Smoke and Natural Ventilation Controls Systems News | SE Controls en simon@secontrols.com Copyright 2010 2010-09-01T13:43:31+00:00 SE Controls the Automatic Choice for Manual Window Controls http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/se-controls-the-automatic-choice-for-manual-window-controls/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/se-controls-the-automatic-choice-for-manual-window-controls/#When:12:43:31Z SE Controls continue to innovate within the testing construction sector by acquiring their southern distributor RKA Services (UK) Limited to strengthen their window control product portfolio. RKA are approved suppliers and installers of Teleflex-Morse Clearline manual window control systems, with over 30 years experience in the sector. Continuity of customer service was key to the deal and this is guaranteed with Ray Allday and his team continuing to run the business unit, now trading as SE Controls Manual Window Control Division.

Martin Oates, SE Controls Commercial Director, confirms the perfect fit of RKA Services within the business, “SE Controls are one of the largest and most respected companies in the UK providing smoke and natural ventilation solutions and whilst we have worked primarily in the automatic sector our customers have always required manually controlled ventilation systems especially in the education sector. Ray and his team bring a wealth of experience to SE Controls in this sector and allows us to seamlessly integrate his business into the group resulting in improved customer service. Existing customers of RKA will of course continue to benefit from Ray’s excellent service but will also benefit from the ever increasing range of SE Controls products and services. It’s a win win.”

SE Controls has recently expanded its operations into China, South Africa and the Middle East providing increased brand awareness and strength to the group.

SE Controls offer a complete service from design through to maintenance of Smoke and Natural Ventilation Control Systems for any building. To discuss a requirement with SE Controls, or request a copy of the printed literature, please call their head office in Lichfield on 01543 443060.

Alternatively, please view the Manual Window Controls Product Catalogue or the Window Automation page detailing how Manual Window Controls can be used in Facade Automation. ]]> UK News, PR 2010-09-01T12:43:31+00:00 ‘It’s Just a Load of Fresh Air’ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/its-just-a-load-of-fresh-air/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/its-just-a-load-of-fresh-air/#When:14:21:50Z By Will Perkins, Managing Director of SE Controls

The Government has publicly announced its decision to pull funding on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme a few weeks ago, this has rippled through the construction industry and has generally been seen as a disaster for the UK ailing construction industry. But news is not always as it seems and again we need to look deeper into what is happening within Government and the construction industry itself.

There are many schools which have been approved to go ahead and these will provide business for the short term ensuring continued construction work. For most of us, where our products are used at later times within the construction cycle, we can see this business holding well into 2011. But if the occasional poorly balanced newscasts covering BSF is to be believed, there will be very little if anything after this time.

We make this assumption based on the BSF programme being the only programme led by a government initiative, whilst it is the biggest programme it is not the only one, and whilst spending in the sector will no doubt be reduced in the coming years, we can be happy that the schools business will continue to provide business for our construction industry for many years to come.

Whilst BSF has been cut as stated, this was not the only school building programme. Partnerships for Schools, (PfS) is responsible for the management and delivery of the government's capital investment programmes’ into schools. This includes: Building Schools for the Future; the Academies Programme; the Primary Capital Programme; Devolved Capital Programmes; Targeted Capital Programmes; and the Co-location fund. At this stage the Government has made it clear that BSF is likely to be drastically cut, but there has been no mention on the other programmes - until recently.

A recent press release on the Department for Education website at http://www.education.gov.uk/news/press-notices-new/bsf-sample-schools Sorry for the long link, but this release states that out of 271 schools planned and which are pending funding, 196 are to go ahead with 75 being left for the upcoming spending review, primarily the BSF programme – that’s almost 75% still going ahead as planned. This makes far better reading, even though it may not make the headlines.

Teachers are today well aware that well designed school buildings, with well ventilated learning spaces have a very positive outcome on learning and ultimately discipline within education. The coalition Government are also committed to equipping our developing youngsters with the tools for a successful future in order to create wealth for the UK, so school building must continue in order to meet this goal.

Perhaps this is not headline news, but more positive news for the construction industry. We should be looking at a little less ‘hot air’ and more ‘fresh air’ for the future - a statement we are passionate about at SE Controls!

SE Controls offer a complete service from design through to maintenance of natural ventilation systems for all types of buildings. More information on systems and services can be found at http://www.secontrols.com. To discuss a requirement with SE Controls, or request a copy of the printed literature, please call their head office in Lichfield on 01543 443060.

]]> UK News, PR 2010-08-12T14:21:50+00:00 A Day in the Life of a Smoke Control Maintenance Engineer http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-smoke-control-maintenance-engineer/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-smoke-control-maintenance-engineer/#When:07:58:29Z

Smoke Control Preventative Maintenance


As with all systems in our modern dwellings and offices, they need to be maintained at regular intervals. Maintenance often takes place when there is a failure of a part or parts which then has to be replaced. This approach may be acceptable for general building components, but when we are looking at life - safety systems, ‘preventative maintenance’ is crucial and a legal requirement.

Smoke Control Maintenance Principles


All smoke control systems are maintained on a 6 monthly basis to ensure that all components are fully functional and performs to the original fire design specification for the building by providing continued reliability in the event of a fire. This preventative smoke control maintenance conforms with, BS 9999, BS 7346, Part 1, 1990 and The Building Regulations Approved Document B

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) came into force in 2006; it has changed fire safety requirements and effects all UK organisations. The RRO outlines considerations and requirements for fire safety measures; these include conducting a risk assessment, training, equipment and maintenance.
The writer met up with Steve Birch (an SE Controls Maintenance Engineer) for the day, to visit and help maintain a typical smoke ventilation installation. The objective was to discuss system maintenance and identify typical problems faced by these systems in use.

In apartment buildings it is assumed that a fire is most likely to occur in an apartment. The principle is for the occupant of the apartment which is on fire to escape and the other residents to stay put (they may not even know there is a fire). As the occupant of the ‘fire’ flat escapes, it is probable that some smoke will get into the common corridor or lobby. It is important to ventilate this smoke to prevent it getting in to the common stair and it is the protection of this common stair that is the primary objective. This ventilation also affords some protection to the common corridors/lobbies but this is a secondary benefit – not a primary requirement.

The Application


To ventilate this smoke from the corridor or lobby, Approved Document B recommends that if an external window is located on the external wall an Automatic Opening Vent (AOV) can provide effective smoke ventilation. But typically developers are utilising the external wall by adding apartments to create a scenic view for the occupants. In this situation a vertical smoke shaft is provided with either an automatic opening smoke shaft door or damper opening into the smoke shaft and exhausting the smoke into the smoke shaft and out the top of shaft via an AOV.

On each landing or lobby, located on the ceiling is a smoke detector which when activated simultaneously triggers the opening of the corridor or landing AOV, smoke ventilation shaft roof AOV and escape stair AOV. Once opened the system ensures no other doors on the smoke ventilation shaft can be opened ensuring smoke does not transfer between floors.

Smoke Control Maintenance Procedures


Testing these systems, the smoke detectors are subjected to smoke tests via a telescopic smoke testing unit each sensor should then operate the corresponding AOVs. This is repeated on each floor after resetting the system. Every twelve months the smoke detectors are cleaned to reduce contamination and false alarms.

To ensure that ‘trap hazards’ are not present when motorised systems are closing, switches adjacent to the AOV need to remain depressed until the doors are fully closed. This configuration is known as a mitigating the risk of the trap hazard to a passing occupant. All AOVs within 2.5 m of floor level must have some form of ‘mitigating procedure’ or safety device fitted and checking these forms part of the inspection.

Following inspection of the system in action, all AOVs, including the doors, windows and roof vents are inspected for signs of wear and tear’ and fixings are checked then lubricated and cleaned if necessary. Any parts requiring replacement are duly noted on a report. Reports are then passed to the managing agents who often look after the building on behalf of the owner. Where failures have occurred during inspection the managing agents would agree a course of repair.

On many installations a repeater panel would be selected to be installed onto a smoke ventilation system. The repeater panel would typically be located near the fire service access entrance of the building to provide system indication.
The repeater panel indicates green lights to show the system as being healthy, a red light shows that the system has been activated in a particular floor or zone and an amber light indicates a fault. Should an amber light or red light remain present on the panel, the maintenance engineer should be called out to undertake a reset or a repair.

Whilst this product is not a requirement under Approved Document B, it is recommended as it provides essential system information for the fire service, client and maintenance engineer.

Within the control panel a 24V battery back-up supply is provided which will continue to operate the smoke ventilation system in the event of a mains supply failure. During maintenance visits batteries are checked for performance and recommended for replacement where they fall below a certain standard. Batteries last on average 3 to 5 years.

Typical Smoke Control Application Problems, Engineers see day in day out


So far we have discussed the routine maintenance and repair of systems, but the maintenance engineers’ responsibilities go a little further. Occupiers of a building can often unknowingly influence and compromise the correct working of smoke ventilation systems. One of the most common potential problems is ‘clutter’.

Smoke ventilation stacks are fitted with grills at floor level to ensure safety when the doors are opened. These grilled areas have been used as storage areas by residents. Roof light openings can be compromised by items placed on the roof, on or near to the roof light. Penthouse occupiers can unknowingly cause problems with trees and shrubs which will interrupt the opening of the roof light and could lead to a build up of smoke in an incident. These issues are recorded by the maintenance engineer and again it is up to the managing agents to advise the occupier of the issues and agree a course of action.

Intelligent Control Systems


As systems become more intelligent and more cost effective to install, cable management and self diagnostic systems are now emerging. Using a much simplified wiring system with less connecting wire, these systems monitor motor speed and resistance to determine the correct operation of the device. Should the ‘load’ profile change, this would indicate a fault and would initiate a call out. SE Controls have developed ‘OSLoop which works on this principle, each zoned area ‘can be linked and where a cable fault or incorrect voltage of the actuation is detected a maintenance engineer can be called to rectify the problem in the particular area. These more advanced systems meet the required standards of the forthcoming EN 12101- 9 and 10, ‘Control Panels and Power Supplies’.

SE Controls offer a complete service from design through to maintenance of Smoke Control Systems for any building. More information on systems and services can be found on their website at http://www.secontrols.com. To discuss a requirement with SE Controls, or request a copy of the printed literature, please call their head office in Lichfield on 01543 443060. ]]> PR 2010-07-28T07:58:29+00:00 NBS Plus for SE Controls’ Smoke Control & Natural Ventilation Systems http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/nbs-plus-for-se-controls-smoke-control-natural-ventilation-systems/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/nbs-plus-for-se-controls-smoke-control-natural-ventilation-systems/#When:14:18:55Z The majority of specifiers use NBS Plus to obtain industry generic specification clauses for products used in construction. SE controls are now listed on NBS Plus and have a series of specifications which are available for download from the NBS Plus website and the companies own website.

NBS Plus specification clauses are updated four times a year enabling specifiers to obtain the most up to date and accurate specification. Whilst the specifications clauses are accurate and up to date,
SE Controls encourage specifiers to contact them direct prior to specification to ensure that the right product is chosen for the location. This ensures that equipment costs are kept to a minimum whilst ensuring that the product used is fit for purpose.

NBS Plus specifications and PDF literature is available as a download from SE Controls website at http://www.secontrols.com/nbs-plus, to discuss a requirement with SE Controls, or request a copy of the printed literature, please call their head office in Lichfield on 01543 443060.

SE Controls’ Smoke Control and Natural Ventilation Specification in NBS Plus ]]> PR 2010-07-15T14:18:55+00:00 Smoke Control System for Quadrant House http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/smoke-control-system-for-quadrant-house/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/smoke-control-system-for-quadrant-house/#When:14:19:10Z SE Controls have recently provided a smoke control system to the new stylish development of Quadrant House, London.

The mixed use development will provide 271 affordable homes, 193 affordable rented and 78 shared ownership properties along with nine commercial units for the Stockwell area of London.

SE Controls provided a smoke control system that comprised natural smoke shafts with automatic opening vents on each floor, smoke control of the escape / fire fighting stair and automatic opening windows for the stairs and on the external facade.

Smoke Control case study for Quadrant House

Smoke Ventilation Solutions Brochure

]]> Reference Sites 2010-07-07T14:19:10+00:00 Smoke Control system for the Image residential development http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/smoke-control-system-for-the-image-residential-development/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/smoke-control-system-for-the-image-residential-development/#When:15:10:09Z SE Controls have been selected to provide the smoke control system for the new 22 storey mixed use development in Hamel Hempstead.

SE Controls will be providing the smoke ventilation system for the one and two bedroom apartment residential block that will be used for both private and affordable housing. The smoke control system will be implemented in blocks B, C, D, E F, and G here a combination of natural smoke shafts and the smoke control of the escape stair will be protected.

The smoke control strategy is to remove smoke in the event of a fire from the affected area of the building to ensure a safe occupant escape and provide a clear entry point for the fire service.

Smoke Control System for The Image Development (Case Study)

Smoke Ventilation Solutions Brochure

]]> Reference Sites 2010-06-22T15:10:09+00:00 Smoke Control and natural ventilation solution - Hackney Academy http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/smoke-control-and-natural-ventilation-solution-hackney-academy/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/smoke-control-and-natural-ventilation-solution-hackney-academy/#When:13:16:49Z SE Controls have recently completed the design, installation and commissioning of the smoke control and natural ventilation system at Hackney’s ‘City Academy’.

Catering for 900 pupils of various faiths the academy specialises in business and financial services with sponsors KPMG and The City of London Corporation.

Classroom ventilation consists of linked tandem pairs of actuators fitted to the window system which are operated via a single switch when ventilation is required. In circulation and communal spaces actuators are wired back to a total of 10 panels controlling 17 zones for the entire building. The 1054 actuators are grouped into 110 separate groups, either switch or BMS operated.

Smoke Control and Natural Ventilation for Hackney Academy - Case Study

Natural Ventilation Solutions Brochure for Education Buildings (PDF)
]]> Reference Sites 2010-06-18T13:16:49+00:00 Natural ventilation system helps achieve highest UK BRE rating for Cabot House http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/natural-ventilation-system-helps-achieve-highest-uk-bre-rating-for-cabot-ho/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/natural-ventilation-system-helps-achieve-highest-uk-bre-rating-for-cabot-ho/#When:10:26:55Z SE Controls have recently provided a natural ventilation system for the UK greenest commercial building, Cabot House in Bristol.

The new development in Bristol’s civic quarter has been awarded with the highest BREEAM rating in the UK with a rating recorded of 85.06%, greater than either BREEAM 2006 or BREEAM 2008.

SE Controls was selected to provide the natural ventilation system by automating six banks of windows within the building atria.

Natural Ventilation System for Cabot House, Case Study ]]> Reference Sites 2010-06-14T10:26:55+00:00 Natural Ventilation in Schools - New Brochure Available http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/natural-ventilation-in-schools/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/natural-ventilation-in-schools/#When:15:18:24Z It is well known that when CO2 levels rise in school classrooms, concentration levels drop and this has an adverse effect on the learning process. As ‘air conditioning’ is becoming unacceptable in most cases due to the heavy use of energy, natural ventilation solutions are rapidly becoming the standard installation in our new and refurbished schools.

SE Controls have just launched a new brochure titled ‘Natural Ventilation in Education Buildings’, which guides the specifier through the current legislation and the systems that can be specified.

The best designs are those where the school is purpose designed to make the most out of natural ventilation and the adoption of automatic opening ventilation devices, can be modelled prior to final specification. Existing buildings with some modification can also take advantage of natural ventilation and reduce CO2 levels. With almost 50% of all our energy consumed in the UK attributed to the buildings we live and work in, natural ventilation solutions can make a real impact in energy savings.

SE Controls can offer the specifier a total solution from early design assistance through the modelling process, detailed specification, final installation and commissioning. Unlike many other companies, SE Controls also offer a maintenance option to ensure equipment continues to operate at its optimum.

The new literature is available at Natural Ventilation in Education Buildings: alternatively to discuss a requirement with SE Controls, or request a copy of the printed literature, please call their head office on 01543 443060.
]]> PR 2010-06-10T15:18:24+00:00 Smoke and Natural Ventilation Exhibited in China http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/smoke-and-natural-ventilation-exhibited-in-china/ http://www.secontrols.com/news/item/smoke-and-natural-ventilation-exhibited-in-china/#When:15:07:25Z SE Controls Asia Pacific have recently exhibited at the Aluminium Windoor & Curtain-Wall Expo 2010 exhibition in China.

The exhibition, now in it’s 16th year is a significant gathering in China that brings together the aluminium window, door and curtain wall industry to present to key construction decision makers.

SE Controls Asia Pacific demonstrated their range of smoke and natural ventilation solutions

Watch a video of SE Controls at the exhibition ]]> International News, PR 2010-06-07T15:07:25+00:00