Just one year ago, in early January 2025, one of the most destructive wildfire events in California history caused widespread destruction across Southern California, stopping short of Palisades Village, a three-story high-end mixed-use retail and residential development in Pacific Palisades. While the center avoided direct fire damage, it sustained limited impacts and minor damage that required extensive inspection and rehabilitation of various systems within the retail complex.
Now, as Palisades Village prepares for reopening, proactive inspections, testing, repairs, and reconditioning of the successfully deployed equipment were all completed in 2025 by factory-trained Smoke Guard technicians, which confirmed the performance of the fire+smoke curtain systems, supporting continued life-safety function and alignment with California code requirements following the wildfire event.
Why Review Fire+Smoke Curtain Systems After a Wildfire
Wildfires can expose buildings to smoke, heat, and airborne particulates that affect mechanical and electrical components without leaving visible damage. Even when a structure does not have direct fire damage, these conditions can interfere with system performance. For that reason, California agencies recommend post-event evaluation of building systems following wildfire activity, and guidance published by CAL FIRE supports this proactive inspection approach.
In multi-story buildings, both elevator hoistways and large openings adjacent to elevator areas can act as pathways for smoke movement, making coordinated fire+smoke containment and inspection of such systems an important focus following wildfire exposure.
Smoke Guard’s Fire+Smoke Curtain Systems at Palisades Village
At Palisades Village, fire+smoke curtain systems manufactured by Smoke Guard were installed to protect elevator door openings and a large adjacent opening near the elevator area. Together, these systems have proven themselves to successfully address both vertical and horizontal smoke movement as part of a coordinated smoke containment approach.
| System | Quantity & Location | Purpose | Key Performance Characteristics |
| M400 Elevator Smoke Curtain | Three units installed at elevator door openings | Limits smoke migration into the elevator hoistway | Designed for hoistway protection in accordance with International Building Code (IBC) Section 3006 and UL 1784; concealed until deployment; high-visibility curtain material to support occupant safety |
| M2100 Vertical Fire+Smoke Curtain | One unit installed at a large opening adjacent to the elevator area | Limits smoke movement through a wide adjacent opening | Protects openings that could allow smoke to bypass hoistway controls; provides up to three hours of fire endurance; reduces horizontal smoke movement near elevator zones |
These systems serve different functions but are designed to operate together. Integrated with the building’s fire alarm system, they deploy automatically to manage smoke movement across elevator shafts and adjacent floor areas.
Post-Wildfire Inspection, Repair, and Reopening Planning at Palisades Village
Following regional wildfire activity, factory-trained Smoke Guard technicians inspected and tested all installed smoke containment systems at Palisades Village. Each system underwent functional testing to confirm proper deployment and retraction. Where inspection identified wear or damage, components were repaired or replaced to restore regular operation.
Technicians also verified coordination with adjacent fire-rated doors and existing life-safety controls, consistent with California Building Code (CBC) requirements. Inspection practices aligned with fire+smoke protection guidance published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Inspection, repair, and reconditioning work was completed within a two- to three-week timeframe, with minimal disruption to other recovery-related repairs underway at the property. This allowed reopening planning to move forward without extended delays while confirming the performance of the fire and smoke curtain systems.
The work completed at Palisades Village reflects conditions seen across California, where even buildings that avoid direct flame damage during wildfires may require closer review of life-safety systems following exposure to ensure proper operation in the future and protection of the significant investment made for the buildings and the related systems.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The project included inspection, testing, repair, and reconditioning of the proven Smoke Guard M400 elevator smoke curtains installed at elevator door openings and one Smoke Guard M2100 vertical fire+smoke curtain protecting a large opening adjacent to the elevator area.
Wildfire smoke, heat, and airborne particulates can affect mechanical and electrical components without visible damage. Inspecting Smoke Guard M400 and M2100 systems helped confirm proper deployment, retraction, and coordination with existing life-safety features before reopening of the building complex.
Factory-trained Smoke Guard technicians performed functional testing, evaluated components exposed to wildfire conditions, repaired or replaced affected parts as needed, adjusted system operation, and confirmed that both the M400 and M2100 systems performed as intended within the building’s smoke containment strategy.