SHEV openings play a crucial role in firefighting and building safety. Their main task is to dissipate smoke and heat from a building in a controlled manner in the event of a fire. This enables rescue teams to safely enter the building and protect human lives.
Where are SHEV openings installed?
SHEV openings are primarily installed in stairwells, corridors, warehouses and large rooms with a high fire load.
They can take the form of windows, arcade rooflights or skylight domes. All variants are equipped with special drives that can open them automatically or manually in the event of a fire. There is also the option of using the openings for smoke extraction to improve the indoor climate, i.e. for daily ventilation.
Options for the opening for smoke extraction
Skylight domes are a frequently used option for SHEV openings. They offer the advantage that they allow natural light into the building and can therefore support the lighting. They are therefore the classic solution.
Continuous rooflights offer a continuous opening area over a larger width and can therefore effectively ventilate large rooms. Continuous rooflights are particularly suitable for corridors, halls and industrial buildings.
Window solutions are a modern variant for openings for smoke extraction. They can be easily integrated into façades and building envelopes and are available in various sizes and designs. In addition to their fire protection function, they offer other practical benefits for everyday life, such as efficient and natural ventilation of rooms.
In addition to the SHEV openings on the roof or façade, air supply and supply air openings are installed. These are used to optimize air exchange in the event of a fire and enable controlled smoke extraction.
Good to know: According to the Industrial Safety Ordinance, smoke and heat extraction systems (SHEVS), which are required by building regulations, must be inspected several times: before initial commissioning, after significant changes and every three years. These inspections must be carried out by an approved inspection expert. Independently of this, annual maintenance by a qualified specialist company is mandatory.
In addition, DIN 4426 and occupational health and safety regulations stipulate that all SHEV openings such as skylight domes and continuous rooflights must be permanently secured against the risk of falling. Existing systems without adequate protection should be retrofitted promptly.