Why architects need to understand fire and smoke curtains

21 Jul

In modern architecture, where innovation meets regulation, architects are expected to deliver more than visually compelling spaces. They must ensure those spaces are safe, compliant, and built to last. Among the most critical, yet under-discussed elements in achieving this, are fire and smoke curtains. These life-saving systems play a central role in passive fire protection and can mean the difference between effective fire containment and catastrophic spread.

At A1S Group, we deliver Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions tailored specifically for architects. Our fire and smoke curtain CPD is designed to equip specifiers with the knowledge they need to make informed design decisions, reduce compliance risk, and ultimately protect lives.

Why Fire and Smoke Curtains Matter

Open-plan design, large atria, and complex multi-use buildings have become standard features of modern architecture. While these spaces enhance user experience and allow for creativity in design, they also present significant challenges in fire safety.

Fire and smoke curtains offer an elegant, high-performance solution. When deployed, they create temporary barriers that compartmentalise spaces, contain smoke and fire, and support safe evacuation routes. Crucially, they help buildings meet the demands of Approved Document B and BS 9999, as well as BS 8524 (for active fire curtain assemblies) and EN 12101-1 (for smoke control systems).

These systems are not just add-ons, they are essential for buildings that need to maintain open aesthetics without compromising fire protection. Yet, despite their importance, many architects are not fully aware of how these curtains work, where they are most effective, and how to specify them correctly.

The Risks of Getting it Wrong

Misunderstanding or overlooking fire and smoke curtains can lead to major design issues, costly changes late in a project, or non-compliance with building regulations. In some cases, poor specification can invalidate a building’s fire strategy altogether.

By sitting our CPD, architects can avoid these pitfalls with up-to-date technical knowledge and real-world application insights.

What You’ll Learn in the A1S Group CPD

Our CPD sessions are concise, informative, and grounded in practical application. Topics covered include:

● The role of fire and smoke curtains in modern building design.

● Overview of relevant legislation and standards.

● System types, deployment methods, and control options.

● Key factors in specification and integration into the design process.

● Case studies demonstrating correct use of curtain systems.

We also highlight product innovations and how these systems can be seamlessly incorporated into contemporary architecture without disrupting the visual or structural intent of a design.

Responsibly Enhancing Design Freedom

One of the major benefits architects discover through our CPD is how fire and smoke curtains can enable design freedom, rather than restrict it. For example, architects can create vast open lobbies, uninterrupted voids, or connected floor levels without breaching fire compartmentation rules; as long as appropriate curtains are specified and integrated correctly.

This flexibility makes curtains especially valuable in high-profile developments such as shopping centres, airports, hospitals, commercial offices, and mixed-use spaces where architectural ambition and public safety must go hand in hand.

For architects who want to stay at the forefront of compliant, future-ready design, this CPD delivers essential insight in under an hour.