You may ask someone for a Kleenex® when what you really need is a facial tissue. The tissue you receive might not be a Kleenex® product unless it is specifically labeled Kleenex®.
A similar thing can happen with Smoke Guard®. You may hear someone refer to a smoke curtain as a “Smoke Guard” or say an opening needs to be “Smoke Guarded.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean the product is manufactured by Smoke Guard®.
Smoke Guard® is a brand. While Smoke Guard® is the originator of the product category, smoke curtains, fire curtains, and fire and smoke curtains are product categories that can be manufactured by different companies. That difference is important when specifying or buying a new system and when identifying or servicing one already installed.
More Than 30 Years of Smoke Guard®
The Smoke Guard® story began in 1991, when Boise architect Tom Allen left his architectural partnership to develop a code-compliant solution for protecting elevator openings. The first Smoke Guard® system for elevator openings was installed in 1993, followed by a patent and code ruling in 1994.
Over the decades, Smoke Guard® expanded beyond elevator openings. Today, the company manufactures systems for elevator smoke containment and vertical, horizontal, perimeter, and other smoke and fire+smoke protection applications.
That history has made the Smoke Guard® name familiar in the building industry. But familiarity with the name doesn’t mean every smoke or fire+smoke curtain is a genuine Smoke Guard® product.
Know What You’re Buying
If a project calls for a Smoke Guard® system, confirm that the product being specified or purchased is manufactured by Smoke Guard®. It is only a Smoke Guard® smoke or fire+smoke curtain if it is sourced and installed by Smoke Guard® or its authorized representatives.
The Smoke Guard® name can also be used conversationally to describe the type of protection needed. A request to “Smoke Guard” an opening does not identify a manufacturer, model or specific system. When reviewing a proposed system, confirm that the manufacturer and product match the project requirements.
If it is not an official Smoke Guard® system, then it should be called one of the following from other manufacturers:
- smoke curtains
- fire curtains
- smoke protectives
- fire protectives
- smoke partitions/smoke barriers
- draft stops / draft curtains
- opening protectives
See “Smoke Guard” Online? Check the Source
You may see the Smoke Guard® name on distributor, installer, or other industry websites. If you are looking specifically for a Smoke Guard® product, compare the product information with what is listed on SmokeGuard.com.
The Smoke Guard® website provides product names, specifications, technical data, design details, distributor contact information, and other documentation for Smoke Guard® systems. If a product is represented as a Smoke Guard® system, the manufacturer and product information should match. Don’t be misled into selecting inferior or copied systems from other companies.
How Can You Tell if You Have a Smoke Guard® Curtain System?
For an installed system, the product itself can provide clues about the manufacturer. Smoke Guard® fire+smoke curtains typically display the Smoke Guard® logo on the curtain and control systems, providing a visible way to identify the manufacturer when the curtain is deployed.
Elevator smoke curtains are different and do not display the Smoke Guard® logo directly on the screen. Look for manufacturer and model information on system labels, components, housing, or controls. Building specifications, operation and maintenance manuals, testing documentation, and other project records may also help identify the system.
If you still aren’t sure, don’t identify the system based only on its appearance or what it has traditionally been called. Check the available product information or contact Smoke Guard® or an authorized Smoke Guard® distributor for additional assistance.
Know the Manufacturer Before Service
Knowing who manufactured the system becomes particularly important when it needs inspection, service, repair, or modernization, as required by code.
Smoke and fire+smoke curtains are important life safety systems, and products from different manufacturers can use different components, controls, and documentation. Inspection and service requirements may also vary by manufacturer and model.
This is especially important in older buildings, where a facility team may inherit a system called the building’s “Smoke Guard” for years without anyone confirming what it is.
Before ordering components or scheduling service, confirm the manufacturer and model so as to protect your building and its guests, staff, and tenants from improper servicing, testing, and inferior replacement parts.
Buying or Servicing a Smoke Guard®? Find Your Distributor
Smoke Guard® products are available and supported through an authorized distributor network.
If you are purchasing a Smoke Guard® system, an authorized distributor can help with product and application questions. If you already have a Smoke Guard® system installed, a distributor can help determine the appropriate resources for inspection, service, repair or modernization to meet current codes for your area/equipment.
Before you specify, buy, or service a smoke or fire+smoke curtain system, make sure you know which product you are working with.