Fire Curtains - Fire Barriers
Fire Curtains are designed as barriers to prevent the spread of fire. Fire curtains use side guides channels either side of the curtain to retain the fire resistant curtain material which is subjected to pressure in a fire.
Our fire curtains are in accordance with BS EN1634-1, BS 476 Parts 6, 7 & 22.8, & BS 7346-3. Fire curtains are designed to activate upon receipt of a signal from either a fire alarm system, or locally positioned detector. Fire Curtains are used to;
- To act as a fire separating element within the building design to prevent the passage of smoke, heat, superheated gases and fire for a predetermined period of time in either the vertical or horizontal orientation.
- To assist designers to form fire compartmentation to minimise fire spread and/or to assist the SHEVS (smoke heat exhaust ventilation) system.
- Can descend after a set predetermined period of time, to a predetermined position to assist with protected means of escape.
- Descending to a predetermined position for a predetermined time to create a smoke layer reservoir, ensuring the protected means of escape remains open longer prior to descending to their fire operational position after planned evacuation times.
New cutting edge active fire barriers are revolutionising fire engineering solutions. Providing clients and their designers with an effective alternative to traditional fire shutters and fire doors and allowing a far greater flexibility in design for both refurbishment and new buildings.
Optimizing open space within buildings is becoming ever more important but this must be balanced with more stringent legislation. Current legislation covering fire separating elements and fire compartmentation can be easily checked by visiting online sites such as British Standards Institute.
New Active fire curtains can now replace non-load bearing walls of up to 54 metres in length. Hi-tech, cutting edge fabric technology up to 4 hours integrity, and with radiation or insulation properties being achieved. Design can include the use of virtual lift lobbies, escalator and stairwell protections and be used in combination with non-fire rated glazing for building separation. Fire curtains provide an effective alternative to fire shutters and fire doors and are used extensively as part of the fire engineered solution in domestic dwellings, commercial and industrial applications such as airports, shopping centres, offices, factories etc, where the need for maintaining open areas for access is vital. Fully retracted fire curtains provide a less cumbersome and more aesthetic alternative to other traditional fire compartmentation elements.
Fire curtain technology is safe and as standard incorporates a total fail-safe by gravity system in the event of total mains, wiring and/or system corruption. Systems are also supplied with Battery Back Up and Emergency Power Operation in the event of a prolonged main failure. Installing a large roller fire wall fire curtains to replace a non-bearing walls can open up some exciting design possibilities for architects and construction engineers.