Protection Barriers with Flames: Enhancing Safety in Borders and Skyscrapers
Fire Curtain Barrier Systems: Enhancing Tall Building Safety
In the wake of several high-profile fires in Dubai and concerns about the safety of existing buildings, fire curtain barrier systems have emerged as a critical solution for boundary protection. These systems, developed by Our Company, are designed to prevent fire spread in tall buildings and enhance life safety measures.
Recent fires in notable buildings in Dubai, such as The Address Downtown, The Torch, and Tamweel tower, have highlighted the potential for external fire spread in tall buildings through non-fire-rated building facades. While a new Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice due to be introduced in the UAE in April 2016 is expected to address many of the issues relating to new buildings, there remain concerns about the safety of existing buildings.
The upcoming Code will place greater requirements on curtain walling and cladding products, introducing a comprehensive list of tests that must be conducted. buildings and systems to be independently tested, audited, and certified by approved third-party bodies. The Code is also expected to place new responsibilities on building owners to maintain life safety measures within their buildings. However, some commentators suggest that at least 20% of existing UAE building stock may be affected, making it challenging for some glazing facade systems to meet the environmental requirements.
Fire curtain barriers offer a practical solution for upgrading existing buildings retrospectively to improve life safety and for protecting new projects at design or construction. These systems consist of technologically advanced fire and smoke-resistant fabric barriers encased in a compact steel housing. When activated by an alarm or detector signal, these fire curtain barriers descend safely to their operational position, controlled by a fail-safe gravity system.
FireMaster Plus, one of Our Company's fire barrier systems, can be installed on windows to prevent fire entry from the outside, preventing the spread from one building to another or from the inside to the facade on the outside or to nearby buildings in close proximity. Another offering, ViiFire, provides compact headboxes up to 3m wide with a 3m drop, offering protection for openings, boundary protection, and cross-corridor separation. FireMaster offers integrity (E) for up to 120 minutes and 30 minutes of radiance (EW), and is available in unlimited widths and up to 8m drops.
Our Company Limited, with a long and successful history of producing fire and smoke curtain barrier systems, has installed boundary protection fire curtains in iconic buildings in London, such as Dover Street and The Leadenhall Building ("The Cheesegrater"). These fire curtains were used to protect an existing building where non-rated glazing was chosen to protect the notional boundary, but there were plans to extend the height of an opposite building.
Every fire curtain offered by Our Company is third-party accredited to BS, EN, and UL standards, including the new British Standard for fire curtains BS 8524 Parts 1 and 2. Our Company also has independent third-party accreditation for the installation, commissioning, and servicing of fire and smoke curtains.
Fire curtain barrier systems play a crucial role in tall building safety, offering benefits such as protection of escape routes, reduction of property damage, compliance with fire safety standards, and aesthetic flexibility. Fire curtains are ideal for open-plan areas, atriums, and lobbies, where traditional fire barriers may not be feasible. They are also used to protect stairwells and lift doors, critical areas for evacuation during a fire. Additionally, fire curtains help compartmentalize large areas, reducing the need for mechanical smoke evacuation systems.
In both the UAE and London, fire curtain barrier systems can be effectively integrated into existing buildings to enhance safety. These systems can be retrofitted into existing structures to improve fire compartmentation and protect occupants during emergencies. When implementing such systems, it's essential to ensure compliance with local regulations, aesthetically integrate the fire curtains into the architecture, and regularly inspect and maintain fire curtains to ensure they function correctly during emergencies.
- Fire curtain barrier systems, like FireMaster Plus and ViiFire from Our Company, are technological innovations designed to enhance fire safety in tall buildings, particularly in the context of existing buildings with non-rated glazing, such as some structures in Dubai.
- For buildings with aesthetic requirements and environmental challenges, technologically advanced fire curtain barrier systems, such as those offered by Our Company, provide a practical solution for upgrading safety measures without compromising the aesthetics of the building.
