Are your fire rated windows BSEN certified?
Posted on 24/07/2018
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy last year, fire safety is very much at the forefront of the minds of all organisations involved in the construction industry, with an increasing spotlight on fire-rated products.
With smoke inhalation being the most common cause of death from fire-related disasters, smoke ventilation systems are vital to remove smoke and heat to help save lives and avoid tragedies like this again.
Designed for communal areas such as stairwells, lobbies or exit corridors, smoke ventilation systems use actuators to automatically open windows and rooflights in the event of a fire, creating a safe exit out of high-rise residential or commercial buildings.
A typical system should consist of vents certified to BS EN 12101-2 which are automatically triggered by a 24v control system (certified to BS EN 12101-10). The system is activated when a call-point or smoke sensor is triggered, resulting in vents opening to clear smoke from that area of the building.
In many cases, however, the windows used for smoke ventilation are not certified or tested to the same high standard as the system.
And Sam Yiend, Director of Teal Products, one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of window controls, openers and actuators, commented: “At Teal we recommend and offer a number of window options to customers including aluminium glazed louvres which are thermally broken and fully-certified to this BS EN standard.
“It’s an effective system which has become an integral part of fire and safety strategies across the world and we have the tools and support businesses need to stock, supply and fit these systems with complete confidence.
“Not only do we have 17 plus years of experience supplying window control and ventilation systems, we offer bespoke one-page installation instructions for each product and full training at our facilities if necessary.”
Founded in 2000, Teal Products are one of the UK’s leading suppliers and distributers of manual and electric window openers, controls and actuators. Family-owned and family-run, Teal prides itself on its extensive product range from the industry’s leading brands along with its comprehensive customer service including technical assistance, training and after-sales support.
For more information visit www.tealproducts.com or call + 44 (0) 1242 620318.