30 Percy Street is an 18th-century Grade II listed building in Fitzrovia, London.

As part of a major refurbishment and conversion from residential to commercial use, the architect approached Rocburn to specify a smoke ventilation system that met fire safety requirements and preserved the building’s historic appearance.

The project required:

• Smoke ventilation for the main stairwell
• Controls for an existing roof vent serving a second stairwell
• An automatic door-opening system to support the building’s fire strategy

The biggest challenge was the new stairwell AOV. It needed to be fully tested and certified to BS EN 12101-2, but a standard modern-looking smoke vent would not have suited the character of the listed building.

Rocburn worked closely with the architect, conservation officer and fire officer to find a solution that balanced compliance and safety with the building’s traditional appearance.