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AOV and smoke vent inspection checklist
A test and inspection record for automatic opening vents (AOVs) and smoke control. Record the system and whether the building is a high-rise residential building, then the control panel, battery backup, activation from the smoke detector and fire service switch, and reset. Add each vent with its location and type, whether it opens fully and how quickly, obstructions and the actuator, with photos. Record the result, who will fix any faults by when, and whether and when a fault was reported to the fire and rescue service. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
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How are AOVs and smoke vents tested?
The form records activation from a smoke detector and the fire service override switch, whether each vent opens fully and how many seconds it takes, obstructions, the actuators and seals, the control panel and battery backup, and whether the system resets and the vents close afterwards. Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order requires fire safety equipment and devices, where needed to keep people safe, to be subject to a suitable system of maintenance and kept in efficient working order and good repair.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (maintenance), regulation 7 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (essential fire-fighting equipment), regulation 6 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (key fire-fighting equipment) and GOV.UK: fact sheet on lifts and essential fire-fighting equipment (regulation 7).
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Every question in the AOV inspection template
A smoke vent and AOV inspection: control panel and power, detector and switch activation, each vent opening fully and resetting, obstructions, faults and the reporting rules for high-rise residential buildings. 3 sections and 54 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
Make it your own: every question is editable
This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.
Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Client: the project's customer
- Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site address: the site address, from the space or the project
System
- ProjectShort answerFills in from the project name
- ClientShort answerFills in from the project's customer
- Site*Short answerFills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site addressShort answerFills in from the site address, from the space or the project
- Test date*Date
- TimeTime
- Engineer*Short answer
- Company and competence (for example scheme or manufacturer training)Short answer
- SystemChoose one
- Natural smoke vents (AOVs)
- Mechanical smoke extract
- Smoke shaft
- Pressurisation system
- Maximum opening time (seconds)Number
From the system design, O&M manual or manufacturer. The form compares each vent's opening time with it.
- Is it a residential building with two or more flats, at least 18 m high or with at least 7 storeys?Yes or No
- CheckRegulation 7, Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: in high-rise residential buildings, smoke control systems and the fire detection linked to them are essential fire-fighting equipment. The responsible person must check them every month, record the checks and make the record available to residents, and report to the fire and rescue service by electronic means any fault not fixed within 24 hours, and again when it is fixed.Shown when “Is it a residential building with two or more flats, at least 18 m high or with at least 7 storeys?” is Yes
- GuidanceArticle 17 of the Fire Safety Order: where needed to keep people safe, fire safety equipment and devices must be subject to a suitable system of maintenance and kept in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
- GuidanceNatural smoke vents (AOVs and roof vents) are made and tested to BS EN 12101-2 (natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators). BS 9999:2017 (non-residential) and BS 9991:2024 (residential) recommend routine testing by the occupier and periodic servicing by a competent specialist, normally at least once a year, following the installer or manufacturer schedule. Record the test, the faults and what was done.
Controls
- Control panel healthy, no faults showingChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Battery backup testedChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Activates from the smoke detectorChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Fire service override switch worksChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Not fitted
- System resets and vents close afterwardsChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Control checks with a defectWorked out by the form
Vents
- Vents by stair, level or areaRepeat for each entry. Each one asks:
- Stair, level or area*Short answer
For example Stair A, Level 4 lobby or Car park
- Vents in this areaRepeat for each vent. Each one asks:
- Position (stair head, corridor, lobby)*Short answer
- TypeChoose one
- Window AOV
- Roof vent
- Damper
- Fan
- Opens fullyChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Time to open (seconds)Number
- Opening time checkWorked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Clear of obstructionsChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Actuator, chain and sealsChoose one
- OK
- Defect
- Clear frame opening width (m)Number
Inside the frame, with a tape or measured from a photo with an A4 sheet taped to the wall beside the vent.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant - Clear frame opening height (m)NumberShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Design free area (m²)Number
From the smoke control design or O&M manual.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant - Frame opening area (m²)Worked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Opening against the designWorked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- CheckThe frame opening is smaller than the design free area, so the vent cannot give the free area it was designed for. Check for a restrictor, a partly opening actuator or the wrong vent, and refer it to the smoke control engineer.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- What is wrong?Short answerShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Checks with a defectWorked out by the form
- PhotosPhotos
- This stair, level or area: vents testedWorked out by the form
- This stair, level or area: vents with a defectWorked out by the form
- This stair, level or area: vents slower than the maximumWorked out by the form
- This stair, level or area: openings smaller than the designWorked out by the form
- This stair, level or area: defects found (controls and vents)Worked out by the form
- Vents testedWorked out by the form
- Vents with a defectWorked out by the form
- Vents slower than the maximumWorked out by the form
- Openings smaller than the designWorked out by the form
- Defects found (controls and vents)Worked out by the form
- CheckDefects found. Record each one, what was done on the day and what is still needed, and who will fix it by when.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Result*Choose one
- In efficient working order
- Faults found
- Faults and actionNotesShown when “Result” is “Faults found”
- Who will fix the faults, and by whenShort answerShown when “Result” is “Faults found”
- Will the faults be fixed within 24 hours?Yes or NoShown when “Result” is “Faults found” and “Is it a residential building with two or more flats, at least 18 m high or with at least 7 storeys?” is Yes
- WarningReport the fault to the local fire and rescue service by electronic means as soon as reasonably practicable, and report again when it is fixed.Shown when “Will the faults be fixed within 24 hours?” is No
- When and how the fire and rescue service was toldShort answerShown when “Will the faults be fixed within 24 hours?” is No
- Completed by*Short answer
- SignatureSignature
- Next monthly check dueDate
Regulation 7 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: every month in high-rise residential buildings.
Shown when “Is it a residential building with two or more flats, at least 18 m high or with at least 7 storeys?” is Yes - Days to the next monthly checkWorked out by the formShown when “Is it a residential building with two or more flats, at least 18 m high or with at least 7 storeys?” is Yes and “Test date” is answered and “Next monthly check due” is answered
- CheckThe next due date is before the date of this visit. Check the date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Next specialist service dueDate
Set by the duty holder or manufacturer, normally at least once a year.
- Days to the next serviceWorked out by the formShown when “Test date” is answered and “Next specialist service due” is answered
- CheckThe next due date is before the date of this visit. Check the date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
See it filled in
A completed AOV inspection report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
AOV inspection FAQs
What applies in high-rise flats?
In high-rise residential buildings in England (two or more flats, at least 18 metres or 7 storeys), smoke control systems and the fire detection linked to them are essential fire-fighting equipment. The responsible person must check them every month, record the checks and make the record available to residents, and report to the fire and rescue service any fault not fixed within 24 hours, and again when it is fixed.
What if a vent is blocked?
Record what is blocking it and clear it, for example furniture or planters in front of a window AOV. Tell residents if the obstruction came from a flat.
Does it record opening times?
Yes. Record the seconds each vent takes to open, so slow actuators show up between visits.
Does it cover mechanical systems?
It records the system type, including mechanical extract, smoke shafts and pressurisation, but follow the manufacturer's procedure for those systems.
Who signs it?
The engineer signs, and the record goes to the responsible person as a PDF or a link.
Who uses this?
Smoke control and fire protection contractors, building managers, housing providers and managing agents.
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Templates that go with the AOV inspection form
A fire damper drop test record: each damper with its location, type and access, visual check, drop test, reset, result and photos, with failed dampers counted and the annual testing guidance.
A dry riser inspection and test record: building and check type, inlet box, each outlet's valve, cap, strap and signage, the annual pressure test, faults, and the 24-hour reporting rule for high-rise residential buildings.
Fire door checks for blocks of flats under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: the building's top storey height, quarterly communal and annual flat entrance door checks, self-closers, gaps, seals and damage, counts of doors passed and needing repair, access attempts and resident information.
A fire alarm test record: the weekly call point test with the call point used, sounders and reset, and the service visit with each device tested, faults, photos and the date of the last service.
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