Colt International LLC

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates

Smoke and heat exhaust ventilation systems, also known as "SHEVS" are natural or powered systems to remove smoke from a building allowing low level escape routes to be kept clear of smoke and reducing damage to the building.
SHEVS comprise three main components: the exhaust ventilators, needed to remove the smoke; smoke barriers, needed to limit the spread of smoke while it remains in the building; and inlet ventilators, needed to allow fresh air in to replace the smoky air removed by the exhaust ventilators.

Dampers and ductwork are often integrated into the scheme.

A choice has to be made between natural or mechanical ventilation. Natural smoke ventilation uses the natural buoyancy of the hot gases to drive the smoke flow through the ventilators. Such systems often have a dual function and provide both smoke ventilation and day to day ventilation. By contrast powered smoke ventilation relies on mechanical extraction through fans.

Where the roof space is extensive, its necessary to limit the spread of smoke within the roof space. This requires high level smoke barriers to divide the roof space into discrete smoke reservoirs. These barriers may be fixed or automatic smoke curtains or heat resistant boards or glazing. Barriers are also often used in complex buildings such as shopping centres and atrium buildings to control the flow of smoke into the mall or atrium. View oursmoke containmentpage.

The height of the clear layer below the smoke is critical. It needs to be high enough to protect property and escape routes and to ensure that fixed smoke barriers will not adversely affect building usage while being kept as low as possible to minimize the cost of the smoke control system.

A supply of replacement air is essential. As smoke and gases are extracted, sufficient air needs to take their place. Otherwise the building will become depressurized and the smoke ventilation system will become ineffective. Air supply may be from natural ventilators in smoke reservoirs remote from the fire or from dedicated low level air inlet ventilators or automatic doors.

Our natural ventilation systems harness wind and heat to create a comfortable and healthy internal environment, with optimal temperature and humidity levels, and good air quality.

Our natural ventilation schemes consist of automatically opening and closing windows and rooflights, and can range from a simple open/close switch to a fully integrated energy management system with carbon dioxide and temperature measuring, weather sensors and interfaces with building management systems.

These systems can provide a highly energy efficient solution that requires a small initial investment to maintain a good internal climate with extremely low running and maintenance costs.

Colt can design a tailorednatural ventilationsystem for all types of buildings from schools to offices, from power generation plants to shopping centres. By bringing its uniquely broad expertise across different specialties, Colt is able to design the system that best meets the requirements of your project, including integrated solutions for day-to-day ventilation and smoke control, or hybrid natural and mechanical ventilation systems. Colts support goes beyond the design stages, through to the installation and, subsequently, to service and maintenance.

ColtHVAC systemsstep in to provide an effective solution when the situation or structure of the building makes natural ventilation impossible. The building can be too low, or not enough heat is generated inside it, to create a stack effect to move the air. It may be impossible to fit enough natural vents at a low level to run a natural ventilation system or, if the building is contained within a bigger structure, there may be no direct access to natural air.

Colt HVAC systems offer a cost-effective solution. Colt experts can maximise their energy efficiency by integrating a control system in the design.

Colt mechanical ventilation systems can also be integrated with air conditioning or adiabatic cooling to provide a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution when there is a requirement to cool below ambient temperature.

The Apollo natural flap ventilator provides both smoke and day to day ventilation. It conforms to EN 12101-2. It allows extract ventilation for most kinds of industrial buildings and is usually installed on the roof. Polycarbonate versions allow the entry of natural daylight. It is manufactured under the ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental management standards.

Apollo ATI is a natural flap ventilator that can provide both full extraction through its top flaps and weathered ventilation via longitudinal side flaps. It is a dual purpose ventilator, providing both day to day and smoke control ventilation and is generally installed onto roofs, providing high level extract to most kinds of industrial buildings. Polycarbonate versions allow the entry of natural daylight. It is tested to and in compliance with EN 12101-2. It is manufactured under the ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental management standards.