I don''t think I can say it any better than the FDS users guide. From section 7.4.2 (Special Vents):
...it denotes a passive opening to the outside. By default, FDS assumes that the exterior boundary of the computational domain (the XBs on the MESH line) is a solid wall. To change this, use an OPEN vent as if it were an open door or window.
That section goes on to describe what parameters control the environment beyond the open vent.
What part is giving you trouble? If you aren''t comfortable with how FDS is doing the solver calculations across the VENT, you might want to check out the technical reference. If it''s something else, maybe we can help.