System Activation & Integration

Natural smoke ventilators must operate as intended when required by the building's fire safety strategy.

Depending on the system design, this may involve automatic activation through fire detection or alarm interfaces, appropriate opening mechanisms and coordination with other fire safety systems.

Ventilator positioning, activation sequences, operational reliability and access for inspection and maintenance must be considered during design and specification.

Airocle supports the selection, manufacture and installation of smoke ventilation equipment, working with relevant project stakeholders to integrate the system into the building's overall fire safety design.

When internal temperatures exceed outdoor conditions, warm air rises towards high-level roof openings, drawing cooler outdoor air through lower-level inlets.

In a building operating at 10°C above ambient temperature, with a 9 m floor-to-ridge height differential, stack effect alone can generate approximately 15–20 m³/s of airflow.

That's equivalent to approximately 6 × 500 mm axial fans running at full speed, based on the engineers' illustrative comparison.

Both examples demonstrate how effective opening placement can make use of naturally occurring airflow forces to ventilate industrial spaces.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling can provide a detailed assessment of how air moves through a building under defined operating conditions.

By simulating airflow patterns, velocities and temperature distribution, engineers can identify stagnant areas, evaluate opening placement and compare alternative ventilation designs.

Where appropriate, CFD results can contribute to the technical evidence supporting an NCC Performance Solution, alongside engineering calculations and other required compliance assessments