Fire Curtains: What Are They?

Fire doors are an essential part of every modern commercial building. You will have come into contact with them on a daily basis without really noticing them. Another type of fire safety installation is the fire curtain.

Whilst less known than fire safety doors, fire curtains are more suited to more specific specifications and have a host of advantages over generic fire doors. But what are they?

Fire curtains are a more specifically constructed fire safety device that descends from the ceiling like a curtain. The curtain blocks openings between the floor and ceiling to prevent fire and smoke from spreading between different areas if one should break out.

Large, open structures benefit from several fire curtains as they divide the building into ‘fire compartments’ upon the detection of a fire.

This method of ‘compartmentation’ is a fundamental element of passive fire protection as it provides a number of different safety elements:

  • Provides time for people to escape
  • Provides escape routes
  • Allows time for firefighting services to arrive without the fire getting out of control
  • Minimalizes damage and protects the property

STRUCTURE

Fire curtains descend vertically, in a similar fashion to roller shutters. Positioned in a ’top box’ the curtain un-rolls upon the detection of fire at relatively quick speed. The curtain is constructed of woven fibre glass material to make it flexible and highly compact, so you will hardly notice it’s there until it needs to be used.

The compact nature means a smoke and fire curtain can be more easily fitted within smaller spaces such as lobbies, hatches and stairwells. If they are included into the design of a building, then they can be recessed into walls and ceilings, making them almost imperceptible to passers-by.

Sheridan Doors are one of the biggest suppliers of fire curtains, fire doors and roller shutters. Manchester companies have benefitted from fire curtain installation, and you can too.