Smoke Ventilation Air Compressors

Choosing the Right Compressor Package for Smoke Ventilation

Tanair Compressors (Compressed Air Systems UK) supplies compressor packages designed specifically for smoke ventilation and life safety systems, where dependable pressure, controlled sequencing and robust operation are essential.

Need help selecting the right setup? Our team can advise on specification, commissioning, servicing and breakdown support. Call 0121 7533 330 to speak to a member of the team.

Semi-Duplex vs Tandem Air Compressors – What’s the Difference?

A semi-duplex air compressor uses two independently driven piston pumps mounted on a single shared air receiver, with each pump powered by its own motor. Operation is typically managed via a dedicated control panel, allowing the pumps to be staged or alternated based on system demand.

This control-panel-based operation makes semi-duplex compressors particularly well suited to smoke ventilation systems, where controlled sequencing, reliability and compliance with system design requirements are essential. Alternating pump operation helps balance run hours and reduce wear while maintaining consistent air availability.

A tandem air compressor generally consists of two compressor units configured to operate together to deliver higher capacity and resilience. Tandem packages are often selected where higher duty, larger volumes or increased redundancy is required.

Key Advantages of Semi-Duplex Air Compressors

• Control panel managed operation for staged or alternating pump use
• Designed to support smoke ventilation and life safety applications
• Improved duty cycle without full system duplication
• Reduced pump wear through load sharing
• Stable pressure from a shared air receiver
• More compact and cost-effective than many tandem configurations

Key Advantages of Tandem Air Compressors

• Higher total output capacity to meet larger system demand
• Greater resilience — one unit can support operation if the other is offline (configuration dependent)
• Better suited to higher-duty or more demanding environments
• Flexible staged operation and easier future expansion
• Maintenance can be planned to minimise downtime (configuration dependent)

For the best recommendation, tell us your required pressure, duty cycle, receiver size and how the system is controlled, and we’ll point you to the correct package.