Smoke Curtains
Smoke management barriers that channel smoke for effective extraction and protect escape routes during building evacuation.
Purpose & Scenarios
Smoke curtains are passive or active barriers designed to manage smoke movement within buildings, creating smoke-free zones and enabling effective smoke extraction.
In a fire event, smoke is often more dangerous than flames—reducing visibility, impairing breathing, and hindering evacuation. Smoke curtains work as part of an engineered smoke control system to contain smoke in designated reservoirs, channel it to extraction points, and maintain tenable conditions in escape routes.
FUEGUARD smoke curtains are manufactured to EN 12101-1 specifications and integrate with both natural and mechanical smoke ventilation strategies.
Benefits vs Alternatives
Smoke curtains offer significant advantages over traditional smoke barriers.
vs. Fixed Smoke Barriers
- Retract fully when not activated—no permanent visual obstruction
- Enable open-plan designs that fixed barriers would prevent
- Easier retrofitting in existing buildings
- Lower structural requirements than permanent construction
vs. Smoke Reservoir Depth
- Create effective smoke reservoirs without excessive ceiling height
- Allow more usable floor space in buildings
- Enable compliance in spaces where reservoir depth is limited
- Reduce overall building height requirements
Common Applications
Atrium Buildings
Form smoke reservoirs at the top of atriums and prevent smoke spread to connected floor levels.
Shopping Centres
Channel smoke away from mall concourses and retail units during evacuation.
Transport Terminals
Protect concourses, departure lounges, and platforms with large open volumes.
Entertainment Venues
Enable smoke control in theatres, cinemas, and performance spaces without obstructing sightlines.
Open-Plan Offices
Divide large floor plates into smoke zones without permanent partitions.
Healthcare Facilities
Protect corridors and ward areas where horizontal evacuation strategies require smoke separation.
Design & Deployment Methods
FUEGUARD smoke curtains are available in multiple configurations to suit different building requirements and smoke control strategies.
Fixed Smoke Curtains
Permanent installations that provide continuous smoke separation. Suitable where the smoke barrier is required at all times and aesthetic impact is acceptable.
Active Smoke Curtains
Deploy automatically from a concealed headbox when triggered by fire detection systems. Remain invisible during normal building operation.
Channelling Screens
Vertical barriers that extend down from ceiling level to channel smoke horizontally toward extraction points.
Reservoir Screens
Perimeter barriers that form contained smoke reservoirs, maintaining smoke layer depth for effective natural or mechanical extraction.
Safety & Certification
FUEGUARD smoke curtains comply with European standards for smoke control equipment.
EN 12101-1
Smoke and heat control systems—specifications for smoke barriers. The primary standard defining requirements for smoke curtain products.
CE Marking
Declaration of conformity with EU requirements, enabling specification and installation across European jurisdictions.
Classification Criteria
Smoke curtain performance is classified according to EN 12101-1 based on:
- D Class – Drop time (deployment speed)
- DH Class – Maximum temperature withstand capability
- S Class – Smoke leakage rate
- B Class – Barrier classification (fixed or active)
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Maximum Width | Single drop: up to 12m (larger spans with multiple drops) |
| Maximum Drop | Project-specific—contact for requirements |
| Fabric Material | Glass fibre or silicone-coated glass fibre |
| Temperature Rating | DH 300 / DH 600 classifications available |
| Deployment Speed | D30 or D60 classifications—30 or 60 seconds |
| Power Supply | 230V AC with battery backup |
| Control Interface | Fire alarm, BMS, manual override |
Note: Specifications vary by model and project requirements. Contact our technical team for detailed specifications.
Specify Smoke Curtains for Your Project
Contact our technical team for product selection, smoke control strategy advice, and project-specific quotations.
Request an Enquiry