Smoke is a very dangerous chemical with the capacity to kill at an instant. Taking this into consideration, most modern buildings as well as architectural designs and ventilation systems have all prioritized the proper handling and disposal of smoke. In addition to the above, the general public is at the moment being sensitized on issues regarding smoke particularly the health related issues. This is being done through different forms of media including television, radio and other wide reaching commercial advertising platforms in towns and cities across the country. What’s more, there are also laws put in place to help provide a clear guide line on how to handle smoke related issues taking into consideration the fact that smoke is able to kill quick. All of this has been done with the sole intention of ensuring the safety of residents.
Today, homes and other building e.g. office blocks are ventilated using the A.O.V (Air operated valve) smoke vents system, in this type of ventilation the systems are located in stairwells and in particular rooms in homes which lack external walls. These systems work by automatically opening a vent which in turn controls the level of smoke within the building in question in case of a fire outbreak.
The laws in place are aimed at helping makes sure that both home owners and other building owners makes sure that there is proper smoke vents put in place in their respective buildings. These same laws also help ensure that all homes and buildings are built with safety and ventilation as the main priority since without these laws in place, it can get pretty difficult to identify who is liable for making sure all the correct systems are in place.
In most cases in the event of an accident, most people tend to put the blame on the person who owns the affect building which should never be the case since they believe that it is the responsibility of the owner to make sure that the property or building is fitted with all the safety precautions. In fact, also when a system fails or anything breaks down it is usually the owner who is held liable for failing to make sure that everything is working properly and should arrange to have the broken system fixed as quick as possible in order to avoid the occurrence of any other accidents. Some people however, are for the idea that it is equally the duty of the occupants of any building to make sure that all the necessary precautions are properly put in place and that they make sure that they do not break anything so as to avoid accidents which could be easily prevented.
In the case of homes and apartments that are rented out by third parties, it is still important to make sure that the all of the systems are in the best working condition according to provisions of the law. Checking the condition of the installed systems should be done at least once every month. Take note, according to the fire safety smoke law, the responsibility is passed down to the owner of the affect building as he is the one who is in the best position to help make sure that all the necessary systems are properly put in place during construction as well as frequently checked to ensure they are in the best condition.
Finally, in the event that any problem arises about the safety of your building’s AOV system, simply make a point of alerting the owner as soon as possible to allow him carry out all the necessary repairs as well as provide you with advise on the best way forward considering what has just taken place or the condition of the faulty system.