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Compliance · Fire and life safety

How often should smoke vents (AOVs) and smoke control systems be tested?

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The short answer

Test the system regularly in-house and have it maintained by a specialist at least once a year. The Smoke Control Association, citing BS 9999, recommends weekly actuation tests so that every zone is proved at least once every three months, plus six-monthly maintenance. Older government guidance for blocks of flats describes a monthly test of AOVs.

Medium confidence: treat these intervals with care

Authoritative sources disagree on the in-house test frequency (weekly under BS 9999 as quoted by the SCA; monthly in older government guidance).

The tasks

What to do, and how often

Task How often Who Basis
Weekly actuation test, rotating zones so that every zone is tested at least once every three months Every week Building's competent person British Standard BS 9999 Annex I recommends weekly tests, with the actuation of all zones simulated at least once every three months, as quoted by the Smoke Control Association. SourcesS1
Monthly test of AOVs using the manual controls Applies to: Blocks of flats (older government guidance) Every month Responsible person or nominated staff Guidance The government-hosted guide to purpose-built blocks of flats says AOVs should be tested once a month using the manual controls. SourcesS4S7
Monthly routine check of smoke control systems Applies to: High-rise residential buildings only: at least 18 metres or 7 storeys, with 2 or more homes Every month Responsible person Law Regulation 7 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 requires monthly routine checks of key fire-fighting equipment, which includes smoke control systems. SourcesS8S9
Six-monthly inspection and maintenance by a competent maintainer Every 6 months Competent smoke control maintainer Guidance The Smoke Control Association and its manufacturer members recommend six-monthly inspection and maintenance. SourcesS2
Annual maintenance check, including detectors, controls and performance against the design Every year Certified smoke control contractor Guidance The Smoke Control Association says the annual maintenance check should be done by a certified organisation. Government guidance for flats says detectors and controls linked to AOVs should be tested at least once a year. SourcesS3S5S6

Where a row says who or what it applies to, the task is for that case only.

The law

Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires smoke control systems to be kept under a suitable system of maintenance and in efficient working order. It sets no interval. In high-rise residential buildings, regulation 7 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 requires monthly routine checks of smoke control systems.

The standard

BS 9999:2017 (Annex I, as quoted by the Smoke Control Association), with BS 7346-8:2013 and the BS EN 12101 series for smoke and heat control systems.

Records to keep

  • Smoke control system log book with each weekly or monthly test
  • Six-monthly and annual maintenance reports
  • Annual maintenance certificate
  • In high-rise residential buildings: the record of monthly checks, kept available to residents

Notes

Sources differ on the in-house test frequency. The Smoke Control Association's current guidance, quoting BS 9999, describes weekly tests with every zone proved within three months. The 2011 guide to purpose-built blocks of flats, repeated in a 2024 fire service log book, describes a monthly test of AOVs.

Both are shown: follow the system's design documentation and the manufacturer's instructions. The flats guide adds that smoke extract and pressurisation systems are normally serviced at least annually and may need monthly or more frequent functional tests where they protect the means of escape.

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Quick answers

Questions people ask

Smoke control and smoke ventilation (AOVs): which tasks are legal requirements?

1 task on this page rests on legislation: monthly routine check of smoke control systems (every month; high-rise residential buildings only: at least 18 metres or 7 storeys, with 2 or more homes). The other 4 tasks are recommended by a British Standard or by guidance, and are not legal requirements in themselves.

Smoke control and smoke ventilation (AOVs): who should carry out each task?

Building's competent person: weekly actuation test, rotating zones so that every zone is tested at least once every three months. Responsible person or nominated staff: monthly test of AOVs using the manual controls. Responsible person: monthly routine check of smoke control systems. Competent smoke control maintainer: six-monthly inspection and maintenance by a competent maintainer. Certified smoke control contractor: annual maintenance check, including detectors, controls and performance against the design.

Smoke control and smoke ventilation (AOVs): what records should you keep?

Keep these records: smoke control system log book with each weekly or monthly test; six-monthly and annual maintenance reports; annual maintenance certificate; in high-rise residential buildings: the record of monthly checks, kept available to residents.

Checked on

Sources

Every task and legal statement is supported by at least one source fetched over HTTPS and read on the date shown. Quotes are verbatim and 25 words or fewer. A second, independent verification pass re-fetched every source and re-read the legislation on 5 October 2026. Intervals taken from British Standards were checked against published summaries of those standards by trade bodies and government guidance, because the standards themselves are paid publications.

  1. Guidance on Maintenance of Smoke Control Equipment ↗

    Smoke Control Association (hosted by FETA) · Version 1.1; cites BS 9991:2024 and BS 9999:2017 · read on

    “the actuation of all zones within a smoke control system should be simulated at least once every three months, with tests run each week”

    Guidance on Maintenance of Smoke Control Equipment, Smoke Control Association (hosted by FETA)

    Supports: BS 9999 Annex I: weekly tests, with every zone actuated at least once every three months

  2. Guidance on Maintenance of Smoke Control Equipment ↗

    Smoke Control Association (hosted by FETA) · Version 1.1; cites BS 9991:2024 and BS 9999:2017 · read on

    “recommend that 6 monthly inspection and maintenance should be carried out”

    Guidance on Maintenance of Smoke Control Equipment, Smoke Control Association (hosted by FETA)

    Supports: SCA recommendation of six-monthly inspection and maintenance

  3. Guidance on Maintenance of Smoke Control Equipment ↗

    Smoke Control Association (hosted by FETA) · Version 1.1; cites BS 9991:2024 and BS 9999:2017 · read on

    “The Annual Maintenance check should be carried out by a certified organisation.”

    Guidance on Maintenance of Smoke Control Equipment, Smoke Control Association (hosted by FETA)

    Supports: Annual maintenance check by a certified organisation

  4. Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats ↗

    Local Government Association, hosted by the Home Office (GOV.UK) · Written 2011; GOV.UK page last updated 2 December 2024. The Home Office says it is no longer comprehensive and is being revised · read on

    “AOVs and electrically operated OVs should be tested once a month for correct operation using the manual controls provided”

    Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, Local Government Association, hosted by the Home Office (GOV.UK)

    Supports: Monthly test of AOVs using the manual controls in blocks of flats

  5. Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats ↗

    Local Government Association, hosted by the Home Office (GOV.UK) · Written 2011; GOV.UK page last updated 2 December 2024. The Home Office says it is no longer comprehensive and is being revised · read on

    “Testing smoke detectors and controls associated with AOVs should take place at least once a year”

    Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, Local Government Association, hosted by the Home Office (GOV.UK)

    Supports: Annual test of detectors and controls linked to AOVs

  6. A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire ↗

    Home Office (GOV.UK) · Updated 20 January 2025. Guidance issued under article 50 of the Fire Safety Order · read on

    “If automatic opening smoke vents are fitted, engage competent contractors to test their operation”

    A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire, Home Office (GOV.UK)

    Supports: Annual contractor test of automatic opening vents in small blocks of flats

  7. A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire ↗

    Home Office (GOV.UK) · Updated 20 January 2025. Guidance issued under article 50 of the Fire Safety Order · read on

    “Check that windows or vents used for ventilation of smoke can be easily opened”

    A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire, Home Office (GOV.UK)

    Supports: Monthly check that manual smoke vents open easily

  8. Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, regulation 7: Lifts and essential fire-fighting equipment ↗

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · In force 23 January 2023 · read on

    “must undertake monthly routine checks of lifts for use by firefighters, evacuation lifts and essential fire-fighting equipment within the building”

    Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, regulation 7: Lifts and essential fire-fighting equipment, legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)

    Supports: Monthly routine checks of essential fire-fighting equipment in high-rise residential buildings

  9. Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, regulation 6: Floor plans and building plan ↗

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · In force 23 January 2023 · read on

    “(c) outlets for dry-rising mains; (d) outlets for wet-rising mains; (e) smoke control systems; (f) suppression systems”

    Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, regulation 6: Floor plans and building plan, legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)

    Supports: Key fire-fighting equipment includes smoke control systems

  10. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 17: Maintenance ↗

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on

    “are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair”

    Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 17: Maintenance, legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives)

    Supports: The general legal duty to maintain fire safety equipment

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