Friday 13 October 2017

Why Do You Install Fireproof Curtains at Commercial Space?



Fire safety in commercial spaces,  whilst being of the ultimate importance, is something that unfortunately not all businesses uphold. But the consequences of negligence can lead to loss of goods, damage to property or in the worst cases, loss of life.  Fireproof Curtains are a vital and popular technology to escape such disasters in commercial units in the UK.
What is a Fire Curtain?
An automatically operated fire curtain is designed to prevent as well as control the movement of fire and heat around the building. It can be achieved by replacing non-load bearing walls which act as a compartment area to ensure safe evacuation from the building.
Fireproof curtains can offer business owners a host of safety benefits. They can protect a commercial building and its assets as well as the inhabitants, staff and visitors from deadly heat and toxic smoke emissions. These curtains are designed to be highly resistant and have a good aesthetic impact on a building too.

Previously, architects and designers faced a great difficulty in reconciling open-plan buildings with safety regulations. Regulations require that all properties must comprise of a clear way of escape and a means to restrict smoke and fire in order to control its spread. Because the open plan design consists of the removal of walls that ordinarily work as the fire and smoke barriers, an alternative replacement is needed.
It’s proved to be a growing problem as commercial open plan spaces play an integral part in the functioning of many buildings like museums, theatres and offices. This is where a fire curtain comes in.
Where can a Fire Curtain be Used?
Fireproof curtains are considered as far lighter than traditional fire safety products.  As discussed above, this allows them to ensure great design independence to architects.  Consequently, they are a suitable option for a great range of applications and spaces in a variety of buildings.
Due to their ability to separate large open spaces and close openings in corridors and walls, you can protect entrances by giving them a safe and clear means of escape. For this reason,  Fireproof Curtains are considered as the perfect safety solution for fire in commercial premises.
Operation
Before a fire curtain meets the current fire safety legislation, Fire Curtains should be protected against the effects of power failures and short circuits. In the majority of fire barrier systems, they are available with an electro-mechanical fail-safe system.  They are triggered by activation of the fire alarm.
Fireproof curtains offer a highly useful solution for their lightweight, agile and robust nature. They are able to compartmentalize the working space easily and provide acceptable boundary protection while remaining hidden discreetly. These curtains remain out of sight in the ceiling and above a window - where they are automatically deployed in the event of a fire.
Conclusion -The fireproof curtains at FireRatedShutter.co.uk are designed to protect your commercial spaces in the UK with an aim of minimizing any smoke migration in the event of a fire and to control the spread of the flames.
If you would like to discuss what fire curtain would suit your commercial space or you need a more bespoke solution to your commercial space and assets, please visit our website at http://www.fireratedshutter.co.uk/
to speak to one of our experienced staff members.

Thursday 31 August 2017

Automated fire rated curtains

A fire disaster can strike any property at any time- be it commercial or residential.  Unfortunately, it can cause irreparable damage.  It can’t be denied that fire safety in all types of buildings is of paramount importance.
In the event of a fire, you may not think a curtain to be an effective choice for protection against loss of life and structural damage. But, on the contrary, fire rated curtains are the ideal solution that can fit a bespoke design and suit the interior aesthetic of a building.
When it comes to saving lives and possessions, having a proven, well-tried and tested solution is really crucial.  Fire extinguishers and sprinklers may be perfect for some buildings. But they might not be able to be retrofitted in any existing building.
Automated fire rated curtains play a key role, acting as the safety barrier between the blaze and escape route. They enable people trapped inside to evacuate whilst fighting against the fire disaster safely.
FireCurtains1-Westwood-300x225
What are Fire Curtains –
Fire curtains are fire-resistant material sheets that are automatically released over the entrances and other access points to delay or prevent fire damage. They obstruct fire flames and smoke, offering occupants the ultimate ability to seal off rooms and evacuate with more time to spare.  
Fire curtains are considered as an affordable and flexible solution for fire damage protection. They offer a number of practical benefits, making them more appealing to both home and business owners:
  • Protection against fire and smoke
  • Visually inconspicuous
  • Extend building evacuation time
  • Reduce loss of life and property damage
  • Provide emergency service time to respond
  • Easy to install, operate and maintain
  • Custom-built to your specification
  • Slim, and lightweight
  • Sealed to prevent the fire passage
  • Immediate operation with battery backup
Operations of Fire Curtains –
– Fire curtains include automatic activation, they are deployed on receiving the signal from a smoke or fire detector.
– Comprising of a fail-safe option, these curtains fall to a predetermined level under the influence of gravitational force.
– The curtain fabric forms a seal to resist powerful pressures produced by the fire.
– The control panels of fire curtains are easy to operate and maintain. They usually feature obstruction sensors, audio or visual warnings and retract buttons. The features are operated with a battery backup.
– Building designers often require fire curtain implementation in order to secure a building.
– Using curtains to create compartments is instrumentals in helping ventilators to extract the buoyant, hot smokes as it rises.
– Usually smoke is free to circulate – stands as a danger to those trying to escape from the building. But fire rated curtains will cool off and let the smoke return to ground levels.
gallery1
Conclusion –
Starting from the ages to the modern world, the most inescapable disaster wielding more power equally over everyone is fire.  When the fire takes a backseat, it’s the smoke – not the fire alone that claims the most lives. It’s nearly impossible to endure the noxious gases emitted, building up into a super-heated dense blanket of fumes.
Fire management is a risky affair but can be achieved with small measures.  Don’t panic. The installation of standard fire rated curtains available at FireRatedShutter.co.uk by Westwood Security Shutters Ltd.  We manufacture, supply and install fire shutters, fire and smoke curtains, and automatic fire door with 4-hour fire resistance, certified to BSEN 1634-1 by Exova Fire and Safety.
For more information about our products, please visit our website at www.fireratedshutter.co.uk/.