How we approach smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) in St Albans
We handle smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) across Hertfordshire, including St Albans. In short: automatic smoke ventilators at the head of stairwells and atria. The survey checks structure, weathering and orientation, so the quote reflects your actual roof.
Many South East homes have been extended more than once, and an old dome over an earlier extension is often due for replacement. Smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) suit communal stairwells, corridors and atria.
St Albans sits about 8 km from Harpenden and 8 km from Hatfield, and we cover the whole AL1 postcode district and the roads in between.
Options we can specify in St Albans
- Glazed rooflight or louvred vent
- Rain and wind sensors for daily vent use
- Service and test plans
- Control panel with battery backup
- Electric (24 V) or pneumatic actuation
- Also usable for day-to-day ventilation
- Replacement of failed or obsolete units
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
- Smoke ventilation is designed to the building's fire strategy — we install to that design
Building control and safety duties in St Albans
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.
Guide prices for St Albans
These are typical supply-and-fit ranges. For an address in St Albans, 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 |
What happens next
- Get in touch. Use the form, WhatsApp or the guide-price tool with your St Albans address.
- Measure and check. A surveyor visits St Albans, measures and checks structure and access.
- Written price. You receive a fixed price listing the unit, the work and the lead time.
- Fitting and handover. We install, clean down and leave product and warranty documents.
Nearby towns
Other services in St Albans
Common questions
How often should AOVs be tested?
Industry guidance recommends regular functional checks and at least annual servicing. Your fire risk assessment sets the regime.
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.
Do you fit smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) in St Albans?
Yes. We survey and fit smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) in St Albans and across Hertfordshire. Send your postcode and we will offer a survey date when we reply.
Can you work alongside my builder in St Albans?
Yes. On new extensions we fit once the opening and upstand are ready and coordinate dates with your builder.
