Fire Curtains: Building Regulations
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When evaluating the compliance of fire curtains, it is important to consider the conflicting claims made by manufacturers. The guidance pertains specifically to the validation of product suitability through testing, which has been muddled by the cessation of certification under BS 8524.
Fire safety and protection have become increasingly integral to building design and specification. Fire curtains, when properly utilized in compliance with current regulations, provide numerous fire-engineered solutions while preserving fire compartmentation and the protection of escape routes.
Additionally, fire curtains can be used in a fire strategy to enable flexible compartmentation. There has been a growing trend among designers to use fire curtains to challenge traditional building layouts, facilitating open-plan and fluid spaces.
Legislation concerning construction products has undergone significant changes over the past decade. Since 1 July 2013, the Construction Products Regulations (CPR) have required construction products in the UK and Europe to be CE marked.
Previously, BS 8524-1 (Specification) and BS 8524-2 (Code of practice for application, installation, and maintenance) were the sole standards globally dedicated to active fire curtain barrier assemblies.
Under the mandate of the CPR, International Fire Consultants (IFC) and Warrington Fire provided third-party certification for BS 8524. However, in the past two years, they have ceased offering certification for new applications, and currently, no Notified Bodies are certifying new products tested to BS 8524. The final third-party certification for BS 8524
BS EN 16034's applicability is specific to fire and smoke curtain installations that function as pedestrian doorsets, primarily intended to provide safe access for individuals.
Guidance
BS 8524 is referenced in BS 9999:2017, the fire safety code of practice for building design, management, and usage.
BS 9999 mandates that fire curtains be tested according to BS 8524, although some are tested following BS EN 16034.
BS EN 16034 is harmonised and remains the sole harmonised standard for fire curtains when tested as pedestrian doorsets, not for other compartmentation, subdivision, or fire engineered design purposes.
For pedestrian doorset fire curtain performance tests, the following standards with valid third-party certification are applicable:
- Vertical fire curtains – BS EN 1603
- Concertina fire curtains – BS EN 16034
- Horizontal fire curtains – ISO 21524
BS EN 16034's scope is limited, relevant only to fire and smoke curtain installations serving as pedestrian doorsets, primarily for safe human access.
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has issued Technical Guidance Document – TGD 21 concerning the UKCA/CE marking of operable fabric curtains.
Note that BS EN 16034:2014 includes a national foreword stating:
"Users should note that fabric curtains tested to this standard are only applicable to fire door sets fire tests. This standard does not encompass their operational deployment speeds, initiation devices, or warning devices, etc., and should therefore adhere to BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2."
Designers are advised to consult Table 1 of the ASFP Black Book (Active Fire Curtains: Compartmentation and Protected Routes) to determine the end-use application and appropriate product type.
A1S Group endorses the ASFP's selection criteria for fire curtains to ensure the correct specification and installation of the fire curtain:
a) What is the mode of operation? Is to be used in a horizontal, vertical, or inclined orientation?
b) Is it for compartmentation or means of escape?
c) What fire resistance period is required?
d) What are the dimensions? (overall size)
e) Is it required to have a particular reaction to fire performance?
f) Is there a requirement for smoke sealing?
g) Does the curtain require performance smoke seals?
h) Is there a requirement for a limit for radiation?
i) Is there a permitted deflection zone?
j) How many motors are required?
Regarding Fire Curtains, only the full assembly as detailed in the pertinent supporting documents (such as fire or other test reports, third-party certification certificates, etc.) should be considered to deliver the necessary performance.
Figure 13 in the ASFP Black Book, as outlined in our guidance PDF, also offers a valuable reference for the classification and necessary attributes of fire curtains.
We believe that fire curtain products possessing valid third-party certification to BS 8524-1 continue to be valid past the withdrawal date of 9 June 2023, subject to:
No changes made to the design or manufacturing process since certification issue.
Manufacturer must continue to be ISO 9001 (or equivalent) accredited for fire and smoke curtain manufacture and evidence this.
Certification date current and set for a future expiration (many valid until 2025).
BS 8524 remains the sole product-specific test standard relevant to active fire curtains.
ASFP would like to clarify that BS EN16034 and BS 8524 are not conflicting standards, but complementary ones. It is advised that when compliance with BS EN16034:2014 is required, it should be supplemented with certification to BS8524-1 and BS8524-2.
Designers, specialists, and the responsible person specifying fire curtains should meticulously review the product documentation to ensure it is issued by a credible Notified Body, not the manufacturer. Hence, it is recommended that designers exercise due diligence and closely scrutinize the documentation.