Off-site smoke control Pods™: The MMC solution for faster, safer builds

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are no longer a trend – they’re transforming how we deliver buildings across the UK. With tighter programmes, rising safety expectations, and the need to do more with less, the way we design and supply smoke control products must evolve too.

At Sertus, as a UK manufacturer of smoke ventilation products, we understand the challenges contractors face on MMC-led projects – especially around installation time and on-site coordination. Reducing risk, saving time, and staying compliant are daily pressures. That’s exactly where our off-site manufactured mechanical extract fan Pods™ make the difference. 

The problem with traditional installation  

Traditionally, smoke extract systems have been assembled on site – often involving multiple components, several crane lifts, and hours of work at height. It’s time-consuming, weather-dependent, and can present health and safety challenges. 

Each additional step introduces risk: more people on the roof, more lifts to plan, more potential delays when the weather turns. It’s inefficient, unpredictable, and can impact both cost and programme. 

The Sertus Pod™: MMC in Action 

The Sertus Pod™ mechanical extract fan range has been developed to address these challenges head-on. Designed, built, and tested in-house at our UK manufacturing facility, each Sertus Pod™ provides a fully engineered, off-site manufactured solution. 

It’s not just a fan – it’s a pre-assembled, factory-tested mechanical extract fan Pod™, delivered ready for a single crane lift and connection on site. 

Here’s what that means for your project: 

Why it matters     

Smoke control is a life safety system – there’s no margin for error. 

By manufacturing our mechanical extract fan Pods™ off site, Sertus ensures every unit is built under controlled conditions, tested to rigorous standards, and supplied with full performance documentation. That means when it reaches site, it’s ready to lift, connect, and perform as designed. 

For contractors and design teams working under MMC frameworks, this approach brings greater predictability, consistency, and assurance. It simplifies coordination and gives project teams confidence that compliance is built in – not bolted on. 

The bigger picture  

The construction industry is moving towards industrialised methods – building more in factories, less on site, and prioritising reliability at every stage. Sertus has been part of that shift from the outset. 

We design and manufacture smoke ventilation products, including our mechanical extract fan Pods™, entirely in-house. Each product is engineered for quality, tested for performance, and supplied ready for straightforward installation. 

By shifting the complexity to the factory, we help simplify what happens on site – improving safety, reducing risk, and keeping projects moving.

Want to learn how Sertus mechanical extract fan Pods can support your next MMC project? 

Speak to our technical team about off-site smoke control solutions designed for speed, safety, and compliance – and make it simple with Sertus.

About Sertus 

Sertus is a UK-based manufacturer of smoke ventilation products, dedicated to safeguarding lives and property through unequivocally compliant, expertly engineered, and reliably manufactured solutions. Driven by our vision to be the UK’s manufacturer of choice for smoke ventilation, we’re setting the standard – leading, not following – with products that combine innovation, performance, and quality. From early-stage design through to post-install support, we partner with contractors, architects, consultants, and developers to deliver smoke control that works – every time.

At Sertus, Make It Simple isn’t just a tagline – it’s our promise. We simplify the complex world of fire safety through intelligent design, clear guidance, and comprehensive support, helping our customers achieve compliant, high-performance buildings with confidence.

Learn more at sertus.uk. For media enquiries, contact hello@sertus.uk or call 01483 269999.