When designing a new building or retrofitting an older building to meet current codes, it’s important to understand that though smoke barriers and smoke partitions sound similar, they are unique installations that serve specific purposes.
Both barriers and partitions can be used to help stop the spread of smoke in the event of a fire, giving occupants time to exit while preventing potential smoke damage.
Smoke barriers and smoke partitions are critical elements of an effective smoke and fire mitigation strategy. By understanding what each of these installations specializes in and where they should be installed, you can make sure that your building is optimally protected from smoke.
Smoke Barriers
If a fire broke out on one side or floor of a building, a smoke
barrier would help prevent the smoke from crossing into the other side.
This can help contain the harmful particulates and give people more time
to exit safely. Smoke barriers are designed to compartmentalize
multiple, connected rooms and must run continuously through interstitial
areas. Smoke barriers, like the M3000 Horizontal Curtain from Smoke Guard, are often required to have a 1-hour fire resistance.
Smoke barriers must be sealed at all edges, regardless of positioning. For example, Smoke Guard’s M4000 Perimeter Curtain, pictured above, is able to seal a corner when deployed.
If some type of permeability is needed, such as an HVAC vent, then
baffles must be used on either side of the vent to stop smoke from
escaping via the conduit. The barrier can be made of any material, and
any doorways inside the barrier must be protected with a material that
is designed to resist flames for at least 20 minutes. The door itself
does not need to be fire-rated, only the materials.
Smoke Partitions
Smoke partitions are primarily used in corridor walls as a single
panel or curtain of deployable protection. To pass UL 1784, smoke
partitions are tested to 400F and higher. They need to extend from floor
to ceiling and must be fit tight against the above ceiling membrane to
prevent the passage of smoke. If there are any windows in the smoke
partition, they must also be sealed against smoke. Smoke partitions can
be made of any material, whether or not that material is flame
retardant.
If used on an opening, like this vertical deploying curtain,
then they must be self-closing or automatic closing to prevent smoke
from breaching the opening. They do not need to be fire-resistant, but
they can be if desired.
The purpose of a smoke partition is to enclose openings of a corridor
and prevent smoke from transferring between rooms. Smoke partitions can
also be installed in front of doors or elevators, which helps isolate
and contain specific rooms affected by fire.
The Best Solution for Fire and Smoke Protection
Since smoke barriers and smoke partitions can be installed in unique,
mutually exclusive areas of a building, they are often both necessary.
Smoke barriers may be required for larger, angled areas, while smoke
partitions are often used in hallways and elevator areas since they are
not required to be compartmentalized or to be used as barriers.
Experts at Smoke Guard have crafted a large selection of smoke curtains
that offer the protection of a smoke barrier with the flexible
installation and compartmentalized design of a smoke curtain. Properly
installed, they can effectively seal and compartmentalize openings, with
the curtain designed to deploy automatically, as needed.
The fire-rated M2500
Vertical Curtain (above) is shown creating a barrier across an
otherwise open atrium with staircase, shielding it from smoke and fire
spread on either side thanks to a 2-hour fire rating. Whether you need
to block a corridor or you need a large barrier to separate open spaces,
Smoke Guard has a product for every type of project and are experts in
the details.
Get the Right Protection for Your Building
Your building should have the most effective smoke barriers and smoke
partitions to help fully protect against the effects of an unexpected
fire.
With Smoke Guard, you can get the protection you need regardless of
room shape, opening size, or location. Whether you need partitions for
corridors, windows, doorways, or large gaps, Smoke Guard has a product
that will meet your needs.
Contact us today for tested, reliable, and specialized fire protection solutions for your building.