Apollo
Flap ventilator designed for automatic smoke exhaust & natural ventilation
Tailored smoke control systems for safety, compliance and peace of mind
Drawing on decades of experience and innovation, we develop, manufacture, and install smoke control systems which are optimised for your building, helping to keep occupants and assets safe and ensuring compliance with fire and smoke safety regulations.
The trusted name in smoke control
Since developing one of the UK’s first smoke ventilation systems back in the 1950s, Colt International has been recognised as a leading innovator and technical expert in smoke management. Today, we design, manufacture and install smoke control systems on a huge range of projects, from industrial units to some of the tallest and most complex buildings in the country.
With our extensive range of solutions, including AOVs, SHEVs and pressurisation systems, backed by our leading design and technical services, we can offer a simplified solution that ensures compliance. Whether you are looking to achieve a specific system, need expert guidance navigating the Building Safety Act Gateways, or want us to develop a compliant smoke control solution for your project from scratch, our team is here to help.
Working with Colt
Colt is your trusted partner on smoke control projects. We support you at each stage in the process:
1. Initial briefing
We start each project by carrying out a thorough consultation to understand your project and the specific requirements which the smoke control system will need to achieve. As part of this, we will look to collect a variety of information:
- Building design and layout, including intended uses by zone
- Expected occupancy levels
- Fire safety strategy including evacuation routes
- Any planned or existing climate control systems
- Operational history (for existing systems)
2. Design proposal
Our experienced in-house designers will then use this information to develop a comprehensive smoke control system design for your project. This may include carrying out in-depth computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling to determine the optimal system design to achieve compliance with all relevant fire and smoke safety regulations. For Gateway 2 applications, we can also provide CFD analyses to verify that the designed system meets the performance requirements.
3. Manufacture & delivery
Once an order is confirmed, our project managers will oversee the manufacture, delivery, installation and commissioning of your system. All components are manufactured to exacting standards at our dedicated UK facilities, ensuring both quality and reliable timelines. Where required, we can arrange just-in-time delivery of systems to sites with limited storage.
4. Installation & handover
The system installation can be completed by our network of engineers. This means that you can have complete confidence in an accurate installation, ensuring compliance and excellent performance. At handover, we compile and provide a complete digital package detailing all the solutions installed, how they are intended to operate, any performance certifications and accompanying literature to support the Golden Thread of information.
5. Service & maintenance
We can then provide ongoing service and maintenance contracts for your system. These carefully managed contracts are carried out by our experienced service engineers with a clear schedule, managed in line with SFG20, to ensure the system continues to function correctly and that the building is fully compliant with operational safety regulations.
Explore our smoke control range
With our comprehensive range of tested smoke control solutions, we can develop a fully compliant smoke control system for any project, streamlining specification and ensuring the best value.
- AOV Systems: Colt AOV smoke vent systems can support effective, reliable natural smoke ventilation in key areas such as communal stairwells. They are available with a range of opening mechanisms, including magnetic release, electric actuators and pneumatic controls.
- AOV Small Works: Our Small Works service supports the simple order and delivery of AOV smoke ventilators on projects which do not require design support.
- Pressurisation Systems: Ideal for maintaining safe evacuation routes on tall buildings, our pressurisation systems help keep protected spaces free of smoke and are designed to meet the requirements of leading standards, including BS EN 12101-6.
- Shaft Ventilation: Our mechanical shaft ventilation systems can be designed with our extensive range of dampers, helping to effectively evacuate smoke from areas affected by fire.
- SHEVS: Available as part of both natural and mechanical smoke ventilation systems, our SHEVS solutions can be used to protect low-level escape routes from smoke and hot gases.
- Smoke Containment: Our advanced smoke and fire curtains can help to limit the movement of flames and toxic gases in the event of a fire, supporting effective ventilation.
AXS 140
AXS 140 is a combined AOV smoke ventilator and roof access hatch.
Apollo ATI
Flap ventilator for smoke exhaust, rainproof ventilation and daylighting
Coltlite
Natural louvred glazed vent, suitable for natural/ smoke ventilation. Designed as a glazed element of the building envelope, it can be used as a high specification fire, smoke and air control damper.
Defender F2 E160S
The Defender F2 is a discreet fire-rated smoke control damper designed for mechanical shaft ventilation.
EN-Seefire
EN 12101-2 certified louvred ventilator for smoke and heat exhaust, day-to-day ventilation, and daylight entry, with multiple variants and installation options.
FCO
FCO is an EN 12101-2 certified louvred ventilator designed for natural day-to-day ventilation and smoke control. Available in a wide range of sizes, louvre materials and control options for industrial and commercial buildings.
FireCurtain FM1
The FireCurtain FM1 is an automatic fire curtain which seals off an area to contain a fire and to prevent that fire from spreading to other areas.
Firelight Duo
Firelight Duo is a natural smoke and daily ventilation system for commercial, industrial and municipal buildings.
Jetstream
Jetstream is a high-performance impulse fan designed for smoke and fume ventilation in underground and enclosed car parks and loading bays.
Kameleon 5E
Kameleon 5E is an EN 12101-2 certified façade ventilator designed for natural ventilation and smoke control. Combining excellent thermal performance with flexible glazing and installation options, it is ideal for commercial and industrial buildings.
SmokeMaster SM-ST
SmokeMaster SM-ST curtains consist of adjacent smoke curtains fixed together with a clamping profile.
SmokeMaster SM5
A smoke curtain designed to channel smoke, flames, and gases during a fire.
Sectors
Through our extensive range of solutions and specialist design services, Colt International has a long history of developing dedicated smoke control system solutions to meet the challenges and requirements posed by a wide range of specific areas or sectors:
- Atria: The large open expanses of atria pose several key smoke control challenges. We can develop tailored systems featuring a combination of our solutions to maintain smoke-free escape conditions on all levels within these spaces.
- Car parks: Our advanced ventilation and smoke extraction systems can help to effectively evacuate smoke and fumes from enclosed car parks without the need for outdated ductwork systems, supporting faster installations whilst reducing long-term maintenance requirements.
- Manufacturing: High bay units used for manufacturing, storage and logistics can have high fire growth potential, particularly where vertical racking is used. Our systems can help to contain and evacuate smoke and hot gases, supporting evacuation and protecting your assets.
- Multi-storey residential buildings: Keeping evacuation routes free of smoke is critical on multi-storey residential developments. We can work with specifiers to support successful Building Safety Act Gateway applications, delivering effective smoke control systems which protect key evacuation routes, supported with accurate modelling.
- Retail: Modern shopping centres encompass a variety of open and closed spaces with potentially high occupancy levels. We design our systems to provide effective smoke containment and ventilation whilst reducing system complexity.
Case studies
London City Island
Colt provides effective smoke extract and corridor ventilation for this striking residential development.
Battersea Power Station
Colt was involved in the multi-phase regeneration plan for the iconic Battersea Power Station.
Deptford Wharves
Colt provides a complete residential and car park smoke and fume extract solution for this major new development.
Highcross Shopping Centre, Leicester
Colt provided an innovative smoke control system for the car park exit tunnel.
FAQs
What is smoke control?
Smoke control systems manage how smoke and hot gases move within a building and provide a way to safely extract them from occupied areas. They play several critical roles in the event of a fire, including:
- Helping to keep key evacuation routes free of smoke for as long as possible,
- Limiting potential damage to a property and its contents, and
- Supporting fire services in accessing the building and extinguishing a fire.
What makes up a smoke control system?
There are several types of smoke control systems which operate under different principles to effectively manage smoke risk. These include:
- Natural ventilation via AOVs (Automatic Opening Vents) and some SHEVS (Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation) units, which are located at high levels and use the natural buoyancy of smoke to ventilate.
- Mechanical ventilation that uses powered fans, ductwork and specialised dampers that open or close when smoke is detected to drive smoke and hot gases away from occupied areas.
- Pressurisation that applies the principles of mechanical ventilation to create a positive air pressure differential within protected spaces to keep smoke away from key escape routes.
- Containment via fixed or movable smoke curtains, typically installed at high levels to limit the spread of smoke and hot gases.
Colt can help develop a comprehensive smoke control system using one or more of these approaches, which provides the optimal balance of performance and efficiency.
What regulations govern smoke control?
Smoke control systems are subject to a wide variety of regulations and standards which govern their design, installation, commissioning, use and long-term maintenance. The specific requirements which apply to a system can vary based on a variety of factors, including the building design, its intended use, where it is located and the type of smoke control system that is being installed. Common legislation includes:
- Approved Document B (England & Wales)
- Technical Handbook 2 – Fire (Scotland)
- Technical Handbook E – Fire Safety + AMD 9 (Northern Ireland
- Building Safety Act
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
- Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
Colt International can support you to develop smoke control systems and maintenance plans which comply with all of the relevant legislative requirements and provide lasting peace of mind.
Does Colt offer CFD analysis?
Yes, we can offer comprehensive design support on all our smoke control, climate control and louvre projects. This can include carrying out detailed CFD analysis to verify designs as part of Gateway 2 applications.
Will you calculate what electrical loads and power supplies are required for the system?
Yes, we can supply clear information on the electrical requirements for our smoke control systems as part of the system designs.
Will you calculate what extract rates or air‑change rates the system will achieve?
Yes, we provide detailed documentation with all system specifications, which will clearly state the design extract rates or air-change rates where these apply.
Can you tell me if our project needs smoke ventilation?
Yes, Colt can advise where smoke ventilation systems may be required and develop dedicated specifications to ensure your building is fully compliant with fire and smoke regulations. If you are unsure whether you require a smoke ventilation system for your project or want to check if your existing system is appropriate, contact our team today for expert support.
Contact Us
Whether you’re looking for specific solutions to achieve your design or for assistance in developing a full smoke control systems specification, our expert team can help find the right solution for you.