Smoke ventilation is a critical part of life safety design in modern buildings — particularly in residential high-rise, commercial, and mixed-use developments. At Advanced Glass, we supply and install smoke vents and AOVs as part of the complete façade envelope, ensuring seamless integration and compliance from design through to installation.
Automatic Opening Vents (AOVs) are windows, louvres, or roof-mounted vents that open automatically in response to a fire signal, allowing smoke and hot gases to escape from stairwells, corridors, or other escape routes. They help maintain visibility, reduce temperatures, and support safe evacuation and firefighting access in the event of a fire.
While both involve the movement of air, natural ventilation is typically used for thermal comfort and air quality — such as opening windows or passive vents to reduce CO₂ levels or indoor temperatures.
By contrast, smoke ventilation systems are governed by strict life safety requirements and must:
When AOVs are treated as part of the façade, not just an add-on, you avoid design clashes and minimise the risk of non-compliance at Gateway 2 or 3. Because we also deliver curtain walling, SFS, cladding, fire stopping, and EPDM, we ensure smoke vents are correctly coordinated — both structurally and in terms of fire integrity.
We also support with:
Get in touch with Advanced Glass today to discuss your smoke control strategy.
Aluminium windows offer durability, low maintenance, excellent thermal efficiency, and modern aesthetics, making them ideal for commercial applications.
Yes, modern aluminium windows feature thermal break technology to improve insulation, achieving low U-values meeting Part L building regulations and often exceeding it.
Options include double or triple glazing, solar control glass, acoustic glass, laminated safety glass, and enhanced security glass, depending on performance needs.
Yes, commercial aluminium windows can be PAS 24 certified and meet Secured by Design standards with multi-point locking systems with reinforced frames.
When properly maintained, aluminium windows can last 30 – 40 years, due to their corrosion resistance and high-quality powder-coated finishes.
Yes, they are available in a wide range of RAL colours, anodised finishes, and different configurations, including casement, tilt-and-turn, and sliding options.
Aluminium windows are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, with high wind load resistance and water-tightness ratings to ensure long-term performance.
Minimal maintenance is needed – just the occasional cleaning and lubrication of moving parts is required to help ensure smooth operation and longevity.
Yes, aluminium is up to 100% recyclable, and many modern aluminium window systems use recycled materials, supporting sustainable building practices.
Lead times vary depending on customisation and project size, but standard windows typically take 12 – 16 weeks for design, manufacturing and delivery.
If you’re looking for a specialist curtain walling, facade, or cladding contractor to assist you with your upcoming project, ensuring on-time delivery and a smooth process from start to finish, our expert team are on hand and ready to assist you.
