Smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) for Harrow: the essentials
Our smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) service in Harrow covers automatic smoke ventilators at the head of stairwells and atria. Every job starts with a survey of the opening, the roof covering and the room below, and a fixed written price.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces with narrow side returns are typical of much of London, and a glass roof or long flat rooflight is the usual way to keep the back rooms bright once the return is built over. Smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) suit blocks of flats and commercial buildings with a smoke strategy.
From Harrow to Wembley, Northolt and Greenford, the same survey-first process applies: measure, specify, fix the price, then fit.
What you can choose
- Service and test plans
- Electric (24 V) or pneumatic actuation
- Control panel with battery backup
- Rain and wind sensors for daily vent use
- Break-glass and smoke-detector triggers
- Servicing and testing available
- Glazed units bring daylight to stairwells
What to check first
- Whoever holds the building's fire-safety duties (the responsible person, the duty holder in Scotland or the appropriate person in Northern Ireland) must keep systems maintained and tested
- Replacing a vent with a non-equivalent product can affect the fire strategy
Rules and responsibilities in Harrow
Smoke vents are life-safety equipment: in England the responsible person must keep them maintained under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We install to the building's fire strategy and the manufacturer's certification.
For buildings other than dwellings, Approved Document L Volume 2 sets limiting U-values of 2.2 W/m²K for rooflights and 3.0 W/m²K for roof ventilators, including smoke vents. Fire classification of rooflight materials near boundaries is checked at specification.
Our planning guide covers each nation in more detail.
What do smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) cost in Harrow?
These are typical supply-and-fit ranges. For an address in Harrow, scaffold, a hoist for heavy glass, or a new structural opening can move the figure, which is why we survey first.
| Option | Guide price inc VAT | Ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Large glazed AOV with actuators | £4,795 – £7,795 | £3,995 – £6,495 |
| Standard glazed AOV Typical | £3,595 – £4,795 | £2,995 – £3,995 |
| Replacement vent onto existing upstand | £2,995 – £3,595 | £2,495 – £2,995 |
From enquiry to finished job
- Send the details. Postcode, rough size and a photo of the roof and room.
- Survey. We measure the opening, check the roof build-up and agree the options.
- Fixed quote. Product, work and price in writing — nothing is ordered until you agree.
- Installation day. Usually one day into a prepared opening, longer for new openings.
Neighbouring towns
Related work in Harrow
Common questions
Who is responsible for maintaining smoke vents?
The responsible person (or duty holder in Scotland, appropriate person in Northern Ireland) for the building must keep fire safety systems maintained. We can arrange servicing and keep records.
Can a smoke vent be used for normal ventilation?
Many dual-purpose units also open for daily ventilation, closing automatically in rain.
Do you design the smoke strategy?
No — the strategy comes from the building's fire engineer or designer. We supply, install, commission and service to it.
How do I book a survey in Harrow?
Send your postcode and, if you can, a photo of the roof and the room. We offer a survey date when we reply.
Do I need to be at home for the survey in Harrow?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
