When should smoke vents be used?

When should smoke exhaust vents be used? Regulations and safety

Many investors wonder whether standard rooflights are sufficient or if the installation of smoke exhaust vents is necessary. While they may look similar visually, they perform completely different functions. While a rooflight is intended to provide light, a smoke exhaust vent is a life-saving device.

So, when do the law and common sense dictate their installation?

1. Requirements resulting from fire safety regulations The main document regulating this issue in Poland is the Ordinance of the Minister of Infrastructure regarding the technical conditions to be met by buildings and their location. According to the regulations, smoke and heat extraction systems are essential in:

• Large-scale production and warehouse halls – wherever the fire zone exceeds specific surface area standards.
• Stairwells in medium-high and high-rise buildings (e.g., office buildings or apartment blocks) – they serve to vent smoke from evacuation routes.
• Shopping centers and public utility buildings – where there is a high density of people.

2. When does the size of the hall force the installation of vents? The key indicator is the area of the fire zone. If a hall is large, the fire department requires the use of a gravitational smoke and heat extraction system. Smoke vents installed in continuous rooflights or as individual points allow for the safe removal of smoke, preventing it from spreading inside the facility.

3. Protection of the building structure The use of smoke vents is also necessary from the perspective of property protection. During a fire, the temperature under the ceiling rises at an alarming rate, which can lead to a loss of load-bearing capacity in the steel roof structure.

• Opening smoke vents allows for the release of massive thermal energy to the outside.
• Thanks to this, the roof structure remains stable for longer, giving firefighters time to carry out effective extinguishing operations.

4. Designation of evacuation routes In facilities where evacuation routes lead through stairwells, a smoke vent is often a mandatory element. In the event of a fire, smoke naturally rises (the chimney effect). Without a vent, the stairs would become a trap filled with toxic gases. A smoke vent installed at the highest point of the stairwell "sucks" the smoke out, enabling people to escape and rescuers to enter the building.

5. Insurance optimization Often, the decision to install smoke vents results not only from the letter of the law but also from economics. Insurance companies grant significantly more favorable rates for facilities equipped with certified smoke extraction systems (compliant with the EN 12101-2 standard), as the risk of total destruction of the hall due to fire is then much lower.

Summary: Is it worth it?

Although smoke exhaust vents are more expensive than fixed rooflights, their presence is crucial for employee safety and business survival in the event of an emergency. In the Wirmet offer, you will find smoke vents that integrate perfectly with continuous rooflights, combining the function of lighting the hall with professional fire protection.

Does your project require a smoke extraction system, and you don't know how many vents should be installed? Our engineers will help you calculate the active smoke extraction area in accordance with current standards.