Guide prices in Ipswich
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.
Fitting across Ipswich and nearby
If you also own a property or a business unit in Harwich, Felixstowe or Stowmarket, 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 IP1, IP4 and IP2 sit comfortably within that pattern.
What we do on the day
- New vent fitted, sealed and weathered into the roof
- Controls, detection and wiring handled by the smoke-control specialist
- Upstand checked, adapted or rebuilt to the vent maker's drawing
- Fire rules near escape routes — We check the roof around the vent for fire rules that affect it.
- Certified as a system — We only fit smoke vents that are certified to BS EN 12101-2.
What happens on the day
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.
Regulations for Ipswich properties
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.
Getting a price from photos
What we cannot see, we have to guess, and guesses make quotes wider. So the more you send, the tighter the price. Useful: shots from the roof or garden, shots from the room underneath, a rough width and length, the roof finish, any access problems, and the product page if you have already ordered. Add the property postcode around IP1 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Ipswich
What if my roof opening is the wrong size for the smoke vent rooflight?
We find out before the fitting day, not on it. If the opening is slightly out, it can usually be adjusted by trimming or by packing out the upstand. If it is a long way off, the choice is between altering the opening and changing the unit. Bear in mind that rooflights are often sold by builder's opening size rather than external size, so check which one your measurement refers to.
Can you fit a rooflight in winter or when it is raining?
Yes, within limits. Cold is less of a problem than wet, because membranes, primers and sealants need a dry surface to bond. We plan fitting days around the forecast and may move a date if heavy rain is due. If the roof has to be opened up, it is not left overnight without a temporary weather seal, so the room below stays dry while the work is finished.
Who is responsible for the smoke-control system?
The building's responsible person, duty holder or managing agent, depending on the nation, is responsible for keeping fire safety systems working. Our part is the rooflight and roof work; the controls, detection and commissioning are handled by a smoke-control specialist, and the quote says who does what.
Planning a smoke vent rooflight in Ipswich? Tell us about the roof and we will come back with a clear price in writing.
