The O Range smoke control panel has been shortlisted for Fire Innovation of the Year at the FSM Awards 2026. This is our entry - the problem we set out to solve, what we built, and why it matters.
The Problem
For years, the smoke control industry has accepted a broken choice. On one side, manufacturer-locked panels that need specialist software or a return-to-manufacturer call whenever site conditions change. On the other, dip-switch panels where anyone with physical access, an engineer, a contractor, even a non-specialist on site, can change safety-critical settings with zero record of who did what or when.
Neither is acceptable. One failure in a smoke control system could mean the difference between life and death. The Building Safety Act 2022 demands fire safety systems that are compliant, transparent, traceable, and maintainable throughout a building’s life. But the panels on the market were not designed for that world.
Control equipment with no independent testing and no record of who configured it, or when, is still being installed in buildings across the UK. When we talk about the hidden dangers of overlooking quality in smoke control systems, this is exactly what we mean. Where should the responsibility lie? We believe it starts with the products the industry chooses to put in.
Why We Built the O Range
We did not set out to build another panel. We set out to solve the problem that nobody in the industry seemed willing to address: how do you give installers the flexibility to configure a system on site, while making every single change traceable and accountable?
The O Range was developed by Vent, supplied exclusively through Vent Trade, using direct feedback from our own installers, customers, and industry engineers. The goal was clear - open protocol that still makes users accountable. Any competent engineer can set up or adapt a system on site, but every change is logged with verified identity through two-factor authentication. No anonymous tweaks. No untraceable modifications. No excuses.
Introduced in 2025, the O Range is a modular, plug-and-play panel supporting both smoke and environmental ventilation. Each panel controls one zone, individually configured, with up to 60 panels networked across a building. O Range Connect allows configuration from any Windows or Mac PC. Built-in digital configuration, commissioning, and maintenance logging provides an online golden thread, directly supporting the record-keeping requirements of the Building Safety Act.
Control equipment certified to BS ISO 21927-9 and the power supply to BS EN 12101-10. Not because certification is a nice-to-have. Because certification is the baseline for any product that protects lives.
What Makes the O Range Different
Open and accountable. No other panel on the market combines site-level flexibility with full traceability. The O Range is the first to do both - any competent engineer can configure it, but every change is recorded with verified identity. This is what accountability looks like in practice.
Modular, scalable architecture. Each panel covers one zone - a stairwell or lobby - and up to 60 panels network together with no master controller. If one panel fails, the system continues operating in all other zones. This resilience is not found in common master-dependent systems, and it makes the O Range particularly suited to retrofitting existing buildings - not just new builds. Are roof vents and smoke control systems only for new builds? We don’t think so. Upgrading existing buildings to modern standards matters just as much.
Smart, Secure, Verified. O Range Connect replaces proprietary tools with a straightforward Windows and Mac application. Two-factor authentication and tamper-resistant digital locking ensure only verified engineers can make system changes. Every change is logged to the engineer ID and site ID.
Golden Thread built in. O Range Connect supports an online golden thread via verified engineer login, providing a traceable digital record of every system change and maintenance visit. This is not a bolt-on feature. It is built into the architecture of the product.
Intelligent firefighter switches. O Range smart firefighter switches are disabled until a smoke event occurs, preventing false operation from third parties that often leads to system damage such as roof vents left open. A 3-core cabling option exists to help refurbish legacy systems. O Range also features anti-trap technology for windows and roof vents.
The Benefits in Practice
Faster commissioning. O Range Connect allows on-site or remote configuration. When late-stage design changes happen, the system can be changed immediately, even if complex. Plug-and-play setup reduces commissioning time by up to 40% and improves first-time pass rates at handover.
Maintenance made simple. Currently in beta and releasing summer 2026, the battery testing feature in O Range Connect can test a network of 60 panels and their batteries in 60 seconds. This will save approximately 60% of allocated on-site maintenance time. When it comes to keeping smoke control systems ready for the worst-case scenario, speed of testing matters.
Acclaimed ease of use. Installers tell us the O Range Connect dashboard is intuitive on first use, and the depth of functionality underneath it has surprised them. 24/7 support via O Range trained AI phone agents quickly resolves issues on site for installers and end users alike.
Accountability and compliance. Unlike dip-switch panels where anyone can anonymously alter system logic, the O Range logs every change with verified engineer identity. This golden thread provides a traceable record of who changed what and when, supporting the Building Safety Act 2022. O Range also logs annual maintenance visits and monitors battery voltage for each panel. Bare minimum compliance is not enough. Buildings need systems that work when it matters.
Reduced false operation. Firefighter switches are electronically disabled until a smoke event, preventing false activations that damage conventional systems. This also prevents persons testing the smoke system incorrectly instead of via the fire alarm system. From summer 2026, the O Range HMI touchscreen will also provide a full activity audit.
Why This Matters
The smoke control industry is at a turning point. UK fire regulations are tightening. The Building Safety Act has changed who is accountable for what. Where recognised certification routes exist, products used in life safety systems should be independently tested and certified, and yet non-certified equipment is still being installed in buildings where people live, work, and sleep.
The O Range is our answer to that problem. The product is both a better panel and a different approach to how smoke control systems are configured, maintained, and held accountable. We believe the industry needs to stop accepting products that cannot demonstrate where they came from, who changed them, or whether they will work when called upon.
Smart. Secure. Verified.
24/7 O Range Technical Support
Vent Trade offers 24/7 technical support for the O Range, 7 days a week, provided by our trained iSteve technician. Whether you need help with installation, commissioning, fault diagnosis, or system configuration, support is available immediately via phone or WhatsApp.
- Phone: +44 7700 143933 - typically answered in 20 seconds
- WhatsApp: Message on WhatsApp - typically replied in 15 seconds
For more information about the O Range, visit the O Range product page or call our technical team on 01202 725 689.
