The project
In 2022, NOVENCO® Building & Industry was appointed to design and deliver a complete active pressure differential system for a new 75 m tall office tower. The system includes active PDS installations for two safety stairwells, a fire brigade lift and two exhaust shafts. Together they secure safe routes for evacuation of people and access for the fire brigade.
NOVENCO supplied all critical components which include supply and exhaust fans, advanced louvre dampers with ultra-fast actuators, control cabinets with new control software and smoke extraction dampers. After independent certified inspection, the full system received approval at the beginning of 2025.
The challenge
During the project, regulatory specialists introduced more demanding technical requirements to achieve top-tier safety levels. The challenge was to meet these requirements and future-proof the installation. The goal was to enable the pressure differential systems to operate reliably in the quite tall buildings.
The solution
To meet the strict criteria and raise system performance, NOVENCO’s engineering team in the Netherlands developed several innovations:
- Ultra-fast louvre actuators with a response time of 0.7 seconds. This market-unique feature ensures fast reaction, stable pressure and prevents pressure peaks.
- New PDS control software with summer/winter compensation and continuous outdoor temperature monitoring for dependable operation in buildings up to 40 storeys.
- Stainless steel pressure measuring points for high durability and accuracy.
- Increased system reliability through:
- patented NOVENCO LMM system for monitoring actuator cabling
- redundant air supply
- redundant pressure sensors
- battery back-up in line with EN 12101-10
- A new air supply concept for emergency stairwells that uses louvre dampers and grilles for uniform air and pressure distribution and includes floor-specific control logic to reduce stack effect.
Facts
- Market-unique ultra-fast actuators (0.7 s)
- Summer/winter compensation software
- Advanced pressure and airflow control
- High-rise readiness up to 40 storeys
The results
The project was completed and approved in early 2025. The delivered pressure differential system is robust, responsive and future-ready. It ensures safe evacuation and secure access for the fire brigade. The innovations introduced here expand NOVENCO’s capabilities and support PDS solutions for much taller buildings. They set new standards in fire safety for high-rise insurance and commercial properties.
This project was a milestone for us at NOVENCO Building & Industry. Meeting the customer’s high safety requirements pushed us to develop new ultra-fast louvre actuators with a 0.7-second response time, a unique feature in the market.
