CROSS-UK issues Red Safety Alert to highlight issue of smoke vent obstruction to the industry

(Image courtesy of CROSS-UK)

Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures (CROSS) has produced their first Red Safety Alert since 2022, focused on the topic of smoke vents − notably Automatic Opening Vents (AOVs) − being rendered inoperable for building work.

CROSS has received several reports of AOVs being hampered by construction work, for example when façade materials are being replaced, or because of scaffolding or materials being stored which block the AOVs.

Seemingly, this is because the AOVs are being mistaken for windows, as they can be difficult to distinguish between. AOVs play a vital role in a building’s fire safety smoke control system, therefore their obstruction is deemed extremely hazardous for building occupants, hence the highest level of urgency given to this issue by CROSS.

Access the Red Safety Alert via CROSS’s website here.

CABE encourages all members to read the alert but as per CROSS it is particularly aimed at:

• those responsible for the management of fire safety in buildings
• Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs)
• Accountable Persons (AP)
• Designers
• Principal designers
• Contractors
• Principal contractors
• Fire risk assessors; and
• Those working in, or on, occupied buildings with Automatic Opening Vents, including those designing and erecting scaffolding.

CROSS is a unique scheme allowing construction professionals to confidentially report safety issues and ‘near-misses’, supported by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).

Their reports feature monthly in the Building Engineer journal and in twice-monthly Building Engineer newsletters to ensure the built environment receives regular communication on improving safety within the industry.