What are smoke vent rooflights (AOVs)?
Smoke vent rooflights (AOVs) in the Scottish Borders means automatic smoke ventilators at the head of stairwells and atria. Every quote follows a survey of the roof and the room below.
Stone villas, cottages and conservation areas across Scotland often call for conservation rooflights in slate roofs. Tenements and flats are common in Scottish towns and cities, where rooflights over stairwells and top-floor flats need the owners' and factor's agreement.
Towns in the Scottish Borders
What you can choose
- Service and test plans
- Electric (24 V) or pneumatic actuation
- Break-glass and smoke-detector triggers
- Glazed rooflight or louvred vent
- Rain and wind sensors for daily vent use
- Opens automatically on alarm signal
- Glazed units bring daylight to stairwells
Planning and building rules in Scotland
Smoke vents are life-safety equipment: in Scotland the duty holder must keep them maintained under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. We install to the building's fire strategy and the manufacturer's certification.
For non-domestic buildings in Scotland, the non-domestic Technical Handbook (section 6) sets the energy standards for rooflights; we supply the manufacturer's data for the building warrant. Fragile-roof safety and access are planned before work starts.
Guide prices
Prices below are shown including and excluding VAT. In the Scottish Borders, as elsewhere, making good inside and access equipment are the main variables.
| 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 |
How the job runs
- Tell us about the roof. Send the postcode, rough sizes and a photo or two through the form, WhatsApp or the guide-price tool.
- Free survey. For new installations a surveyor measures the opening, checks the roof build-up and talks through glass and options.
- Fixed written quote. You get the product, the work and the price in writing. Nothing is ordered or paid for until you agree.
- Fitting and handover. We fit, seal and make good, then hand over product data, warranties and any certificate paperwork.
Smoke vents in nearby areas
Common questions
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 smoke vents need a control panel?
Electric AOVs work with a control panel that links them to detectors, the fire alarm and override switches.
How often should AOVs be tested?
Industry guidance recommends regular functional checks and at least annual servicing. Your fire risk assessment sets the regime.
Do I need to be at home for the survey in the Scottish Borders?
Yes — someone needs to let us into the room below and, where possible, show us how the roof is reached.
