Bilco smoke vents installed at Chelsea development

A Bilco product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Aug 25, 2006

Leading access doors and vents manufacturer Bilco has completed delivery of automatic smoke vents for prestige high-rise housing on the banks of the River Thames.

Leading access doors and vents manufacturer Bilco has completed delivery of automatic smoke vents for prestige high-rise housing on the banks of the River Thames.

Berkeley Homes' Chelsea Bridge Wharf development offers upmarket living and spectacular views of Battersea Park.

Bilco has supplied 12 REM Automatic Smoke Vents for Phase Four of the development.

Seven of these are single leaf vents each equipped with two 24V DC linear actuators that ensure positive, controlled operation.

The other five are double leaf smoke vents that utilize four actuators and were specially made to meet the client's specific size requirement.

The aluminum REM smoke vents are proven to meet BS7346 (part 1) and BS5588 (part 5) and aid firefighters in bringing a blaze under control by removing smoke, heat and gases from a burning building.

Three Bilco Bil-Guard hatch rail systems were also supplied.

These provide a permanent means of fall protection for hatch openings as well as aiding access on and off the roof and are easily installed.

Bilco worked closely with contractors Bovis Lend Lease and sub-contractors Lakesmere to ensure the developer received products suited to its needs.

Simon Shand-Brown, Bilco's sales and marketing manager, said: "95 per cent of all fire related deaths result from smoke inhalation so it is vitally important for new buildings to have installed modern, reliable smoke vents".

"Bilco Smoke Vents were wired directly into the building management's fire alarm system and are activated by smoke detectors that are installed throughout the building".

A major advantage of the REM Automatic Smoke Vent is that if the system is triggered it can be reset remotely simply by flicking a switch.

There is no need to physically climb on to the roof and close the vent manually.

Bilco smoke vents also act as a convenient way to get onto the roof and maintain equipment such as heating and ventilation systems and any other services that may be located there.

Steve Hill, project manager at Lakesmere , said: "As with all Bilco units, these were delivered to the site complete and ready to install".

"Fixing was a speedy process requiring no special fasteners, tools or skills and the Bil-Clip flash system aided rapid installation".

Bilco REM smoke vents are rugged 'stand alone' units and come fully insulated and gasketed for all weather conditions.

They are covered by a five year guarantee.

Phase Three Bilco in 2004 supplied six smoke vents for Phase Three of the development, an 11 storey building called Senses South.

All the automatic smoke vents utilise the patented Thermolatch II positive hold/release mechanism.

This unique latching device ensures reliable vent operation if a fire occurs and prevents inadvertent opening of the covers by wind, building vibrations or other factors.

Thermolatch II is equipped with a 74 degrees Celsius fusible link for automatic operation.

In the event of a fire, heat breaks the fusible link, allowing powerful lifting mechanisms to open the vent covers instantaneously.