When it comes to fire protection in buildings, fire curtains, fire shutters, and static fire barriers are three essential elements used to compartmentalise fire, prevent its spread, and ensure the safety of occupants. While they serve a similar purpose, each fire protection solution has distinct characteristics that make them suited for different applications. Understanding the differences can help you make an informeddecision when selecting the right product for your building.
What are fire curtains?
Fire curtains are flexible, fabric-based barriers that deploy automatically in the event of a fire. Typically installed in ceilings or walls, fire curtains are designed to contain smoke and heat, compartmentalising areas and preventing the spread of fire. When activated by fire alarms, the fire curtain descends, compartmentalising the building and containing the smoke and flames.
Key Features:
- Material: Woven fiberglass strands with
reinforcing stainless-steel wires, covered in flame-retardant polyurethane. - Deployment: Automatically drops down when triggered by fire detection systems.
- Flexibility: Can be used in various applications, including stairwells, open-plan offices, shopping centres, concession areas, and corridors.
- Space-saving: Ideal for spaces where a permanent fire-resistant wall would be impractical or aesthetically undesirable.
- Design Flexibility: Can be tailored to suit complex building layouts.
What are fire shutters?
Fire shutters are solid, rigid barriers designed to close off entrances, windows, and openings in fire-rated walls. Unlike fire curtains, which are flexible, fire shutters are typically made from steel and can be manually or automatically operated. They serve to contain fires within designated areas, blocking off rooms or sections from the spread of flames and smoke.
Key Features:
- Material: Made of steel, aluminium, or other solid fire resistant materials.
- Deployment: Can be manually or automatically triggered.
- Durability: Provides a more rigid solution compared to fire curtains, often used for protecting entry points, windows, or roll-up doors in warehouses or factories where aesthetics are not important.
- Functionality: Effective for closing off larger openings where a flexible solution like a fire curtain may not be appropriate.
- Aesthetic: More noticeable in terms of size and design and less flexible than fire curtains.
What are static Fire Barriers?
Static fire barriers are fixed, non-movable partitions that prevent the spread of fire in a building. Unlike fire curtains, which are retractable and can be deployed when necessary, static fire barriers remain in place at all times. These barriers are typically made from fire-resistant materials and are permanently installed in critical locations to protect high-risk areas.
Key Features:
- Material: Made from fire-resistant materials similar to
those used in fire curtains, such as woven or stitched fabrics like fibreglass, amorphous silica, or aramid. - Permanence: Unlike fire curtains, these barriers do not move or deploy but are part of the building’s infrastructure.
- Application: Used in areas where a permanent fire-resisting barrier is needed, such as loft areas, industrial warehouses, or high-risk areas like server rooms.
- Maintenance: Requires less maintenance, as there are no moving parts, making them a cost-effective and low-maintenance solution in some settings.
Summary of key differences
Conclusion
Choosing the right fire protection solution for your building depends on the unique needs of your space and the level of protection required. Fire curtains offer flexibility and discreet installation, fire shutters provide a more rigid solution for larger openings, and static fire barriers are ideal for permanent, high-risk fire protection.
If you’re unsure which fire protection solution is right for your building, contact our team of experts today for a consultation and tailored recommendation. Give one of the team a call: 0151 422 9111