Fire is not an alien element in our day-to-day lives. We live with it, be it in kitchens, a building complex or in an industrial space. And we’re also subconsciously aware of the fact that anytime, anything can happen. That’s why we keep fire extinguishers and other safety systems close by so we can take necessary actions in case of accidents. 

Smoke vents too fall in that category, though many people still do not understand its significance during emergencies. A building with proper-functioning smoke ventilation systems is highly-protected in case of fire or smoke incidents. 

But these are just some openings near the ceiling or above the stairwell? How can these vents help during fire break outs? Let’s explain. 

During a fire in a building, it’s not just the flames that threaten the occupants but also the smoke. According to reports, nearly 50-80% of deaths in fire accidents result from inhalation injuries over burns. Another study reveals that the mortality rate for burn patients without inhalation injuries is much less compared to those with respiratory complications caused by smoke. 

 

Depending on the type of fire, toxic gases, like Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Hydrogen Cyanide, etc.are released into the building rapidly. The chances of people inhaling them and falling sick while escaping is higher than getting burns. 

Automatic smoke ventilation systems or smoke vents help remove these toxic gases first, so that the occupants and firefighters don’t end up inhaling them. 

Understanding Smoke Vents And How They Function 

A smoke vent looks like a typical opening near the roof, above the topmost stairwell or in the corridors of a building. When a fire breaks out at any spot, the hot smoke and toxic gases tend to accumulate in these areas, making it difficult to breathe. Sometimes people get trapped or fall sick on inhaling the poisonous gas while escaping. When the rescue team enters the building, the accumulated smoke also causes visibility issues. 

A working smoke ventilation system allows the heat and gases to pass through easily without blocking the escape routes. It also helps make rescue operations smoother and more effective. 

 

Ignoring such an essential component of the building’s safety system can pose greater dangers than we can imagine. You can say that it’s this critical venting unit that prevents an accident from turning into a full-fledged massacre with loss to lives and property. 

Let’s take two real-life scenarios to understand it better. 

Fire In Residential Building 

Imagine a four-storeyed apartment with no roof smoke vents or standard ones that have not been inspected for years. In case a fire breaks out, hot gases and smoke will get trapped in the stairwell (the first mode of escape), corridors and shafts. 

Within a few minutes, you’ll notice these things:

  • A major drop in visibility as smoke is all you can see
  • Even breathing makes you choke and cough 
  • People get trapped as there’s no free escape route 

After some time, you find firefighters entering the building to control the situation. But even though they can hear the trapped occupants, they are unable to locate them due to excessive smoke and heat. 

Now, we don’t need to tell you the rest, do we? 

Fire In Industrial Settings 

In industrial or large commercial spaces like shopping malls, warehouses and office buildings, the situation can be worse. The ceilings are generally higher than other buildings. The dangerous smoke curls up in layers near the ceiling and can collapse anytime, blocking everything from sight. 

When that happens:

  • Workers cannot locate escape routes and get trapped 
  • Evacuation time extends, and the danger quotient increases 
  • Flammable substances may catch fire during the delay

Now consider if these spaces have proper smoke vents and in all the critical spots. 

  • The smoke from the fire rises upwards and curls up near the staircase, in the corridor and vertical shafts. 
  • The AOV (Automatic Smoke Ventillation) systems flap open, allowing easy removal of these gases. 
  • Occupants can see the escape routes clearly and run towards those with no breathing difficulty. 
  • The ones who are still trapped can be rescued by the firefighting troops without any hassle. 
  • As the fire is brought to control faster, the chances of damage to lives, goods and machineries are less. 

 

So you see how essential smoke vents are for your building? These are equally important to fire alarms, sprinkler systems and extinguishers. In fact, all these fire-fighting equipment work hand-in-hand to reduce the chances of a catastrophe. Fire incidents are not uncommon. But what matters is how fast and effective our firefighting systems are to control it before it escalates. 

Smoke Vents Are Finally Getting The Deserving Attention

The global market for roof smoke vents, smoke hatches and automatic smoke ventilation systems or AOV are growing rapidly. 

The Middle eastern countries, like Saudi Arabia, along with Egypt in Africa are leading the adoption. In one report, it’s alleged that the Middle East accounts for 4.4% of the global smoke exhaust system market in 2025. Regions with a high elderly population, who suffer from respiratory issues, are taking the installation of smoke vents rather seriously. 

How We Can Contribute To Make Our Buildings Safer 

As most fatalities are caused due to Carbon Monoxide poisoning (65%) in fire incidents, maintaining the smoke vents in working conditions is not optional anymore. Proper inspection and regulation of fire safety systems has also been mandated by the Civil Defence authorities. And smoke vents fall in that group without a doubt. 

Here’s how to ensure your smoke ventilation systems remain the saviour they are in the long run:

Choosing the right systems 

Not all assemblies are equally effective for all types of buildings. Every small thing, starting from the material to the types of features and components, should be considered. Also, you should opt only for certified and tested smoke vents to prevent compliance issues later. At Dutco Tennant LLC, we can help you find a suitable, fully-certified solution based on your building’s specifications and existing safety systems. 

Maintenance of vents 

Besides regular cleaning, smoke vents need proper inspection and maintenance services at least once a year. Checking for automatic mechanisms, signs of rust in the hinges, frames and seals, and lubrication are necessary to keep it up and running. Roof smoke vents in dusty or coastal regions may need more than annual maintenance, as these systems are exposed to faster corrosion. 

Testing and documentation 

This is mainly applicable for automatic smoke ventilation systems that offer sensor-triggering features. Tests should be conducted to ensure if the sensors are working properly, which means the flaps should open as directed. Keeping records of such tests and inspections is essential for insurance and related investigations if there’s an accident.  

Because Safety Is Uncompromisable 

Our team at Dutco Tennant LLC has been adhering to this principle for decades now. Like recently, the team was assigned the responsibility to supply high-quality Motorized Smoke Dampers at a landmark project, the Holy Haram Expansion in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Mataf expanded to about 20 meters, accommodating nearly 500,000 pilgrims every hour. The safety and efficiency of the space was of primary importance, and our team was proud to contribute towards the same. 

We provide only those systems that never compromise on safety for other gains. As a result, our clients have always been satisfied with the quality of our solutions. The smoke vents are not an exception to this norm. We solemnly acknowledge the difference between “We got out safely” and “We might not have if not for…..” in unfortunate incidents. 

Hence, we have curated an extensive collection of roof smoke vents for all kinds of buildings. Our range includes standard ones, vents with thermal breaks and additional insulation features, and even ones with double doors for easy operation. If you need anything else, feel free to fill us in on your specific project requirements. We’ll be glad to help you out.