What is a smoke curtain

Fire and smoke curtains are installed to ensure safe evacuation in the event of a fire. … This allows the safe evacuation of people from buildings, whilst reducing fire damage by preventing smoke logging, which enables fire-fighting, reduces temperatures and ultimately delays the spread of fire.

What is fire curtain made of?

Fire curtains are composed of an aluminium fibre glass fire rated fabric, capable of resisting high temperatures, smoke and gases which is rolled onto a steel barrel and powered by a special internal tubular geared motor.

What is smoke baffle?

The purpose of smoke baffles is to contain smoke during a building fire and prevent the smoke from spreading to other areas. Smoke baffles must be flame- and fire-resistant for a minimum of one hour and can help give building occupants time to exit a building during a fire.

What is the difference between a fire shutter and a fire curtain?

In summary, a fire curtain is less obtrusive and offers good fire protection but does not incorporate physical security. If you need a higher level of closure, then a fire shutter is the better option.

Where are fire curtains used?

Fire curtains are often used in open-plan situations where the building’s aesthetics matter the most, like atria, stairwells, and lobbies of all types of buildings, from residential to retail to industrial.

What is a shutter curtain?

The electronic front curtain shutter function is available on newer camera models. It shortens the time lag between shutter releases and helps reduce shutter noise when taking pictures. This function can be turned on or off under the camera menu settings.

Do I need a fire curtain?

Once deployed, the role of a fire curtain is crucial for the prevention of flames spreading either laterally or vertically, acting as a physical barrier between the fire and the escape routes to be used by occupants in the evacuation of the building.

How do draft curtains work?

Draft curtains work by pulling the “ceiling jet” away from the fire and out of the building through roof vents. Ceiling jet is the natural airflow within an enclosed space during a fire. It is worth noting that these smoke curtains work best when combined with other smoke control systems.

What is a fire shutter?

Fire shutters are metal, roll-up shutters that are fastened on exterior windows and doors. They’re designed to cover single windows and doors in the event of a fire, to help prevent the flames from spreading to the exterior of the building and to other buildings nearby.

What is a glass baffle?

Glass Smoke Baffles are noncombustible curtains that hang from the ceiling and work as smoke barriers between slab openings, level changes, or divisions. Smoke baffles are there to limit the spread of smoke and provide means of egress during evacuation situations.

Article first time published on

What are the two types of smoke curtain?

There are four main styles of smoke curtains: Elevator, Vertical, Draft and Perimeter. Each style of curtain is compatible with other fire safety systems and can be installed to automatically deploy when a fire or smoke sensor is tripped.

What is the purpose of a safety curtain?

Safety curtains are often designed with sprinkler heads for water to run down from a sprinkler system onto the stage as well. This further distils the effect of fires on-stage and brings a lowered chance of fires spreading.

What is the difference between smoke curtain and fire curtain?

Smoke Curtains don’t descend to ground level (ceiling to floor). They are generally set above head height, so as not to interfere with the means of escape. A fire curtain, on the other hand, is used to provide fire separation between two spaces.

How often should fire curtains be serviced?

Fire curtains must be serviced every six (6) months to ensure they are in working condition.

How do you raise fire curtains?

Override switches allow people to raise the curtain whilst the fire alarm is still in active mode. Pressing the switch will lift the curtain up and allow safe passage through the doorway.

What is a larger f stop?

Just what does it all mean? Follow me closely: The larger the F-stop number is, the smaller the opening is. In other words, the larger number represents the lower end of the scale, less light entering the camera. A smaller F-stop number means the opening is larger, more light entering the camera.

What does electronic first curtain mean?

EFCS in cameras stands for “Electronic First Curtain Shutter.” It means that instead of using both curtains in the shutter, the sensor itself scans the sensor to begin the exposure, and the second curtain is an actual, physical shutter curtain moving over the sensor.

What does the film pressure plate do?

A film pressure plate comprising a plate having a large number of projections with their tops smoothly curved, to press the film without scratching it to hold it flat in the focal plane of the camera. The plate has leaf springs to press it against the film and is integrally molded of plastic.

How often should fire shutters be tested?

Fire shutter doors must be serviced every six months to ensure they are in working condition. Risk assessments must be performed to identify and remove all fire risks, which includes checks to the door.

How are fire shutters activated?

Fire Shutters can be activated by a thermal fusible link release unit when the local temperature reaches 68 degrees centigrade. The shutter will self-close under a controlled descent. This feature also benefits from a manual test and re-set facility.

How much do fire shutters cost?

Prices start at approximately $2,500 and goes up to several thousand.

What is a smoke draft?

The NFPA defines a Draft Curtain as a “Fixed or Automatically deployable noncombustible barrier that protrudes downward from the ceiling to channel, contain or prevent the migration of smoke.” Draft Curtains can be manufactured from fire-resistant fiberglass woven textiles, glass (commonly called smoke baffles), or …

Where are draft curtains required?

Draft curtains must be used as part of standard smoke control systems in most buildings. They’re most often required to be used in stairwells, particularly those that are used as a method of evacuation or exit. They work in these areas to help mitigate smoke from rising within the stairwell.

What are water curtains?

A water curtain is defined as a line of closely spaced sprinklers (or a single sprinkler) in combination with draft stops that are intended to retard the passage of fire through an opening.

How does a smoke screen work?

Very large or sustained smoke screens are produced by a smoke generator. This machine heats a volatile material (typically oil or an oil based mixture) to evaporate it, then mixes the vapor with cool external air at a controlled rate so it condenses to a mist with a controlled droplet size.

What is the difference between a smoke door and a fire door?

Fire doors are designed to stop the spread of both: flames and smoke. Fire-rated doors help slow or prevent the spread of both fire and smoke, but they are not designed to be completely fireproof. … Many modern smoke doors are designed in a manner that allows them to sync with smoke detectors.

How are the required fire resistance ratings of specific building elements determined?

Fire-resistance ratings are determined by testing a mock-up structural assembly according to procedures in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E119 Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, available at The test also is known as NFPA 251, Standard …

What is an asbestos curtain?

n. (Theatre) a curtain made of fireproof material that can be lowered to separate the auditorium and stage in a theatre to prevent the spread of a fire.

What are theatre legs?

Legs are tall, narrow drapes hung parallel to the proscenium at the sides of the stage. They’re used to frame the sides of the acting space as well as to mask the wings, where actors and set pieces may be preparing to enter the stage. Borders are short drapes hung above the stage, spanning its width.

What is a dead hung in theatre?

Dead Hung Rigging typically consists of steel pipe battens, individually hung or as a grid, suspended from the ceiling structure without the ability to move up and down. … This type of rigging is perfect for lower ceiling heights and tighter budgets.

What is fixed fire fighting installation?

A fixed firefighting system is a fire suppression, control or extinguishing system for use as a fixed installation in a building to protect the whole or part of a building and/or the objects within.