Nearly all warehouses will contain a potentially lethal load of combustible material, and in any busy operation there will always be a considerable amount of waste, much of which is likely to be able to burn quite easily. This elevates the risk of injury from fire, especially where the threat to workers from smoke inhalation is increased by potentially toxic fumes. This makes the quick suppression of fire paramount before the fire ‘takes hold’.

At Toiawaka road, the new 4000m² warehouse facility in Auckland’s ‘Golden Triangle’, the owners knew there was a need for natural ventilation and the creation of an escape path for should the worst happen. They engaged Ventuer for assistance, who then developed shop drawings and installation details for a solution which could be relied upon to naturally ventilate the area. They planned a series of louvred roof mount smoke ventilators at regular intervals, providing an evacuation route for smoke and toxic fumes. This would allow anyone inside to exit the building before being overcome by smoke or hot gases, which is known to cause 60% of fatalities and injuries in building fires, rather than the fire itself, which is accountable for the other 40%. Importantly, the smoke ventilators also allow for a closer proximity for firefighting personnel, so they can assess and respond more decisively in the event of a fire.

The key to the successful natural smoke ventilation system at Tiowaka Road is the Ventuer MERCOR-MLR Roof Mounted Smoke Ventilators. A tried and tested product, they allow for low level smoke escape routes to be kept clear of smoke. They have a track record of success in industrial and warehouse buildings, where they can be also used to provide natural comfort ventilation. Fully certified to EN 12101-2 and available in a wide range of sizes and types of upstands, the Ventuer MERCOR-MLR were installed horizontally and accompanied by an aerodynamic wind shield. They provide excellent security and are highly resistant to weather, making them ideal for virtually anywhere in New Zealand.

In an ideal world, there is never any smoke in need of ventilation. Yet in warehouses and industrial buildings that’s impossible, meaning there is always the possibility of smoke. And where there is the possibility of smoke, there should be smoke louvres like the Ventuer MERCOR-MLR.