What Is a Fire Curtain and Where Are They Used?
In the modern age of minimalist building design, fire protection can prove more challenging than ever before. However, ensuring that properties remain compliant with relevant building regulations is a crucial aspect of all fire protection plans, and will typically involve the use of fire curtains. But what is a fire curtain? Where are they typically installed?
A fire curtain is a specially designed barrier integrated into a building’s design to prevent the spread of flames and smoke in the event of a fire. Fire curtains perform a vital role in the passive fire protection of a building, allowing occupants to safely escape. They are typically installed in the following areas:
- Concealed areas
- Within voids
- Surrounding structural elements
- Above ceilings
- Within attic spaces
Keep reading to learn more about what fire curtains are and where they are typically installed.
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“Fire curtains are an integral aspect of our work to effectively protect our clients’ properties in the event of a fire. Without suitable fire curtains in place, both buildings and their occupants are at significantly higher risk.” – Danny Bell, Commercial Director
What Is a Fire Curtain?
In the event of a fire, one of the most common causes of death is the excessive inhalation of smoke, gas, or toxic fumes. To ensure that a building’s occupants can safely escape a fire, designated egress routes must be protected, as obscured visibility can quickly render them hazardous.
Fire curtains provide several vital functions for building occupants during a fire to ensure people can safely escape by preventing the spread of fire and smoke from one area of the building to another. This method of prevention is known as “compartmentalisation” and is a core principle of passive fire protection fundamentals.
Made from highly fire-resistant materials, fire curtains are used in largely commercial properties and are able to withstand extreme temperatures, usually greater than 1000 degrees Celsius. The primary function of a fire curtain is to divide a large space into compartments. For large commercial properties, the outbreak of a fire can be devastating, as hidden zones in the building can allow fire to travel unchecked.
Fire Curtain Heat Resistance Levels
In the UK, the level of fire resistance that a fire curtain provides is typically measured in time. For example, a fire curtain that can withstand fire for 30 minutes before losing its integrity would receive a rating of E30. Some fire curtains also receive a rating regarding their insulation, meaning they can withstand both their integrity (E) and insulation (I) for the associated timeframe, signified by a code such as EI30.
Why Are Fire Curtains Used?
The role of a fire curtain is crucial due to the popularity of open-plan layouts, making traditional fire protection methods such as fire doors and walls impractical.
As well as ensuring buildings comply with British fire safety regulations, fire curtains help prevent the spread of fire and smoke by containing a fire, consequently allowing occupants to escape safely.
Containment
If a fire is allowed to spread out of control, suppressing the fire becomes more challenging. To prevent this, containment is a key step for reducing the risk of a fire becoming unmanageable. Fire curtains contain a fire and restrict it to a specific area to limit its spread, buying time for egress and fire suppression.
Occupant Escape Routes
During a fire, the free movement of fire and smoke can make designated escape routes more hazardous for building occupants. Fire curtains reduce and direct the flow of smoke, helping to create safe escape routes.
Where Can Fire Curtains Be Installed?
Passive fire curtains that form part of a building’s permanent fire compartmentation are fixed in place to create a constant barrier, and are typically installed in strategic locations to prevent unseen fire spread.
For example, in a large attic void that spans across multiple occupied spaces – such as an attic void in a care home – with several bedrooms below, using fire curtains will help to compartmentalise the area. This will ensure that the lines of compartmentation from the bedroom walls below are carried up vertically through into the attic void to ensure that the spread of fire and smoke is prevented horizontally across the attic void.
Other common locations for static fire curtain installations include:
- Concealed areas: Inside false walls or hidden partition shafts to stop fire from moving through unseen gaps.
- Within voids: Inside floor or roof cavities to seal off horizontal channels where flames and hot gases travel.
- Above ceilings: Above suspended or false ceilings to block fire from crossing open spaces between rooms or floors.
- Around structural elements: Encircling steel columns, beams, or vertical shafts to protect the building frame from heat damage.
Passive vs Active Fire Curtains: Which Is Best?
Choosing the best fire protection method for your property requires careful consideration and a clear understanding of a building’s layout and fire strategy. Typically, this will include seeking the advice of fire protection experts.
While active systems provide certain design benefits for applications where spaces must remain open, they also require regular testing and servicing. In contrast, passive fire curtains generally require minimal intervention beyond regular testing to ensure integrity remains intact.
To learn more, read our detailed blog: Understanding the Crucial Differences Between Active and Passive Fire Protection
In Summary:
- Fixed fire curtains perform a vital function of fire protection, ensuring a fire is effectively contained.
- Maintaining fire containment ensures that building occupants can safely escape in the event of a fire.
- Passive fire curtains require minimal intervention once installed and provide a constant barrier, typically installed in concealed areas of a building.
Speak to the Passive Fire Protection Experts at Flux Fire Protection
At Flux Fire Protection, our team of highly experienced passive fire protection experts helps properties across the UK maintain compliance with building regulations with bespoke solutions. Learn more about our fire curtain service online, and discuss your requirements with a member of our team today.
FAQs
How Much Does a Fire Curtain Cost?
This will vary depending on each property due to the unique design and installation involved for each project. To receive an estimate for static fire curtain installation at your property, simply submit a contact form online and a member of our expert team will be happy to assist.
What Is the Difference Between a Fire Curtain and a Smoke Curtain?
Both fire and smoke curtains are designed to provide more time for building occupants to escape in the event of a fire. However, whereas a passive fire curtain provides complete separation for a fire between the zones of a building, a smoke curtain is primarily designed to maintain a higher temperature in a smoke layer to allow smoke to rise to an extract point.
