The Flameshield EW120(Sa) Fire Curtain – Market Leading Fire Performance from the A1S Group

When you consider its permissible parameters, smoke testing, integrity and of course market leading radiation control, is the Flameshield EW120 (Sa) from the A1S Group the UK’s leading performance fire curtain? We think definitively yes. Certainly, with the life critical safety benefits of higher radiation control, we thought a thorough comparison between the UK’s leading products was more than merited. So we decided to take the Flameshield EW120 Sa for a “test drive” against other fire curtain manufacturer’s leading radiation performance single vertical curtains. The problem is only one other UK manufacturer appears to have completed the required test run AND responsibly published data and parameters in the public domain. Our view is that this transparency is fundamental in allowing fire professionals to make informed and sometimes life critical safety calculations.

Of course, both products have been fire tested by Warrington. They are tested in accordance with the “pass/fail annexes of BS 8524-1”, so as well as the fire test, response speed, impact testing, elevated motor testing, reliability and durability and testing of ancillaries are passed. Having completed the test run, the Flameshield EW120 is pending third party certification from an alternative scheme to IFC’s SDI 11-02 (8524-1 which is withdrawn) to comply with third party specification requirements when required.

It is the radiation performance from the actual fire testing where the Flameshield EW120 really starts to accelerate away. It is important to understand, whilst fire test documents  must state radiation data, radiation performance diminishes as the curtain size increases beyond the original tested size so additional testing and assessment is required.

Beyond the Flameshield EW120 from the A1S Group, there appear to be no alternative published  sizes for EW 120 – obviously because radiation levels breached 15kw/m2 well before 120 minutes. (Fact checked as of 08/09/2022) The only current and comparative data shows maximum published parameters for EW 90 at 2000mm  x 7000mm  or 3000mm  x 3000mm, or 10000mm x 2000mm. So, the reality is no other company  can legitimately manufacture a fire curtain to 3500 x 2200 for even EW90 let alone EW120.

Because the Flameshield EW120 only reached 10.7kw/m2 after 120 minutes – so nowhere near the limit of 15kw/m2, the sizes listed below are not just market leading, they create significantly improved tenability.  

The importance is, this kind of radiation differential could potentially save occupant and building user lives, provide substantially more tenable environments for emergency services, and dramatically reduce thermal degradation of building fabrics.

There are many fire curtain applications where it is vital to assess the ability of “a separating element”, when exposed to fire on one side, to restrict the radiation on the “unexposed” side. The purpose of this blog is not to explain where and why there is a requirement for radiation control, that is the province of qualified fire strategists; rather it is designed to highlight the comparative data as published by the two leading radiation performance product manufacturers in the UK.

The above data is based on our EW120 fire test originally carried out on 01/01/2018. To reiterate, because tested sizes are approximately  2400mm wide by 2600mm high, (dictated by the size of Warrington’s test furnace) to compliantly manufacture and install larger products requires further test evidence. A small-scale test (Warrington reference 504026) was subsequently carried out as was a  smoke leakage test Warrington reference WYC 504211), allowing Warrington to produce an Extended Size Assessment to include permissible substrates including steel and importantly permissible increased parameters for integrity, radiation, and smoke. Our Extended Size Assessment is Warrington reference  520457. The document cites the methodology under BS EN 15254-4:2018 and the calculations required to determine radiation intensity at larger sizes. We have published the results in matrix form below.

The above matrix describes radiation performance to higher levels and significantly larger parameters than anything else available (current as of 01/09/2022) in the UK; and because smoke seals were burnt during Flameshield fire testing our extended report cites, use of such seals at the published extended sizes to comply with the requirements of BS EN 1634-3. As a company we are getting significant and increasing interest from the wider fire community around the Flameshield EW120 (Sa). Specifications and drawings of this product are readily available for architects, fire strategists, design managers, quantity surveyors and Building Control at: https://firecurtain.co.uk/

For any other questions or comments on the Flameshield EW120(Sa) please contact

Our Sales Team on 01204 383839 or email sales@a1sgroup.com