Dubai high-rise towers, atriums, and stairwells often rely on automated smoke ventilation windows as part of their approved fire strategy drawings — not the ducted fan-and-shaft systems used deeper inside a building, but facade or roof windows that open automatically to vent smoke and heat during a fire event. These are known as Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilators (SHEV), and in Dubai they're typically specified alongside your building's Civil Defence-approved fire safety design.

What Is a SHEV Window System?

A SHEV window uses an electromechanical actuator — usually a chain or spindle actuator built into or alongside the window frame — to open automatically on a signal from the fire alarm system, venting smoke and hot gases before they build up in stairwells, corridors, or atrium spaces. This buys occupants clearer evacuation routes and gives firefighting teams better visibility and access. Unlike ducted mechanical smoke extraction (fans and shafts), SHEV windows are a natural or hybrid ventilation solution built directly into the facade or roof glazing.

EN 12101-2: The Standard That Matters

Actuators used for SHEV applications must be tested and certified to EN 12101-2, the European standard covering natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilators. This certification confirms the actuator can operate reliably under fire conditions — opening fully, holding position, and continuing to function even as ambient conditions change. When a fire strategy drawing for a Dubai project specifies SHEV windows, the actuator hardware needs to carry this certification to pass inspection.

Where Dubai Buildings Use SHEV Windows

• Stairwell and lobby windows in high-rise residential and commercial towers
• Atrium and void spaces in malls, hotels, and mixed-use developments
• Facade windows specified as part of a natural smoke ventilation strategy
• Roof windows and rooflights in warehouses and large open-plan buildings

Whether SHEV windows are required, and how many, comes down to the building's approved fire strategy drawings — typically prepared by the project's fire consultant and reviewed by Dubai Civil Defence.

Ultraflex NANO: The Actuator Behind the Window

Merac Dubai has a direct working relationship with Ultraflex and supplies and installs their NANO chain actuator for SHEV and general window automation applications. The 24Vdc NANO is EN 12101-2 certified, delivers up to 400N of push force with strokes from 200mm to 800mm, and is built for silent, reliable operation — with electronic soft-stop, overload protection, and obstacle detection to reduce entrapment risk.

NANO is available in several configurations depending on the project: a standard DC version, a Synchro version for coordinating multiple actuators on a single large vent, a Synchro F-Signal version that reports open/closed status back to the fire alarm or BMS, and a fully addressable BMSline version for integration into a Building Management System via Modbus RTU. A FLEX variant extends opening angles up to 90° for narrow or bottom-hinged windows, which is useful where the number of openable windows needs to stay low without sacrificing free area for smoke clearance.

Maintenance Matters as Much as Installation

Like fire-rated doors, SHEV actuators are life-safety equipment that needs to keep working years after installation, not just pass inspection on day one. Chain mechanisms, seals, and electronic control boards should be checked as part of a building's regular fire safety maintenance — confirming the actuator still opens fully, the fire alarm interface still triggers it correctly, and nothing has been mechanically obstructed or disabled over time. Merac Dubai can fold SHEV actuator checks into an existing Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) alongside automatic doors, access control, and fire-rated doors.

Get a Project Assessment

If your building's fire strategy drawings call for SHEV window actuators, or you're specifying a facade or atrium smoke ventilation system for a new Dubai project, Merac Dubai can supply and install Ultraflex NANO actuators to match your requirements. Pricing depends on quantity, stroke length, and control configuration — contact us with your project drawings for a quote.

📞 Call or WhatsApp Merac Dubai to discuss your smoke ventilation window requirements.