Every building should have fire safety systems. Although annual fire safety inspections verify that your building is compliant with local safety codes, they only guarantee that the minimum requirements have been met. There are many ways to protect your building and its occupants, even if you receive a passing grade. A1S Group is a trusted manufacturer, supplier, and installer of industrial fire shutters, fire and smoke curtains, shutters and smoke and fire curtain. We work with trusted partners throughout the UK as well as internationally, and we can install our entire range of products throughout the United Kingdom.
A fire safety system consists of three elements: notification, detection and response. A typical building will have equipment to detect heat and smoke, as well as notify occupants.
A basic water sprinkler system will be installed in most buildings. This will automatically activate when there is a fire (the response element). To aid in fire extinguishing, there may be fire hoses within the building.
Smoke curtains are a great addition to any safety system.
How smoke curtains protect businesses
Water sprinkler systems, as well as other equipment, are designed to extinguish flames. While this works well to protect the building, it leaves little room for human health.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) statistics show that smoke inhalation is more common than fire (i.e. burns). Smoke inhalation is responsible for between 40% and 50% of all fatalities.
Protecting building occupants from inhalation and fire is the best way to prevent them from being injured.
The ideal solution to smoke control is the smoke curtains. They can be easily installed in existing buildings and work with existing detection and response systems.
Smoke curtains are a physical barrier to smoke, unlike other smoke control equipment like outdoor exhaust vents. The smoke curtain can be deployed vertically from the housing in the ceiling. These curtains are ideal for sealing doors and elevators. They can also be used to create a perimeter around stairs and atriums that isn’t surrounded by walls.
There are many styles of smoke curtains. They make the best choice for building owners who want to control smoke as effectively as possible.
Smoke Curtain Styles & Applications
There are four types of smoke curtains available: Vertical, Draft, Perimeter, and Elevator. Each type of curtain can be used in conjunction with other fire safety systems. They can also be set up to automatically deploy when a smoke sensor or fire alarm is activated.
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Elevator Smoke Curtains
Smoke curtains for elevators serve the crucial function of preventing smoke from entering or exiting through the doors. The elevator shafts allow air to flow upwards to the roof. This can lead to smoke spreading quickly to other floors in the building in the event of a flame.
Many fire codes require that smoke barriers be installed over elevator doors. Smoke Guard’s elevator smoke curtains meet or exceed these requirements and keep building occupants protected.
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Vertical Smoke Curtains
These curtains can be used to cover openings that lead from standard doors to larger atriums. These curtains are found in the ceiling above the opening. They are deployed downwards to stop smoke spreading throughout the building.
These curtains are used to separate the buildings and to contain smoke in individual rooms. This allows for occupants to evacuate the building more quickly and firefighters to enter the building more quickly.
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Draft curtains
A type of static curtain called draft curtains is used most frequently in manufacturing and warehouse environments. Draft curtains are not necessary for most buildings such as retail and office buildings. However, they should be considered by large, open spaces with high ceilings.
This curtain does not act as a barricade against smoke, but rather breaks up the airflow from the ceiling. These curtains should be placed strategically near exhaust vents in order to slow down smoke’s travel and push it outwards through them.
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Perimeter Curtains
Perimeter curtains are a great way to contain smoke in large buildings with escalators or open staircases. These curtains function in the same way as vertical curtains but they do not block one entrance. They create a completely independent perimeter that does not require walls or corner posts. Perimeter curtains are not designed to slow flames but they can also slow down the movement of smoke.