FIRE CURTAINS
Commercial Fire Curtain Systems
Considerations for Fire Curtains
Within England and Wales all fire curtains must be compliant to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (in Scotland the equivalent is: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. This states that fire doors must be serviced every six (6) months to ensure they are in working condition and is mandatory. The servicing is to ensure suitability and safety in the event of an accident. The smoke curtain doesn’t descend to ground level i.e., ceiling to floor and is usually set above head height to prevent interference with the means of escape.
However, a fire curtain is usually installed to provide fire separation between two spaces like a mechanical door. Regulation 5 of the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 states that all powered doors must be inspected at regular intervals for testing, adjustment, lubrication, suitability and any repair or cleaning is undertaken. The owner of property must comply with certain laws to prevent the spread of smoke and flames. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states all emergency doors must be regularly serviced and that the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state and in efficient working order and in good repair.
We recommend that you undertake a risk assessment to identify and remove all fire risks where possible which would include existing fire curtains, smoke curtains and any other passive fire prevention equipment and if these items are required. Please contact us to arrange your FRA, Fire curtain and or smoke curtain service inspections.
When Would You Need Fire Curtains?
You would need fire curtains in the following situations:
- Open-plan layouts
- Where open spaces exist without compartmentalisation (e.g., shopping centres, lobbies, atria).
- Fire curtains act as temporary fire-rated barriers to maintain fire compartmentation.
- Protected means of escape
- Where escape routes (e.g., corridors or stairwells) need to be protected from fire/smoke.
- Fire curtains help ensure safe evacuation and prevent smoke ingress.
- Replacing fire doors or shutters
- In cases where traditional fire doors or shutters are impractical, like for architectural or accessibility reasons.
- To comply with Building Regulations
- Required by Approved Document B (Fire Safety) when fire compartmentation or protected routes are necessary.
- In heritage buildings
- Where installing permanent barriers (walls or doors) would affect the building’s historical integrity.
- Smoke control systems
- Some curtains are specifically designed as smoke curtains, used to channel or contain smoke during a fire.
Relevant British Standard for Fire Curtains
The primary standard is BS 8524-1:2013 Active fire curtain assemblies – Part 1: Specification
This standard covers:
- Design
- Performance
- Installation
- Testing of active fire curtain barrier assemblies
Also relevant:
- BS 8524-2:2013 – Code of practice for application, installation, and maintenance
- BS EN 1634-1 – Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door and shutter assemblies
- BS EN 12101-1 – For smoke curtains, under smoke and heat control systems
Maintenance Requirements
Under BS 8524-2:2013, and aligned with general fire safety obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, maintenance is critical.
- Minimum maintenance frequency
- At least once every 6 months by a competent person
- Additional checks:
- Weekly or monthly visual inspections (can be done by on-site facilities staff)
- Functional test to ensure the curtain deploys correctly (often integrated with fire alarm tests)
- What should be checked:
- Curtain descent speed and alignment
- Side guides and rollers
- Fabric integrity
- Motor function and battery backup
- Control system (signal from fire alarm)
Fire Curtain Summary
- When Needed Open-plan spaces, escape routes, replacing fire doors, smoke control
- Main British Standard BS 8524-1:2013 & BS 8524-2:2013
- Maintenance Frequency Every 6 months (minimum) by a competent person
- Additional Checks Weekly/monthly visual & functional checks by facilities/maintenance teams
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The Essential Importance Of Fire Risk Assessment
Fire risk assessment is fundamental to effective fire safety management, ensuring that fire hazards are identified, evaluated, and mitigated to protect people and property. While regulations may differ, fire risk assessments are legally required for most businesses and organisations. These assessments are not just for compliance but are essential for creating a safer environment, reducing fire risks, and potentially saving lives. Having SS Systems as your commercial partner will play a critical role in maintaining these safety standards by helping record and track fire safety activities and equipment maintenance over time.
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Externally Monitored to Ensure that we meet a High Standard of Service.
As members of the SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board), We maintain service records and monitor our success. The SSAIB, is a leading certification body for organisations providing security systems and services, fire detection alarm systems, and monitoring services. So, you can be confident that we strive to provide our clients with a reliable and professional level of service.
