Managing fire and smoke risk is one of the most critical responsibilities in the design of any industrial facility, from warehouses and factories to defence and transport hubs. With lives, property, and operational continuity on the line, architects, engineers, and builders face significant challenges in ensuring fire safety.
And this responsibility extends beyond industry. Schools, theatres, and recreation centres are increasingly turning to proven fire and smoke ventilation systems as the default solution to protect their occupants.
That’s where Airocle stands apart. With over 100 years of Australian manufacturing expertise, Airocle has not only supplied fire-rated louvres and smoke vents to projects nationwide, we’ve helped shape industry best practices and compliance benchmarks that others follow. Our systems are tested, trusted, and proven across landmark projects, from industrial facilities to iconic community spaces.
This guide will walk you through how fire-rated louvres and smoke vents work, why they matter, and how to select a system designed for real-world emergency conditions.
Once a fire has broken out, inhalation of toxic gases, rapid loss of visibility, and disorientation can occur within minutes. According to NSW Fire & Rescue, smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death in fires, far surpassing burns.
Without proper ventilation, smoke accumulates rapidly, reducing survival time and making emergency responses far more difficult. At the same time, heat builds to dangerous levels, threatening both the structural integrity of the building and the lives of people inside.
Fire and smoke ventilation is not just about compliance — it’s about survival. By choosing a tested, proven system, you provide the critical window of time that saves lives, preserves assets, and ensures faster recovery once the flames are out.
In an industrial environment, whether it’s a manufacturing plant, warehouse, or transport hub, the stakes during a fire are incredibly high. These sites often store flammable materials, house heavy machinery, or support critical supply chains. A failure to control smoke and heat can bring operations to a standstill and put entire workforces at risk.
Fire and smoke ventilation systems are engineered to extract heat and smoke during a fire, keeping escape routes visible, slowing fire spread, and giving people precious extra minutes to evacuate safely.
For commercial spaces and community infrastructure, such as shopping centres, schools, and theatres, these systems also provide protection for vulnerable occupants. They help emergency services locate the fire more quickly, reduce disorientation caused by smoke, and make large-scale evacuations more manageable.
And it’s not just about saving lives. By reducing heat build-up and limiting smoke infiltration into sensitive areas, effective systems minimise structural damage, protect stored goods, and accelerate recovery. This protects operational continuity and reduces insurance and rebuild costs.
With Airocle century of experience designing and installing these systems, you’re not just buying a product — you’re securing a proven safeguard for both people and property.
In high-risk facilities such as factories, logistics warehouses, and defence buildings, traditional louvres are not enough. When a fire breaks out, standard systems can buckle under intense heat, leaving workers and assets exposed.
A fire-rated louvre is a passive safety component designed to withstand these extreme conditions. Built with materials engineered to resist heat and flame, it maintains structural integrity long after standard ventilation fails. This ensures the louvre continues to provide a clear pathway for smoke and heat to escape when lives and assets depend on it most.
Typically installed in rooflines or high-level walls, fire-rated louvres can be integrated with automatic smoke detection and fire control systems. In an emergency, they work in tandem with the building’s safety systems, providing a reliable, power-free method of exhausting smoke and heat.
With over 100 years of experience in Australian manufacturing, Airocle has played a role not just in meeting standards such as AS 1530.4 and AS 1668.1, but in helping to shape how those standards are applied across the country. That’s why Airocle fire-rated louvres are trusted by architects and engineers nationwide — from industrial sites to landmark community spaces like schools and theatres.
Standard louvres are designed for everyday use, moving fresh air through warehouses, factories, and offices while keeping out rain and debris. They’re effective for daily airflow but offer no protection when exposed to the extreme heat of a building fire.
Fire-rated louvres are purpose-built for emergencies. Every component, from the blades and frame to the seals, is engineered to withstand intense heat, resist flame, and maintain structural integrity. These systems are rigorously tested to AS 1530.4 fire resistance standards and proven in real-world projects.
The difference is not academic; it’s life and death. Using a non-rated louvre in a fire-critical application can mean system failure, compromised evacuation routes, and catastrophic liability for builders and owners.
This is why architects, engineers, and builders rely on Airocle. With over a century of expertise, Airocle has gone beyond simply meeting the minimum — our systems have influenced how best practice in fire and smoke ventilation is applied across Australian industry. Today, our solutions are the default choice for schools, theatres, and recreation centres, as well as large-scale industrial projects.
In large-scale industrial facilities such as warehouses, logistics centres, and transport hubs, smoke vents are a critical line of defence during a fire. Installed at high levels, they provide a natural escape path for rising heat and toxic smoke, preventing these hazards from accumulating at floor level where workers and equipment are most vulnerable.
By aligning with the natural upward movement of smoke, these vents preserve visibility, protect escape routes, and give firefighters faster access to the source of the fire. In high-occupancy settings such as schools, theatres, and community centres, this can make large-scale evacuations safer and more efficient — protecting vulnerable occupants who need more time to exit.
Airocle smoke vent systems are available in both manual and automated configurations, seamlessly integrating with building fire alarms and control systems. Designed to perform even in power-loss scenarios, they deliver dependable protection in the exact moments when reliability matters most.
With a century of expertise, Airocle has proven smoke vent solutions in some of Australia’s most iconic projects — ensuring compliance, safety, and peace of mind across both industrial and community infrastructure.
In many commercial HVAC systems, smoke dampers are used to mechanically channel smoke through ductwork when triggered by a fire signal. While effective in smaller, enclosed environments, these systems depend on fans and power — which can fail at the worst possible time.
In contrast, natural smoke ventilation systems, like those built with Airocle fire-rated louvres and smoke vents, harness the laws of physics to exhaust smoke without relying on external power. This makes them ideal for large industrial sites, factories, and logistics hubs where mechanical extraction would be costly, complex, or vulnerable to power failure.
For community spaces such as schools, theatres, and recreation centres, natural smoke ventilation also provides reassurance: systems continue to function in a blackout, giving occupants more time to evacuate safely.
With over 100 years of expertise, Airocle has become the trusted partner for architects and engineers who need robust, compliant, and proven natural smoke ventilation systems, not just products, but solutions that perform in real-world emergencies.
In high-risk environments like factories, warehouses, and defence facilities, compliance isn’t optional, it’s the foundation of safe design. Australian Standards provide the framework that ensures fire and smoke systems perform when lives and assets are at stake.
Two of the most critical standards are:
But here’s the difference: while most suppliers simply claim compliance, Airocle has played a role in shaping how these standards are applied across Australia. Our systems are not only tested against AS 1530.4 and AS 1668.1, they’re proven across decades of projects, from heavy industry to public infrastructure like schools and theatres.
By choosing Airocle, architects and builders aren’t just meeting code; they’re aligning with the benchmark in Australian fire and smoke ventilation. This means greater assurance at inspection, reduced liability, and the confidence that your system will perform under real-world emergency conditions.
For industrial employers, from manufacturers to logistics operators, workplace safety is non-negotiable. Under Australian WHS legislation, building owners and employers are legally required to identify hazards and implement measures to eliminate or minimise them.
When it comes to fire, the greatest risks often come from smoke inhalation, loss of visibility, and structural heat damage. Fire and smoke ventilation systems directly reduce these risks by protecting evacuation routes, limiting smoke spread, and enabling faster emergency response.
For community and commercial environments like schools, recreation centres, and transport hubs, the obligation is even greater. Vulnerable occupants such as children, the elderly, or those with limited mobility rely on safe, reliable evacuation pathways.
By working with Airocle, a partner with over 100 years of experience and a proven compliance track record, architects, engineers, and building owners can meet WHS requirements with confidence. More than a tick-box exercise, it’s about protecting lives, operations, and reputations.
For architects and builders working on industrial projects like factories, warehouses, and defence facilities, compliance with fire and smoke standards isn’t just another line item, it’s a factor that directly impacts project timelines, legal liability, and insurance approvals.
Non-compliance can mean failed inspections, costly rework, or in the worst case, a system that fails when a fire occurs. That kind of oversight doesn’t just threaten lives; it damages reputations and exposes project teams to serious financial and legal risk.
By specifying fire-rated and tested systems from Airocle, architects and builders can de-risk projects from the outset. With a century of experience, Airocle has gone beyond compliance to become a trusted partner in shaping best practices for fire and smoke ventilation in Australia.
When the stakes are this high, choosing Airocle isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about ensuring the system you specify will perform when it matters most.
In many industrial environments, from fabrication plants to large warehouses, ventilation needs to go beyond emergency fire scenarios. Day-to-day, these facilities also demand continuous airflow to control temperature, humidity, and indoor air quality.
That’s why Airocle designs systems that do both. Our fire-rated louvres and smoke vents provide natural ventilation in normal operation, reducing heat stress, improving comfort, and lowering energy costs, while automatically transitioning to smoke exhaust mode in an emergency.
For community and commercial spaces such as schools, recreation centres, and theatres, this dual functionality is just as valuable. It means fresh, passive airflow every day, and reliable smoke control when it matters most.
By integrating passive design with life-safety performance, Airocle delivers whole-of-life value: improved building performance, reduced operational costs, and tested fire protection backed by over 100 years of expertise.
No two buildings are the same — and neither are their fire and smoke ventilation requirements. The right solution depends on how the facility is used, what is stored or processed inside, and how people interact with the space.
Getting this right from the start is essential. Early consultation with an Airocle specialist ensures systems are properly specified, fully compliant, and tailored for long-term safety and performance.
Airocle offers a complete suite of fire-rated and smoke control systems, purpose-built for industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and community infrastructure. Each product is tested, proven, and manufactured in Australia, ensuring alignment with AS 1530.4 and long-term performance in real-world fire events.
7 Series – Engineered Fire & Smoke Vent
Built for large industrial and logistics facilities, the 7 Series delivers high-volume smoke and heat extraction. It combines natural lighting, thermal insulation, and acoustic control in one robust unit, making it a reliable choice for projects where both airflow and fire safety are mission-critical.
8 Series – Fire Management Control Vent
A sophisticated ventilator that integrates seamlessly with Building Management Systems (BMS) and Fire Indication Panels (FIP). With advanced automation features like smoke detection, automatic weather closure, and backup power, the 8 Series has been trusted on landmark projects — including the Sydney QVB, where it was installed to protect one of the city’s most iconic public spaces.
Z Series (Roof) – Fixed Roof Louvre
Designed for fire control integration in rooflines, the Z Series supports both manual and automated operation, with optional sensors and fire mode overrides for high-risk industrial and defence applications.
Y Series (Wall) – Pressure Relief Louvre
A wall-mounted solution engineered for rapid smoke and heat relief, the Y Series is ideal for factories, theatres, and community recreation centres where wall-based exhaust is required.
With installations across Australia — from heavy industry to schools and theatres — Airocle has become the default choice for architects and builders seeking proven fire and smoke ventilation solutions.
For over 100 years, Airocle has been at the forefront of industrial and community fire safety, from protecting factories and warehouses to safeguarding schools, theatres, and public infrastructure. We’re not just a supplier; we’re the trusted partner that architects, engineers, and builders turn to when compliance, safety, and reliability can’t be compromised.
Our expertise spans the full lifecycle: design → supply → installation → maintenance.
That means you get more than a product, you get a complete, compliant solution backed by proven Australian manufacturing and real-world project experience.
Whether you’re in the early design stage of a new facility or upgrading an existing building, Airocle provides the assurance that your fire and smoke ventilation system will perform when it matters most.
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