Guide prices
Vent swap
Like-for-like certified vent and actuator, connected to the existing controls and commissioned by a smoke-control specialist
Vent with new controls
Vent plus new control panel and detection, commissioned by a smoke-control specialist
Multiple vents
Several stairwells or larger systems, priced from a survey
Guide ranges for supply & fit; controls and commissioning by a smoke-control specialist. Your price is fixed in a written quote after we have seen photos or surveyed. Scaffold, access towers or a crane are priced separately if the job needs them, and building control fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Where our fitters travel
If you also own a property or a business unit in Goole, Doncaster or Bentley, that is no problem. We can survey and quote both, and where it suits, line the fitting days up together. Every address is reached by fitters travelling to it from their current jobs, and DN8, DN7 and DN3 sit comfortably within that pattern.
What we do on the day
- Existing vent, actuator and upstand surveyed with the specialist
- Controls, detection and wiring handled by the smoke-control specialist
- Commissioning and sign-off carried out by the specialist before handover
- Controls and backup power — We confirm the controls, detection and backup power are being dealt with by a specialist.
- Free area at the stair head — We check the free area the vent must provide before choosing a replacement.
How a fitting day runs
Fitting days start with a look at the sky. If rain is due, the order of work changes so the roof is never left open to it. A typical day for a smoke vent rooflight runs like this: set up access, protect the room, open up the roof or prepare the existing kerb or frame, check sizes, fix, seal, then finish inside. On jobs that take more than a day, the opening is weather-sealed overnight. The last hour goes on tidying, waste removal and a walk-round with you.
Planning, building control and Thorne
In England, smoke vents for common stairs must be certified to BS EN 12101-2, provide the free area the fire strategy requires (Approved Document B calls for at least 1 m² at the top of a common stair), and have backup power. Smoke vents have their own energy limit, commonly 3.5 W/m²K. Controls and commissioning are handled by a smoke-control specialist, and building control is involved where the system changes.
Help us quote accurately
Each detail you send takes a question off our list. Photos inside and out show the opening and the ceiling. Rough measurements tell us the unit size. The roof covering tells us how it will be sealed in. Access notes tell us whether a tower or scaffold is needed. A product link, if you have one, lets us check it against the opening. Your postcode, DN8 or nearby, confirms travel.
Common questions in Thorne
Will my new smoke vent rooflight leak?
A correctly fitted unit should not. Leaks usually trace back to the detail around the frame: an upstand that is too low, a membrane or flashing that is not dressed properly, sealant applied to a damp surface, or water ponding against the kerb. We fit to the maker's instructions and check each of those points. The fitting carries a written workmanship guarantee, with its terms set out on your quote.
Do commercial rooflights need planning permission?
Like-for-like replacements on commercial buildings rarely need planning permission. New or larger rooflights on non-domestic buildings and blocks of flats usually need checking with the planning authority, because householder permitted development rights don't apply. We tell you what we know about your building and point you to the right team.
What upstand height and roof pitch does smoke vent rooflight fitting need?
It depends on the product. Manufacturers usually specify a minimum upstand height above the finished roof surface, and a minimum pitch on the glass so rain runs off. We follow the maker's figures for your unit rather than a rule of thumb. If your existing kerb or roof falls short, we explain the options, such as raising the upstand or choosing a unit with built-in pitch.
Questions before you commit? Send them over with your Thorne postcode and we will answer them plainly, with a quote alongside.

