How Do Smoke Curtains Work

Smoke curtains are a simple yet innovative solution for safely redirecting toxic smoke out of extraction points in a building. They have become an important part of fire mitigation and extinguishment measures due to their proven success in minimizing the damage and loss of life caused by fires.

Studies have shown that toxic smoke inhalation causes more fire-related deaths than the fires themselves, making it crucial to minimize the harmful effects of smoke accumulation and inhalation. Smoke curtains are practical and useful in battling smoke, but before delving into their effectiveness, it's important to understand what a smoke curtain is.

Smoke curtains serve as a barrier to smoke and protect buildings from the harmful effects of smoke. They prevent the movement of smoke and heat from one fire zone to another by either blocking it or channeling it towards smoke extraction points.

Smoke curtains offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to installation and deployment, as they can be installed in almost any area of a building and are suitable for virtually all types of building architecture. They are widely used in schools, offices, retail premises, hospitals, residential buildings, universities, airports, hotels, and more due to their inconspicuous appearance and minimal footprint.

Smoke curtains remain retracted in their hidden housings until they are triggered by an alarm, detector signal, or manual switch. Once activated, they descend into their operational position. Smoke curtains offer greater flexibility for designers and architects since they can encase open areas without the need for load-bearing walls, pillars, or other structural items in the design.

Additionally, they are easily hidden in the ceiling, preserving the building's aesthetics. Because of these properties, smoke curtains can be used for a variety of safety purposes.

Elevator smoke curtains are typically located in the ceiling above the elevator and serve a crucial role in fire safety. Their primary function is to create a barrier that seals off the elevator shaft, preventing smoke from spreading to other levels of the building. This containment helps to limit smoke damage to a single area or floor, providing more time for occupants to safely exit the building.

Vertical smoke curtains are typically installed in doorways, both large and small, to prevent the spread of smoke to other areas of the building. Their purpose is to keep smoke out of occupied spaces, allowing occupants to evacuate safely and firefighters to enter more easily. Similarly, horizontal smoke curtains are used to block smoke from spreading to other floors, either traveling upwards or downwards.

Draft smoke curtains are essential components of smoke control systems. They are installed strategically in a building to guide smoke from occupied areas towards designated vents or spaces. Smoke curtains play a crucial role in directing harmful smoke away from people and towards predetermined escape routes, reducing the likelihood of casualties due to smoke inhalation.

Open atriums in buildings can pose a significant risk in the event of a fire, as smoke can rapidly spread to other floors or accumulate in the atrium. Smoke curtains play a critical role in preventing the smoke from causing harm by guiding it towards designated vents or safe areas, particularly in the case of atriums. By controlling the smoke flow in this way, smoke curtains can help to prevent the buildup of smoke in the atrium and ensure that it is safely ventilated out of the building.

Smoke curtains offer several advantages that make them a popular choice for fire and smoke protection:

1. Discreet Design: Smoke curtains are hidden in the structure when not in use, maintaining the building's aesthetic appearance.
2. Easy Installation: Smoke curtains require minimal space and structural modifications for installation, making it a hassle-free process.
3. Tamper-Proof: The hidden nature of smoke curtains makes them inaccessible to occupants, preventing tampering and ensuring optimal performance.

These benefits make smoke curtains an effective and convenient solution for fire safety and smoke control.

Despite the numerous benefits of smoke curtains, it's important to note that they have some limitations which require additional fire and safety equipment to maximize protection. Although smoke curtains can manage smoke effectively, they are not designed to withstand direct flames for extended periods and can only handle temperatures up to around 1000ºF (600ºC). Therefore, fire curtains and other fire-extinguishing measures are necessary to address this issue. However, hybrid curtains can be installed to handle both smoke and fire at much higher temperatures.

Nevertheless, these limitations should not discourage the installation of smoke curtains as they offer a high level of protection, safety, and easy installation. The best approach is to tactically deploy and regularly maintain smoke curtains and other fire and safety equipment installed on your premises. For assistance in selecting the right smoke curtains for your needs or to learn more about enhancing fire and smoke safety, contact SG Solutions or visit our extensive blog.