Trade smoke ventilation questions

Vent Trade Questions

Practical, no-fluff answers to the questions we get most from M&E contractors, installers, building managers, specifiers and merchants. If your question is not covered, the technical desk on 01202 725 689 will pick it up.

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Who We Are

About Vent Trade

The basics on the business, the team and where we sit in the UK smoke ventilation market.

You ask

Who is Vent Trade?

Our answer

Vent Trade is the trade supply arm of Ventec 100 Ltd, a family-owned smoke and natural ventilation specialist founded in Poole, Dorset in 1988. We design, supply, install and commission smoke and natural ventilation systems across the UK, with over 100 staff nationwide.

You ask

Are you a manufacturer or a distributor?

Our answer

Both. We manufacture the O Range smoke control panel in the UK and distribute partner ranges including Ventec, Mingardi, Topp, UCS and KAS. That lets the trade specify a complete system from a single source rather than running five separate accounts.

You ask

Do you sell to the public?

Our answer

Vent Trade supplies the trade: M&E contractors, installers, building managers, specifiers and merchants. For direct sales to end users we operate AOV Direct, which carries a curated range of the same products in a consumer-facing format.

You ask

Where are you based and what are your hours?

Our answer

Head office, warehouse and despatch are at Ventec House, Chalwyn Industrial Estate, Poole, Dorset BH12 4PE. Sales lines run Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm. The 24/7 O Range support line on +44 7700 143933 covers panel diagnostics outside office hours.

You ask

What does Vent Trade actually do for me?

Our answer

Product supply is the headline, but the full offer is closer to a technical partnership. Specification advice, DoP and Golden Thread evidence packs, commissioning attendance, CPD training and ongoing maintenance are all available alongside trade pricing on the products.

What We Supply

Products & Range

What you can buy from us, what is on the shelf today, and what is made to order.

You ask

What product categories do you stock?

Our answer

AOV roof vents, AOV windows, AOV louvres, smoke and natural dampers, smoke control panels (single-zone and multi-zone), window actuators (chain, linear, rack), override switches, smoke detectors, rain and temperature sensors, and the full range of natural ventilation controls. The complete catalogue is in the products section.

You ask

What is the O Range?

Our answer

The O Range is our own UK-manufactured smoke control panel platform, designed for Golden Thread compliance under the Building Safety Act 2022. It scales from a single stairwell to 60 networked zones, has secure authenticated configuration, and was shortlisted for FSM Fire Innovation of the Year 2026. Product details on O Range 7.

You ask

Do you stock everything you list on the site?

Our answer

Standard product lines are held in our Poole warehouse with same- or next-day despatch on stocked items. Bespoke sizes, custom finishes and project-specific configurations carry manufacturer lead times that sales will quote on request.

You ask

Can you supply bespoke products?

Our answer

Yes. AOV louvres, AOV windows, smoke dampers and roof vents are routinely made to bespoke sizes and finishes. Send the specification, drawings or fire engineer’s schedule to sales@vent-trade.co.uk and we will quote and confirm lead time.

You ask

Do you sell replacement parts for legacy panels?

Our answer

Where parts remain in production, yes. For panels that are out of manufacture, replacement is usually the more economical route. See Replacing an Old Smoke Control Panel for the practical process.

You ask

Where do I find datasheets, DoPs and installation guides?

Our answer

Every product page links to the manufacturer’s Declaration of Performance, datasheet, installation guide and (where relevant) wiring diagram. The full library is in the datasheets and installation guides sections.

Certification & Regulations

Compliance & Standards

BS EN 12101, the Building Safety Act, the Golden Thread and the certificates the regulator will ask to see.

You ask

Are your products certified to BS EN 12101?

Our answer

Every smoke ventilation product we supply that falls in scope of BS EN 12101 is third-party tested and carries a current Declaration of Performance. AOV roof vents and windows are certified to BS EN 12101-2, dampers to BS EN 12101-8, fans to BS EN 12101-3, and smoke control panel power supplies to BS EN 12101-10. See the BS EN 12101 guide for the full standard map.

You ask

Is the O Range Golden Thread compliant?

Our answer

Yes. The O Range was designed specifically to meet the Golden Thread requirements of the Building Safety Act 2022. Configuration is authenticated, every change is logged with user identity and timestamp, and the audit trail can be exported for the building safety case. Background reading: Are Dip Switches Killing Your Golden Thread Compliance?.

You ask

Are your products CE and UKCA marked?

Our answer

Yes. All in-scope construction products carry CE and UKCA marks as required by the relevant standards. The DoP is the source document for the marking and is hosted on the product page.

You ask

What standards apply to commissioning?

Our answer

For UK smoke ventilation, BS 7346-8 is the controlling commissioning standard. For non-residential buildings, the wider fire safety standard is BS 9999; for residential, BS 9991. See BS 7346-8 and the commissioning page for the full sequence.

You ask

Can you provide a project-specific compliance pack?

Our answer

Yes. Sales can supply a pack with DoPs, certificates, cause-and-effect schedules and the relevant standard references for every product on the project list. Send the list to sales@vent-trade.co.uk.

You ask

What does the Building Safety Regulator expect to see?

Our answer

For higher-risk residential buildings (at least 18 metres in height or with at least 7 storeys, containing at least 2 residential units), a complete, digital, continuously updated record of building safety information, kept by the Accountable Person. For smoke ventilation that means asset register, certification, design specification, cause-and-effect schedule and a tamper-evident log of every configuration change. See The Golden Thread and Smoke Ventilation.

Buying With Us

Trade Accounts & Pricing

Account setup, trade pricing, credit terms and payment options.

You ask

How do I open a trade account?

Our answer

Email sales@vent-trade.co.uk with company name, trading address, VAT number, and (if requesting credit) two trade references. Accounts are usually set up within one working day.

You ask

Do you offer trade discounts?

Our answer

Yes. Trade pricing is set per account, with project-level uplifts available on volume. The sales team will confirm your pricing tier when the account is opened and re-confirm it on any project quote.

You ask

Can I get a quote for a project?

Our answer

Yes. Send the specification or product list (with any drawings, schedules or fire strategy details) to sales@vent-trade.co.uk. Same working day turnaround on most quotes; complex bespoke quotes within 48 hours.

You ask

Do you offer credit accounts?

Our answer

Net 30-day terms are available subject to satisfactory credit and trade references. Pro-forma is the default for new accounts pending credit approval.

You ask

What payment methods do you accept?

Our answer

BACS, card (no surcharge) and credit account (subject to approval). Pro-forma orders ship on confirmed cleared funds.

From Order To Site

Ordering & Delivery

How orders go in, how fast they go out, and what arrives where.

You ask

How do I place an order?

Our answer

Through your account manager, by email to sales@vent-trade.co.uk, or by phone on 01202 725 485. Online ordering for account holders is being rolled out; ask the sales team about access.

You ask

Do you offer next-day delivery?

Our answer

Yes for stocked items, on orders placed before 2:00pm Monday to Thursday. Friday orders despatch for Monday delivery unless Saturday delivery is requested at extra cost.

You ask

Do you ship UK-wide?

Our answer

Yes. Mainland UK delivery is standard on every stocked order. Scottish Highlands, islands and Northern Ireland are quoted on request because of carrier surcharges.

You ask

Do you ship to the Republic of Ireland?

Our answer

Yes. ROI orders are quoted on request with current carrier rates. Allow 3 to 5 working days from despatch.

You ask

What are delivery costs?

Our answer

Delivery is quoted per order based on weight, dimensions and destination. Sales confirms the cost on the order acknowledgement before despatch, so there are no surprises on the invoice.

You ask

Can I collect from your warehouse?

Our answer

Yes. Collections are by appointment from Ventec House, Chalwyn Industrial Estate, Poole BH12 4PE. Call the sales line before travelling so we can confirm the goods are picked and ready.

Engineering Help

Technical Support

Specification, site surveys, commissioning attendance and the 24/7 O Range line.

You ask

Do you offer technical advice on product selection?

Our answer

Yes. The technical desk on 01202 725 689 is staffed by engineers with practical site experience, not call-centre operators. Same-day callbacks are the target on most enquiries.

You ask

Can you help with system specification?

Our answer

Yes. Send the fire strategy, drawings or AOV schedule to the technical desk and we will recommend a compliant configuration. On complex jobs we can attend a design coordination meeting.

You ask

Do you offer site surveys?

Our answer

Yes. Site surveys for retrofit and replacement projects are arranged through the sales team. A typical survey covers existing system condition, AOV positions, cable routes and cause-and-effect verification.

You ask

Do you provide commissioning support?

Our answer

Phone support is included on every O Range panel during commissioning. On-site commissioning attendance is available as a chargeable service, booked through sales.

You ask

What is the O Range 24/7 line for?

Our answer

Out-of-hours diagnostics on installed O Range panels. The mobile +44 7700 143933 reaches a duty engineer 365 days a year for fault calls.

On Site

Installation & Commissioning

Who can install what, what we provide at handover, and where we can help during installation.

You ask

Do I need to be qualified to install your products?

Our answer

Smoke ventilation systems should be installed by a competent person. For the panel and controls, the baseline is a current electrical qualification. For commissioning on higher-risk residential buildings under the Building Safety Act, SDI 19 registration or manufacturer-trained engineers are the expected standard.

You ask

Do you provide installation guides?

Our answer

Yes. Every product page links to the manufacturer’s installation guide. The full library is in the installation guides section.

You ask

Do you commission systems for the trade?

Our answer

Yes. Commissioning by a Vent Trade engineer is available as a chargeable service for trade customers. Day-rate or fixed-fee per zone is available; sales will quote against the system schedule.

You ask

What documentation do you provide at handover?

Our answer

On a Vent Trade commissioning, the engineer issues a commissioning certificate, cause-and-effect schedule, panel configuration backup, and a Golden Thread evidence pack covering DoPs, test results and configuration history.

You ask

Do you provide CPD training?

Our answer

Yes. We deliver in-house and on-site CPD on smoke ventilation specification, BS EN 12101 and the Building Safety Act for architects, M&E contractors and FM teams. Book through the training page or email info@vent-trade.co.uk.

After The Order

Warranty, Returns & Maintenance

What you get with the product, how to return it if you need to, and how we maintain installed systems.

You ask

What warranty comes with your products?

Our answer

Standard manufacturer warranty applies to every product, typically 2 years from despatch. The O Range carries a 5-year warranty on the panel and 2 years on actuators and ancillaries. Specific terms are listed on the product datasheet.

You ask

What is your returns policy?

Our answer

Standard stocked items can be returned within 30 days of delivery in unused, original-packaging condition, subject to a re-stocking charge. Bespoke, made-to-order and configured products are non-returnable except for genuine defects.

You ask

What if a product is faulty on arrival?

Our answer

Email sales@vent-trade.co.uk within 48 hours with photographs and the order number. We will arrange uplift and replacement or credit on confirmation.

You ask

Do you maintain systems on site?

Our answer

Yes. Our maintenance division services smoke ventilation systems UK-wide under planned preventive maintenance contracts. Reactive call-outs are also covered. See Smoke Control Inspection Schedules: Daily To Annual for the testing cadence under BS EN 12101 and BS 9991.

You ask

Do you maintain systems that were not supplied by Vent Trade?

Our answer

Yes. We maintain installed smoke ventilation systems from any manufacturer; the only constraint is availability of spare parts. For obsolete panels, replacement is often the more economical route over time.

Who you are buying from

Since 1988. Stock on the shelf. Engineers on the phone.

1988Founded

100+People

£1m+Stock holding

Next dayDespatch

SCA memberNICEIC approvedSDI 19 certifiedConstructionlineBS EN 12101

FSM Awards 2026 Fire Innovation of the Year shortlist

Still need an answer?

Talk to the technical desk.

Call the technical desk for fast UK trade support, or email the sales team for quotes, account setup and project specification help.

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