Fire safety legislation moves forward, and the systems installed in buildings decades ago do not always keep pace. For many retirement housing developments built in the early 1990s, smoke ventilation systems are reaching the end of their effective working life, leaving building managers and responsible persons facing a critical question: is the existing system still fit for purpose?

This was the precise challenge Teal Products was appointed to resolve at Honnington Court, a three-storey retirement development in the West Midlands, originally constructed in 1991. In this case study, we explore how Teal Products assessed the legacy system, specified a modern replacement, and delivered a fully coordinated smoke ventilation solution that meets today’s standards.

If your building’s smoke ventilation system is ageing, this project offers a clear illustration of what a structured, manufacturer-backed upgrade can look like.

The Challenge: A 1990s Fire Safety System Past Its Best

When Honnington Court was constructed in 1991, it was fitted with a smoke ventilation system using magnetically operated smoke vents, the accepted technology of that era. Over the intervening decades, both the equipment and the regulatory landscape have evolved considerably.

Buildings of this type, particularly those housing older residents, require particular attention when it comes to passive fire safety. In the event of a fire, effective smoke control can be the difference between a managed evacuation and a life-threatening situation.

Residents in retirement developments may have limited mobility, making it essential that smoke is cleared rapidly and reliably from communal corridors and stairwells, giving both residents and the fire service the best possible conditions to act.

The Brief: Assess, Specify, and Install

Teal Products was appointed to carry out a full assessment of the existing smoke ventilation system at Honnington Court and to specify a modern, compliant replacement. The key objectives were straightforward:

  • Deliver a system capable of effectively venting smoke across all three floors in the event of a fire
  • Ensure the solution was compatible with the building’s existing fire alarm infrastructure
  • Accommodate a variety of window types throughout the development
  • Provide a long-term, low-maintenance solution appropriate for a retirement housing setting

“Teal Products ensured full compatibility between the control panel, override switches, and AOV Windows, simplifying both installation and ongoing maintenance.”

The Solution: A Modern Smoke Ventilation System

Following a thorough site assessment, Teal Products specified a fully coordinated smoke ventilation system built around WindowMaster’s trusted range of controls alongside the SV-W-W1 and SV-W-W2 AOV Façade Windows

WindowMaster FlexiSmoke WSC 520 Control Panel

At the core of the new system is a WindowMaster FlexiSmoke WSC 520 Control Panel, installed on the ground floor. This panel forms the central hub of the entire smoke ventilation strategy, coordinating the activation of ventilation windows across all zones of the building.

The panel was integrated with Honnington Court’s existing fire alarm system via addressable interfaces. Each interface was programmed to activate within its respective fire zone, ensuring a targeted and proportionate response rather than a building-wide activation for a single zone incident.


WindowMaster FlexiSmoke WSC 520 Smoke Ventilation Control Panel

SV-W-W1 and SV-W-W2 AOV Façade Windows

A mixture of SV-W-W1 and SV-W-W2 AOV Façade Windows SV-W-W1 and SV-W-W2 AOV Façade Windows were installed to automate the opening of the vent in the instance of smoke. One of the defining challenges at Honnington Court was the mix of window styles across the building, with a combination of side-hung and top-hung openings across three floors. The SV-W-W1 and SV-W-W2 AOV Façade Windows were selected specifically for this reason.

Windowmaster WSK 501 Manual Override Switches

Four WindowMaster WSK 501 Manual Override Switches were installed at clearly accessible locations throughout the building. These provide authorised personnel and the fire service with direct, on-site control of the ventilation system, whilst also allowing for routine testing and maintenance of the smoke ventilation system, an essential feature in any multi-storey residential development.


WindowMaster WSK 501 Manual Call Point

How Does the Smoke Ventilation System Work?

The system operates through a clear sequence of events designed to respond rapidly to a fire alarm activation:

  1. A smoke alarm is triggered within a fire zone at Honnington Court.
  2. The alarm signal is transmitted to the WindowMaster FlexiSmoke WSC 520 Control Panel.
  3. The WindowMaster WSC 520 FlexiSmoke WSC 520 Control Panel triggers the SV-W-W1 or SV-W-W2 AOV Façade Window on the affected floor.
  4. The AOV Window opens, allowing smoke to escape and improving conditions for residents and the fire service.

This zone-by-zone approach is a key strength of the design. Rather than opening all windows simultaneously across the building, the system activates ventilation only where it is needed, creating the most effective smoke extraction conditions on the affected floor whilst maintaining building security elsewhere.

Why This Approach Worked for a Retirement Development

Retirement housing presents a distinctive set of challenges that influence every aspect of a fire safety specification. Residents may have reduced mobility, take longer to respond to alarms, and require systems that operate without demanding complex interaction from building occupants.

By specifying a complete, single-manufacturer system from WindowMaster, Teal Products ensured end-to-end compatibility between every component. This not only simplified the installation process but also reduces the risk of component conflicts that can arise when systems are assembled from multiple suppliers, a common pitfall in retrofit projects.

The Outcome: A Safer Honnington Court

Honnington Court now benefits from a modern, fully coordinated smoke ventilation system built to meet today’s fire safety standards. The building’s residents, management team, and the fire service can rely on a system that responds automatically, rapidly, and precisely in the event of a fire.

The manual override switches provide authorised personnel with direct control at each point of need, while the automated WindowMaster system handles the critical first moments of any incident without requiring human intervention.

This project demonstrates Teal Products’ expertise in assessing legacy passive fire safety systems and delivering tailored, manufacturer-backed replacements that genuinely serve the needs of the building and those who live in it.

Is Your Building’s Smoke Ventilation System Up to Standard?

If your development was constructed before 2000 and has not had its smoke ventilation system assessed in recent years, it is worth arranging a professional review. Fire safety legislation continues to evolve, and systems that were compliant at the point of installation may no longer meet current standards.

A smoke ventilation system for retirement housing carries particular responsibility. The case of Honnington Court shows that even a building with a three-decade-old system can be brought fully up to standard with the right specification and the right products, without disruption to residents.

Teal Products specialises in smoke ventilation assessments and system upgrades for residential, retirement, and commercial developments. Contact our team today to discuss your building’s requirements.