10/7/2025
1. Introduction
EN 12101-7 is a standard applied in Europe for the design, installation, and maintenance of smoke control and ventilation systems in buildings. This standard was developed to ensure the rapid evacuation of smoke and to maintain building safety during a fire. Properly managed smoke and heat during a fire aim to allow safe evacuation of occupants and to prevent the spread of the fire.
EN 12101-7 sets out the necessary requirements and performance criteria to ensure the safe and efficient operation of smoke control systems. These systems are commonly referred to as “Heat and Smoke Ventilation Systems” (HVS), which are used to remove smoke and heat from buildings.
2. Objectives of EN 12101-7
The EN 12101-7 standard aims to achieve the following key goals during fire incidents:
- Containment and removal of smoke from the building.
- Safe evacuation of occupants.
- Control and suppression of fire spread.
- Preservation of the structural integrity of buildings to enhance fire safety.
To achieve these objectives, the components used in the design of heat and smoke ventilation systems must be correctly specified, positioned, and tested.
3. Key Concepts and Components
EN 12101-7 covers various components of smoke control systems, including:
- Smoke Ventilation Systems: Systems that safely evacuate smoke from the building. These typically consist of ventilation ducts, fans, and exhaust outlets.
- Mechanical Ventilation Systems: Used to control airflow in the building during a fire, allowing occupants to evacuate through smoke-free areas.
- Fans and Motors: Electrically operated devices that play a critical role in expelling smoke quickly from the building.
- Operable Windows and Air Outlets: Windows and vents that can be opened to allow smoke to escape are also part of the system.
4. Applications of EN 12101-7
EN 12101-7 can be applied to the following types of buildings:
- Residential buildings
- Office and commercial buildings
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Shopping centers
- Industrial facilities
For each type of building, heat and smoke ventilation systems must be designed and implemented in accordance with the specific standards.
5. Performance Requirements
EN 12101-7 provides specific performance criteria to assess the effectiveness of the systems, including:
- Rapid Smoke Evacuation: Smoke must be removed from the building as quickly as possible.
- High Heat Resistance: System components must be resistant to the high temperatures associated with fires.
- Reliability: The smoke ventilation system must function reliably during a fire.
- Maintenance and Testing Requirements: Systems must be regularly maintained and tested.
6. Design of Smoke Control Systems
When designing smoke control systems in compliance with EN 12101-7, the following factors must be considered:
- Smoke evacuation plans tailored to building type and usage: Each building type has different fire risks and requirements.
- Proper component selection: Fans, windows, and other elements must be chosen to function effectively in the event of a fire.
- Airflow management: Airflow must be appropriately managed to ensure the rapid removal of smoke from the building.
Ensuring the accurate and complete execution of the design, testing, and certification processes required by the EN 12101-7 standard is critical for smoke control systems to deliver reliable performance during a fire. At this point, Efectis, a globally accredited fire safety authority, offers a full suite of services to validate the reliability, safety, and compliance of smoke control and heat exhaust systems.
• Testing & Certification: At Efectis laboratories, fire resistance tests for duct systems are carried out in full alignment with EN 12101-7. Upon successful testing, CE marking is granted, certifying the system’s compliance and unlocking access to European markets.
• Design Validation & Technical Consultancy: From the early project stages, Efectis supports your team with expert guidance tailored to the building type and its intended use—ensuring your smoke extraction system meets legal requirements and aligns with best-in-class fire safety strategies.
• On-Site Inspections & Performance Verification: Our team performs on-site evaluations to ensure installed systems operate as intended under EN 12101-7. This guarantees reliable real-world performance in the event of a fire—when it matters most.
• Training & Knowledge Transfer: Through dedicated training programs for project managers, installers, and technical personnel, Efectis helps build a strong fire safety culture while ensuring consistent application of the standard across your organization.
With Efectis by your side, you’re not just meeting regulation; you’re investing in trust and safety.
Batteries and electric vehicles
Efectis also has testing facilities dedicated to the fire behaviour of batteries weighing up to several tons, particularly for railway applications, and carries out fire tests for energy storage solutions (lithium battery modules and cases, containers, BESS). We are able to perform fire tests on all types of electric batteries (Lithium-ion or other) according to the following standards:
- IEC 62919 §7.3.3– thermal runaway propagation test,
- ECE R100 § 6.5 and Annex 9 F,
- UL 9540A: multi-scale tests and extinction systems,
- Certification tests for railway vehicles,
- Energy storage and industrial applications (IEC 62619, UL 2596, UL 1973, etc.).
Efectis is also a member of BEPA (Batteries European Partnership Association) and Batteries Europe. Through its fire safety engineering studies, Efectis also carries out numerous numerical simulations of battery fire development in order to assess the associated thermal risks.
We are also currently a research partner in an insurer-funded research project related to the fire risk assessment of lithium-ion batteries in residential applications and in a project related to the electrification of vehicles in car parks.
Fire behaviour of façades
Efectis is recognised by the competent authorities in order to issue official recognitions and classifications required by national legislation regarding the fire behaviour of facades including the use of innovative materials and systems, such as green façades, bio-sourced products, etc.:
- Standardised methods and facilities such as LEPIR 2, BS 8414-1 and -2, ISO 13785-1, also used for façade systems consisting in Building Applied Photovoltaics (BAPV), Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), or solar thermal,
- Other relevant testing approaches.
In addition, Efectis was member of the European project Finalisation of the European approach to assess the fire performance of facades. In the frame of the project SI2.825082 financed by the European Commission – DG GROW, we carried out a series of tests for the development, at the European level, of a method to assess the fire performance of façades. At the national level, Efectis was involved in the FRENETICS project (2019-2024) funded the French National Research Agency (ANR). FRENETICS aimed to carry out measurements that are more detailed during fire reaction tests of façade systems, as well as to develop the scientific and technical knowledge essential to understanding the fire safety of facades and necessary to strengthen research on new low-flammability materials and safer systems.
Solar panels and roofs
Our laboratories are recognised and equipped for fire behaviour testing of roofs and solar panels according to XP CEN/TS 1187 and EN 13501-5, leading to classification Broof, Croof, Droof, Eroof. The experimental standard XP CEN/TS 1187 includes 4 different test methods. The classification obtained is therefore directly linked to the method chosen. The class notation therefore differs. For example, France uses the method 3 and the United Kingdom uses the method 4. The classification will therefore be noted Broof(t3) for France and Broof(t4) for the United Kingdom. The laboratories can direct requests according to the market targeted by the customer.
New energies and AFs
The Research and Development department of Efectis, is always working on new methods to assess the fire safety. We are now involved as partner in the EU project ROAD TRHyP which overall objective is to develop and validate high payload hydrogen trailers with new composite cylinders (Type V). Efectis is in charge of the work package related to fire safety. For more information, visit the project at www.road-trhyp.eu.
ATEX and Explosion Support Services
Efectis is able to provide a complete service for the topics related to:
Testing offer coming soon according to EN ISO/IEC 80079-20-2 standard.
Customised Technical Support and Guidance, with a comprehensive, tailor-made assistance based on recommendations during the early design phase of equipment, assemblies, or installations, including risk assessment study, evaluation of design constraints, and analysis of potential deviations according to the applicable series standards EN/IEC 60079 and EN/ISO 80079, as well as relevant regulations such as the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU (Europe EHSR) and the IECEx Scheme (Global framework).
Regulatory Compliance Support, through our expert support to help manufacturers navigate and understand compliance requirements for equipment and installations prior to market launch, aligned with specific national regulations or adaptations (INMETRO for Brazil, CCC Ex for China).
ATEX Training Programs on the design and installation of electrical and non-electrical equipment for use in explosive atmospheres, covering key ATEX protection methods, European Directives 2014/34/EU and 1999/92/EC, IECEx certification system, and essential rules for equipment and system installation.
Numerical simulations
Fire tests are complemented with risk analysis and numerical simulations to evaluate:
- Fire development, heat flux & safety distances
- Impact of smoke on human safety (personnel and means of intervention)
- The sizing of the discharge walls and safety barriers
- Assessment of the explosion effects
- Thermomechanical calculations to characterize the fire resistance of constructive elements and resistance to overpressure
- Simulations of gas and toxic dispersion/accumulation
For more information, please contact Mohamad El Houssami