agents
- Housing associations
- Build-to-rent
- Student accommodation
- Mixed-use buildings
Areas we cover from Bangor
From Bangor we also cover Llandudno (14 miles), Rhyl (27 miles), Wrexham (49 miles), Aberystwyth (56 miles) and Carmarthen (95 miles). Elsewhere in Gwynedd we work in Llandudno. If your building is not in a listed town, we still cover it: every enquiry for aov and smoke ventilation in Wales is handled the same way.