Fire curtains increasingly present in complex buildings

The increasing role of fire curtains in modern buildings has been recognised in the latest edition of BS 9999: 2017; Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings. This gives recommendations and guidance on the design, management and use of buildings to achieve reasonable standards of fire safety for all people in and around them. 

It also provides guidance on the on-going management of fire safety within a building throughout its entire life cycle, including guidance for designers to ensure that the overall design of a building assists and enhances the management of fire safety.

The new standard outlines recommendations for the use of active fire curtains in protecting means of escape and as part of a smoke control strategy within complex buildings such as shopping complexes. In addition to providing recommendations for the design of such systems, the new standard recommends that fire curtains should be specified, tested and installed in accordance with BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2; Code of practice for application, installation and maintenance respectively.

For more information, visit www.coopersfire.com