You may have already heard of fire curtains and smoke barriers, but Sheridan Doors appreciates that it is easy to become confused by the technical specifications and terminology that surround them. Here we hope to explain the difference and more importantly, why they are a vital part of a building’s protection against fires.
Put simply, a fire curtain is a specially-constructed curtain that descends from the ceiling to block an opening and stop fire and smoke spreading between two areas. In larger structures, several fire curtains are used, effectively dividing the building into what are known as ‘fire compartments’ when there is a fire. This is called ‘compartmentation’ and is a fundamental element of passive fire protection in buildings. It helps to:

Provide time for people to escape

Protect escape routes

Make time for people until the fire brigade arrives

Protect properties and any assets enclosed therein

Structure of a Fire Curtain

Much like a metal roller shutter that you say on shop fronts, a fire curtain is similar in that it descends and unrolls vertically from a box in the ceiling. However, because a fire curtain is made of a woven fibre glass material, it is much more flexible and compact.

This means a curtain can be more closely-fitted within a space and therefore provides much better compartmentation. It is this compact construction that makes fire curtains the  ideal choice for lobbies, hatches and stairwells where there is limited space. When included in the design stage of a building, they can be recessed into walls and ceilings leaving a thin slit as the only indication that a curtain is there.

Fire curtains come in various types:

Automatic Fire Curtains – Most non-static fire curtains are in fact automatic. They are linked to fire alarm systems so they automatically descend when there is a fire or when the alarm is triggered.

Static Fire Curtains – Also called fixed fire curtains, these curtains are permanently in place and are used to provide compartmentation in open spaces such as warehouses or lofts.

Insulated Fire Curtains – These curtains provide extra insulation and allow people to pass by much closer to the curtain without being affected by the heat of a fire on the other side.

Required Fire Curtain Standards

All fire curtains must go through rigorous testing and certification. It is these standards that will ensure that the integrity of a curtain will remain for a certain minimum length of time and that they will continue to work in the extreme conditions of a fire.

British standards that were introduced in 2014 stipulate that all fire and smoke curtains must be fitted with a failsafe gravity system which ensures that a curtain will still descend even if there is no mains power or backup power from a battery.

Why Sheridan Doors?

Sheridan Doors are the leading provider of high quality fire curtains and pride ourselves on the level of protection that we are able to provide. Our fire curtains have been responsible for saving countless stock items, properties and lives as they help to keep fire at bay, and you should certainly take a look at our range if you take the safety of your business seriously.

All of our smoke and fire curtains are custom-made so that they are completely suited to your premises. No matter what your application, Sheridan Doors are able to provide a selection of high quality fire curtains that will complement the aesthetics of your building whilst also keeping you well-protected.

Our smoke curtains are of a superior strength and durability to those offered by similar businesses, as well as having unrivalled levels of heat resistance. We also provide fire curtains made with thicker gauge materials and an all steel component construction. These are designed for industrial use, and are linked up to an alarm system so that they automatically activate in the event of a fire, meaning that any damage caused by the fire would be kept to a minimum.

If you require any further information in regards to the smoke and fire curtains offered by Sheridan Doors, then please feel free to get in touch