In this article, you will learn:

• What the differences are between electric and pneumatic smoke ventilator control systems.
• Why an increasing number of new projects have been shifting towards electric control systems in recent years.
• The real advantages and limitations of both technologies.
• In which applications pneumatic systems continue to be an excellent choice.

NSHEV Technology Is Evolving

Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation (NSHEV) is one of the most critical fire safety systems in modern industrial, logistics, commercial and public buildings.

For decades, pneumatic control systems have been the industry standard for operating smoke ventilators. Their reliability has been proven in thousands of projects worldwide, and they continue to provide dependable performance today.

However, advances in technology, increasing levels of building automation, and the demand for lower operational costs have driven a clear market trend: the growing adoption of electric smoke ventilator control systems.

As one of Bulgaria's leading companies specialising in the design, supply and installation of NSHEV systems, Sament has witnessed this transition first-hand. Our experience from numerous completed projects shows that investors and designers are increasingly looking for solutions that not only meet fire safety requirements but also simplify everyday building operation while reducing long-term maintenance costs.

It is important to note that there is no universal solution suitable for every project. Both pneumatic and electric systems have an important place in modern construction. The key question is which technology best meets the specific requirements of each individual project.

What Is the Difference Between Electric and Pneumatic Systems?

Both technologies serve the same primary purpose: in the event of a fire, they automatically open the smoke ventilators, allowing smoke and heat to be rapidly extracted from the building.

The difference lies in how this operation is achieved.

In pneumatic systems, the smoke ventilators are opened by pneumatic cylinders powered by CO₂ cylinders. When the system is activated, the released gas drives the cylinders, causing the ventilators to open.

Pneumatic System

In electric systems, the opening mechanism is operated by electric actuators controlled through a dedicated control panel equipped with battery backup. In the event of an emergency, the control panel sends a signal to the actuators, ensuring that the smoke ventilators open even if the building's main power supply has failed.

Electric System

Both solutions can be designed to fully comply with current European standards and regulations governing Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation systems.

The difference is not in the level of fire protection they provide, but rather in their day-to-day operation, maintenance requirements and the additional functionality each technology offers.

Why Are More Investors Choosing Electric Systems?

Over the past several years, a clear trend has emerged in new construction projects: electric control systems are becoming the preferred solution for operating smoke ventilators.

This does not mean that pneumatic systems have become obsolete. On the contrary, they remain a reliable, well-established and field-proven technology.

The growing preference for electric systems is driven by the additional benefits they provide—benefits that are particularly valuable in today's smart and energy-efficient buildings.

1. Lower Operating Costs After System Activation

One of the most significant practical advantages of electric systems concerns post-activation servicing.

With pneumatic systems, every emergency activation consumes the CO₂ cylinders. Once activated, the system must be restored by replacing or refilling the cylinders, followed by inspection and recommissioning by qualified service personnel.

This results in additional maintenance costs, service visits and system downtime.

Electric systems eliminate this requirement. After identifying the cause of the activation and resetting the control panel, the system can be returned to normal operation without replacing any gas cylinders or consumable components.

For owners of large manufacturing facilities, logistics centers and commercial buildings, this represents a considerable operational advantage.

2. Daily Natural Ventilation

One of the greatest strengths of electric smoke ventilator systems is their ability to perform two functions simultaneously.

In addition to providing smoke extraction during a fire, they can also be used for everyday natural ventilation.

With pneumatic systems, smoke ventilators typically remain closed and are activated only during emergency situations. This is perfectly adequate when the system is intended solely for fire protection.

Modern industrial and logistics facilities, however, increasingly require solutions that improve indoor climate and enhance energy efficiency.

Electric actuators allow smoke ventilators to be opened in a controlled manner—either partially or fully—for natural ventilation purposes. This helps remove accumulated heat, improves indoor air quality and creates a more comfortable working environment for building occupants.

In practice, a single system performs two essential functions:

• Fire safety;
• Daily natural ventilation.

3. Smart Control and Building Automation

An increasing number of modern buildings rely on Building Management Systems (BMS) that integrate heating, cooling, lighting, security and ventilation into a single intelligent platform.

Electric smoke ventilator control systems can be seamlessly integrated into such environments.

Depending on the project requirements, they can operate in conjunction with:

• Temperature sensors;
• Indoor air quality sensors;
• CO₂ sensors;
• Rain and wind sensors;
• Programmable time schedules;
• Building automation systems (BMS).

This allows the smoke ventilators to operate automatically according to real-time building conditions, without requiring manual intervention.

For example, during the summer months, the ventilators can automatically open at night to cool the building naturally and close again before the start of the working day. This strategy reduces heat accumulation and can significantly improve the efficiency of the building's cooling systems.

4. Reduced Operational Downtime

Every industrial facility owner understands that every unplanned service visit results in additional time, organization and expense.

Since electric systems do not rely on CO₂ cylinders, one of the most common post-activation maintenance procedures—the replacement or refilling of gas cylinders—is completely eliminated.

As a result, restoring the system to full operational readiness is faster and considerably simpler, particularly in facilities equipped with a large number of smoke ventilators.

Over the long term, this can reduce overall maintenance costs while ensuring that the fire safety system remains fully operational with minimal downtime.

5. Greater Design Flexibility

As building technologies continue to evolve, investors are placing increasingly sophisticated demands on engineering systems.

Today, an NSHEV system is expected to do much more than provide smoke extraction during a fire. It is becoming an integral part of a building's overall energy efficiency strategy, sustainability objectives and intelligent building management.

This is precisely where electric systems offer a significant advantage.

Their ability to accommodate future upgrades, integrate with emerging technologies and adapt to changing operational requirements makes them a future-proof solution for many modern construction projects.

Rain and wind sensor installed as part of an electric smoke ventilator control system. In the event of rainfall or strong winds, the system can automatically close the smoke ventilators, protecting both the building and its equipment.

Comparison Between Pneumatic and Electric Systems

Important: The choice between pneumatic and electric technology should always be based on the building's intended use, applicable regulatory requirements and the specific needs of each individual project.

When Do Pneumatic Systems Remain an Excellent Choice?

Despite the growing popularity of electric solutions, pneumatic systems remain a proven and highly reliable technology with thousands of successful installations.

For many projects, they continue to be the ideal solution—particularly where the system is intended exclusively for emergency smoke extraction and there is no requirement for daily natural ventilation or integration with a Building Management System.

For this reason, Sament does not view the choice between pneumatic and electric systems as a question of one technology being "better" than the other.

Instead, we believe that the right solution is the one that best satisfies the technical requirements of the project while ensuring reliable performance throughout the entire lifecycle of the building.

Sament Expert Opinion

"Over the past several years, we have observed a clear shift in the preferences of investors and designers. While pneumatic control systems were once the standard choice for most projects, electric systems are now increasingly becoming the preferred solution.

This change is not driven by new regulatory requirements, but by the need for lower operating costs, easier maintenance and seamless integration with modern Building Management Systems."