28 Oct 2019
2019 Fire Protection Company of the Year
We are proud to announce that we have been awarded this year’s Harry Marryatt award for Fire Protection Company of the Year! Thank you for all of your support and we would like to congratulate all other finalists for their hard work in such a vital industry.
This year marks the 4th annual Fire Industry Awards presented by FPA Australia. These awards help to illustrate the achievements of those who are leading the way in fire protection and innovating the latest and greatest fire safety solutions.
Fire Protection Association Australia (FPA Australia) has a proud history of excellence dating back to the founding of the Association. The Australian Fire Protection Association (AFPA) was founded in 1960 by Mr Harry W Marryatt who was tasked by his employer, Wormald, to create an independent fire protection organisation in order to pursue the interests of its members in the public arena. This has led to what we now know to be the FPAA. The FPAA aim to ensure all structures are safe from fire, which is an ever-growing threat.
This year has been filled with growth, development and multiple world and Australia firsts. These advancements have seen us move into a new significantly larger location, allowing us to manufacture more Australian made solutions, reducing lead time and ensuring quality. 2019 has seen us work on some of our most illustrious projects to date such as the new UTS Central, Collins Arch – 477 Collins Street, 405 Bourke Street, Quay Quarter Tower and many more.
Our extensive research and development throughout 2019 has seen the development and introduction of multiple brand new fire safety systems. This year we have introduced our Fire Resistant Glass range of solutions by AluFlam, allowing us to provide Australia’s first aluminium framed, tested fire resistant glass solution. We have also introduced our range of bushfire solutions including the only shutter to be tested to AS1530.8.2-2018. We introduced the new FireMaster Cleanroom which is the only fire curtain in the world designed to be used in a cleanroom environment. And finally the new Res-Q window which allows vision through fire curtains assisting in locating a fire within a building allowing first respondents to work more efficiently, lowering the risk of injury.
Learn More
If you wish to obtain information regarding our fire engineered solutions please click on the products page for more information. Alternatively you can contact us directly at (02) 9526 3100, or email us at sales@greenefire.com.au.
7 Mar 2019
6 Benefits Of Fire Resistant Glazing And Aluminium Framing
Many believe that in order to create a truly fire safe product, you need to utilize the heaviest and most dense materials. This belief leads to solutions that are effective when a fire occurs however damage the comfortability of your home or building when there is not a fire. The use of materials such as steel and stainless steel, whilst effective, are highly costly, lack thermal performance and do not offer a wide range of design options.
A solution to this issue is the new Aluminium framed fire resistant glazing solutions provided by GreeneFire. By utilizing AluFlam’s state of the art insulated aluminium framing, GreeneFire are able to create the same level of fire resistant performance without hindering the performance and comfortability of your home.
Lets see just how aluminium framing can be the most effective solution for fire resistant glazing issues, with
5. Carbon footprint
It is of growing importance that we ensure we minimise our carbon footprint as best we can. This requires us to use sustainable materials and focus on a passive design when designing a home or building. Aluminium has one of the highest recycling rates of any metal and is an environmentally sustainable material (Recycling aluminium requires only 5% of the initial energy consumed to create it).
The DEWHA. 2008 states that Australian households contribute to 20% of Australia’s green house emissions. It also states that on average 46% of total energy usage within homes is attributed to heating and lighting. By managing the heating and lighting of your home through the use of natural methods, you will greatly reduce your energy expenditure and carbon footprint. Aluminium framing’s strong thermal regulation reduces the need for many applications such as air-conditioners and heaters. Furthermore, the natural lighting that our glazing solutions provide allows for less consistent use of artificial lighting, reducing your energy output and carbon footprint.
These factors make our aluminium framing completely self-reliant requiring virtually no maintenance. As per AS1851 a simple inspection is all that is required.
If you wish to learn more about how we can help you find a solution for your glazing issues, visit out website at www.greenefire.com.au or you can call us at (02) 9526 3100.
Our top 6 benefits of using aluminium framing
1. Thermal performance
Many fire resistant windows are created from heavy, dense steels causing a lack of thermal performance and temperature regulation. Aluminium provides strong insulation to limit heat loss and the entry of cold draughts. This enhances the comfortability of your home and reduces the requirement for air-conditioning or heating. Aluminium is not normally known for its fire resistant properties. However, by utilizing an air-rated cement core, the framing can withstand heats well beyond its normal limits.2. Energy efficiency
By enhancing temperature control, you are not required to use things such as air conditioning and heating as often. Furthermore by increasing natural lighting, you are not required to use artificial lighting as often. This greatly increases your energy efficiency and the performance of your home. By utilizing the thermal and lighting benefits of aluminium not only can it create a more comfortable home or building, but it also helps to shave unnecessary dollars off your energy bills.
3. Save Costs
Many people only consider material costs when specifying fire resistant glazing, most do not consider installation costs and transportation costs. Often steel framing is much heavier and more expensive and due to its immense weight, installation and shipping costs will be much higher as more labor, and equipment may be required. Aluminium framing is much lighter and made from much more sustainable materials making it a more cost-effective material. Furthermore, due to its lighter weight and greater flexibility, installation costs will be much lower as less labor, and equipment is required.SMOKE LEAKAGE
As there is no specific Australian design guidance for Smoke Curtains, designers should consult the European Standard EN12101-1:2005 – Smoke and heat control systems – Part 1: Specification for smoke barriers. This standard provides everything from performance requirements to evaluation of conformity and is a required starting point for all designers using smoke curtains. EN12101-1 also specifies the maximum acceptable amount of smoke leakage at the edge of a smoke curtain to ensure that any opening allows only minimal amounts of smoke to pass through. Whilst the designer can specify to minimise gaps down to 0mm, maximum permissible gaps between a wall and smoke curtains are based on the height of the curtain and can be as follows:
6. Virtually No Maintenance
Aluminium has many benefits that other materials do not. These include:- Naturally corrosion resistant
- Resistant to rusting
- Resistant to weathering under a range of harsh environmental conditions
- Does not swell
- Does not crack
- Does not split
- Does not warp over time
3 Jun 2019
Creating Space with Passive Fire Protection
Large open spaces are a desired feature of any building within today’s design scope. However, open plan designs are often challenging featuring numerous safety issues. Open rooms often involve the removal of non-load bearing walls which often act as a fire barrier which compartmentalizes a room or corridor.
The removal of such a wall means there is no longer a barrier in place to stop, slow or prevent the spread of a fire or accompanying toxic smoke. Consequently, designers and architects have difficulty reconciling open space plans with fire safety regulations. Current regulations state that all properties must not only provide occupants with a clear and effective means of escape but also where required, provide a way of restricting a fire in order to contain the spread.
This is proving a problem: Open space designs are necessary for the functionality of many public and commercial spaces and rising in popularity in many domestic settings.
How can this issue be resolved?
Fire Curtains and smoke curtains are solutions which can be used as they are able to compartmentalize a room, corridor or space and offer reliable boundary protection. This has allowed designers to replace non-loadbearing fire walls and doors, fire doors, fire rated glazing, and sprinklers to achieve modern and safe open plan environments. Fire curtains and smoke curtains are, as their names suggest, curtains that prevent the damage and threat from heat and smoke in the event of a fire. The role of a fire curtain is to segregate a fire in a building or large room, allowing successful evacuation of the space. This makes them an ideal solution for public properties that feature large, open rooms. The curtain is hidden within a small headbox which can be designed into a structure and hidden from view. Alternatively it can be retrofit into a building either face fixed to a structure or hidden in the current structure (assuming space is available). The curtain will remain retracted within its head box until it is automatically activated by the fire alarm signal. Once activated it will completely close the opening, creating a fire and smoke compartment. Deployment is by gravity at a controlled speed of 0.06 – 0.15m/s. In the case of a power failure the curtain will automatically deploy, ensuring that compartmentation will be guaranteed in any scenario.Forms of Fire curtain systems.
There are various forms of fire curtains available, each with unique capabilities. We provide standard vertical fire curtains, horizontal fire curtains, concertina fire curtains, and compact fire curtains.
The most common fire curtain we provide is our FireMaster vertical fire curtain. This system can come as insulated and non-insulated. It is primarily used to replace non-load baring walls and provide fire separation between rooms. A good example of this would be our ‘The Hub, Martin Place‘ project. this project utilised multiple fire curtains to create an open office space. The curtains were used to separate spaces ensuring escape paths were not at risk of fire spread.
Our FireMaster Horizontal fire curtain can be provided with insulated and non-insulated options. It is primarily used as a solution preventing fire spread between levels. 1 horizontal curtain can replace the need for multiple vertical curtains. An example of this solution in action would be our project at ‘Lend Lease, Barangaroo Tower 3’. The designer of the building wanted voids on levels 11 and 18, however this was required to have fire separation. Horizontal curtains were used to allow these voids to be created.
Our FireMaster Concertina is the Rolls Royce of our fire curtain systems. This system utilises a pleated curtain, based off the design of the concertina instrument. This design allows the curtain to be made into any shape that is required, allowing for a guide-less fire suppression system. An example of this system in action is our ‘oil search’ project. This project required protection surrounding a circular inter-tenancy staircase. Our concertina was design in circular shape with 18 sides, completely sealing the opening.
Our ViiFire range of products are compact fire curtains which can be provided as insulated or non-insulated solutions. These systems come as plug and play systems which can be easily retro fit to any structure. These solutions are primarily used in boundary protection, fire separation for elevators, and many more. An example of our ViiFire system would be our ‘Juntion 24, Victoria’ Project. This project required boundary protection due to its close proximity to the property boundary. ViiFire systems were used on all external openings, satisfying the requirement for a -/60/- fire rating.
To learn more about how our solutions can be your solution to having a wide open space, visit our product pages for more in depth information on our range of fire and smoke curtains. Alternatively you can read our white paper ‘optimizing passive design‘ for another look at how passive design is the future of design.
28 May 2019
How Can Bim Modeling Improve Your Development?
What is BIM?
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a process which is highly collaborative allowing multiple parties to coordinate the planning, design and construction of a building. This form of collaboration is most commonly used in Architecture, Engineering and Construction. BIM utilizes realistic 3D objects to create high quality 3D models which can be viewed by all stakeholders. There are many misconceptions surrounding BIM modeling. Many believe that this system is only used by architects in the design of a building, this however is not the case. BIM software has gone beyond traditional 3D CAD modeling. BIM models utilize objects which are intelligent, have geometry and store data. If any object is changed, the BIM software updates the model illustrating the changes and providing data on how the change impacts the project. This software develops a model which remains consistent throughout the development of a building and creates a collaborative environment in which architects, engineers, designers, project managers, etc. can work in conjunction with one another. This information is shared through a mutually accessible online portal known as a common data environment, with the collected information being referred to as information models. These information models can be used at any stage of a building’s lifecycle, including future renovations.What are the BIM levels
As defined by Trimble Building, there are multiple BIM levels in which you can incorporate this modeling software into the development of your building. These levels range from level 0 to level 3 with future growth up to level 6D. These levels are differentiated based on how effectively the information of a project is being shared throughout the entire process.Level 0
Level 0 BIM refers to a complete lack of collaboration. This level includes the use of 2D CAD and working with drawings/digital prints. Most developments have exceeded this level, however there are some instances in which these systems are still in use.Level 1
Level 1 involves the use of 3D CAD for concept work, however, utilizes 2D for drafting production information and other documentation. This level incorporates data sharing via a common data environment which is usually managed by the contractor. Many firms are at a Level 1 BIM, which doesn’t involve great collaboration with each stakeholder publishing and managing their own data.Level 2 BIM
Level 2 BIM begins to develop a collaborative environment. This level involves all stakeholders utilizing 3D CAD models however sometimes not the same model. Collaboration is further enhanced by sharing data through a common file format, for example Industry Foundation Class (IFC).Level 3 BIM
This level is currently the most collaborative form of modeling in building development. This level utilizes a singular shared model which is used by all stakeholders allowing for greater communication between parties and reducing faults and miscommunications.What are the Key Benefits of BIM modeling?
Prior to the introduction of BIM many projects were seeing negative results due to poor communication and inefficient construction. This led to roughly 80% of projects going over budget and jobs taking an average of 20% longer than scheduled. BIM modeling allows for a collaborative environment in which all stakeholders are involved in 100% of the development of a structure. This allows for greater information sharing and the removal of miscommunications. By working on 1 shared model, separate stakeholders can create designs which incorporates the requirements of various components. This lowers human error significantly and ensure that specific components of a development are done on time and in the correct way. Through greater awareness of what is required to perform all components of construction, costs can also be more effectively managed.We support BIM modeling!
To ensure we are up to date with current technology trends, our partners at coopers fire have developed BIM files for our key fire curtain products. To download these files, please visit the desired product page. As our products allow for greater design freedom and larger more spacious areas, you will be able to create design models which incorporates our solution into your design. This will provide you with greater details on the freedom of design which you have allowing you to create spaces without being restricted. For further reading on the subject, visit the page below. S, Lorek.(2018). What Is BIM (Building Information Modeling). https://constructible.trimble.com/construction-industry/what-is-bim-building-information-modeling. 29/05/2019.
7 May 2019
How Can Microlouvre Reduce Stress And Increase Productivity?
At this point in time there are many distractions preventing us from completing our work. With the introduction of smart phones and the rapid growth of social media, it has never been easier to procrastinate. However, less known factors such as lighting and temperature often impact productivity and have much more difficult solutions as opposed to logging off and putting your phone away. We at Greene Fire have focused on developing a simple, cost effective solution to this problem.
how does temperature affect productivity?
One of the leading factors impacting productivity is not what you would expect. Temperature has been found to drastically impact productivity levels. A study performed in 2002 measured the productivity of a call center and found that work speed reduced by 15% when the temperature raised from 24.8° C to 26° C.how does light affect productivity?
Lighting in the workplace has been discovered to significantly alter the work rate and productivity of workers. Apart from its physical effect on workers, there are also psychological effects that can affect the productivity of a worker. Mirjam Munch (2011) conducted a study testing the impacts artificial lighting has on productivity levels as opposed to natural lighting. It was found that subjects who were exposed to artificial light were significantly less productive and were found to be less capable of performing cognitive tasks (problem solving). They were also found to have higher levels of sleepiness as the day progressed causing a loss of attention. Not only is there an impact at the office but there is a strong relationship between workplace daylight exposure and office workers’ circadian rhythms impacting their sleep, activity and quality of life.
what are circadian rhythms?
Circadian rhythms are the biological, mental and behavioural rhythms that follow a 24-hour cycle (your body clock). They are produced by various factors, most notably light. Light is used as an ‘on’ or ‘off’ switch dictating your sleep cycle, hormone release, attentiveness and cognitive functioning. Disruptions of circadian rhythms is directly linked to sleep disorders, obesity, diabetes and depression.how do we maximize our productivity?
Given what has been mentioned, in order to maximize productivity, you need to have a strong source of natural lighting and you need to have a comfortable temperature in the office. But how is this achieved? Letting in too much natural light can make the office hotter and less productive, letting in no natural light will impact workers mentally becoming negative and less productive. Unfortunately air-conditioning cannot provide the answer to this.then what is the answer?
MicroLouvre Solar Shading Screens shade 100% of all direct sun when it is at its hottest stopping the heat before it reaches the window. This screen provides 80% open area ensuring that a comfortable amount of natural light passes through whilst blocking 92% of the heat. This maintains temperatures at a desired level whilst also eliminating glare and saving energy. MicroLouvre fabric is made from miniature woven bronze louvres, only two times thicker than a human hair, angled for optimum sun control, glare and light. It is easily and inconspicuously installed externally on buildings, in lighting units, display cabinets and many other applications. This system allows you to maximise natural lighting, and maintain temperatures, ensuring that the happiness and
17 Aug 2021
Introducing Aluflam Australia
Greene Fire, a specialist in fire protection products for buildings and construction, announces the opening of its aluminium fire rated glass doors and windows manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Australia. Greene Fire manufacture Aluflam products under the trading name of Aluflam Australia.
Both Greene Fire and Aluflam have worked together closely over the past 5 years to complete several projects in Australia. These projects have required considerable time and planning due to the custom-made designs being manufactured in Europe and shipped into Australia, usually on long 16+ week lead times.
“Looking to local manufacture is an obvious step to be able to meet our customer’s needs. The construction industry struggles with long lead times and non-standard items, so as our products become in more demand, we need to invest in delivering faster. We have done the same with our fire curtains, so we have experience in doing this.” said Clinton Greene, Greene Fire’s Director.The unique and patented design of the Aluflam system provides the building industry in Australia with fire rated systems made from thermally broken aluminium joinery, something that is normally expected to be made in steel or timber. Windows, doors, partitions, facades, floors and skylights can be manufactured with fire ratings up to FRL -/120/120.
Aluflam produces high end fire rated products, and supplies all over the world, both onshore and offshore. It was therefore important to us that we have the right partners. We have had a fantastic collaboration with Greene Fire over the last 5 years and when we decided to start production locally in Australia, it was natural to enter into a partnership with Greene Fire. Greene Fire fully meets the same high standards of quality control, customer satisfaction and has been able to adapt our products to the Australian market.” says Peter Birck, CEO and Founder of Aluflam Group.The Aluflam products have been designed to the highest specification for commercial buildings. There is no compromise to the architect’s design. These beautiful windows and doors have been used in residential and domestic housing with new products coming soon, specifically for the Australian bushfire market. More information can be found at www.aluflam.com.au or on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/aluflam-australia About Greene Fire: Greene Fire is a family owned and operated business established in Australia in 2000. We pioneered fire and smoke curtains within Australia and more recently our capability in delivering engineered solutions has expanded to offer fire shutters, fire rated glazing, bushfire solutions, MicroLouvre, glazed louvres, along with several non-fire rated solutions. About Aluflam: Aluflam is a family-owned business that was established in Denmark in 1943 with more than 25 years of experience in fire-rated glass and aluminium construction. We offer a wide selection of fire-rated constructions, from fire-resistance classes E15 to EI120 such as facades, windows, doors, sliding doors, skylights and glass roofs. Our designs range from standard to more complex, specially designed systems. Introducing Aluflam Australia.
7 May 2019
Introducing The Worlds First Fire Curtain Designed For Cleanrooms
We are proud to announce the Australian release of Coopers fire’s FireMaster Cleanroom. This innovative and revolutionary product is the world’s first fire curtain that is certified as suitable for all types of cleanroom settings.
The FireMaster Cleanroom provides 2-hour fire protection achieving an FRL of – / 120 / 120. This allows for designers to create vast open spaces which are highly desired, however previously unachievable due to stringent building requirements and the lack of versatile products on the market.
WHAT IS A CLEANROOM?
Typically used in manufacturing or scientific research, a cleanroom is a controlled environment that has a low level of pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles, and chemical vapors. This is usually specified by the number of particles per cubic metre at a specified particle size. For use in cleanrooms all materials must be non-shedding and non-absorbent. Ledges, cracks, crevices and inaccessible places which gather dust and are difficult to clean must be minimised as far as practical. All exposed surfaces must be compatible with and easily cleaned with common cleaning and disinfectant chemicals routinely used in hospitals and biological research facilities. A classic use of cleanrooms has been in scientific laboratories and research facilities. However, these Cleanrooms are becoming more and more prevalent as technology grows. A common use of cleanrooms is in the development of our mobile devices such as phones, laptops, camera’s, etc. These devices utilise small components such as microchips and lenses. As these components are so small and require such intricate and precise development, a small speck of dust could render a microchip ineffective. A cleanroom would be required in order to ensure that the component is developed correctly without any damage.APPLICATIONS OF THE FIREMASTER CLEANROOM
The FireMaster Cleanroom is a fire curtain which can be used to replace non-load baring walls, doors, and windows creating a vast open space whilst maintaining compartmentation. As the curtain has achieved 2 hours of heat insulation, this product is also used to protect escape paths allowing time for individuals to escape. They can also offer property, equipment and external boundary protection.HOW DOES IT WORK?
The FireMaster Cleanroom is manufactured from 316L grade stainless steel suitable for use in a cleanroom environment. The FireMaster Cleanroom features a stainless-steel curtain that does not release particles in operation and features side guides that can be manually opened and closed for cleaning. The curtain remains hidden within its headbox until deployment. Once deployed the curtain lowers via gravity at a controlled pace of 0.06 – 0.15m/s until it completely seals the opening. Once sealed the curtain prevents fire spread throughout a building, and between buildings. The headbox and side-guides have been specifically designed in order to allow easy access for cleaning and maintenance.TESTING AND CERTIFICATION
The FireMaster Cleanroom has been fire tested as part of Exova Warrington’s CERTIFIRE scheme. Additional tests for cleanroom suitability were also carried out in Germany at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation. The Fraunhofer TESTED DEVICE® is an internationally renowned certification mark for products that have been objectively qualified in accordance with recognised standards and guidelines with regard to their cleanroom. The FireMaster Cleanroom is certified as suitable for use in cleanrooms fulfilling the specifications of Air Cleanliness Class 6 according to ISO 14644-1. It has a Class C rating under the pharmaceutical industry’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards; and is rated at 1,000 under US Federal standard 209E. The chemical resistance of the curtain and headbox and side guides is tested according to ISO 4628-1. It is fire tested to BS EN 13501-2:2007+A1:2009 to provide an Integrity rating of E120 and EW120 for radiation.Learn More
To learn more about this solution, visit out FireMaster Cleanroom Product page. Alternatively you can give us a call at (02) 9526 3100, or send us an email at .
19 Jun 2019
RESQ Window
In the event of a fire, fire curtains are used to create a fire compartment preventing the fire and smoke from spreading throughout a building. This is an effective form of passive fire protection which neutralizes the possibility of uncontrollable flames. However due to the effectiveness of these fire compartments, building occupants and first respondents may have trouble determining where the fire is being held.
Introducing the ResQ window.
This ‘window’ is a patented translucent fire proof flexible material which was created to address this issue. The ResQ-Window™ can be installed into a fire curtain allowing building occupants and first respondents to see through the curtain after it has been deployed. This allows for building occupants to be aware of where the fire is located allowing them to escape in a safe manner. It also allows first respondents to easily locate the source of the flame and eliminate the danger in a more effective process.
The curtain with a vision panel is designed for:
- Escape
- Lift openings and lobbies
- Areas where Fire Marshals and the Fire and Rescue Service may need to assess prior to entry
benefits
- See through a deployed curtain as a means of escape
- Safely egress from lifts
- Suitable for lift lobby muster points
- First respondent can clear a building faster
- First respondent can see the presence of an occupant on the other side of a curtain
- First respondent can see the presence of fire on the other side of a curtain
- First respondent can see the presence of smoke on the other side of a curtain
20 Mar 2019
Smoke Safety: Understanding Smoke Curtains And Smoke Leakage
During a fire, most consider the flames to be the biggest risk for loss of life. However, it is the smoke that presents the greatest risks, as most fatalities are caused by smoke inhalation and not by the actual fire itself. Additionally, reduced visibility due to smoke may make it difficult for occupants to identify and follow exit paths for safe evacuation. A correctly designed Smoke Control system is critical for the safety of occupants in any building.
No more than 20mm where the curtain is less than 2m tall
No more than 40mm where the curtain is between 2 and 6m tall
No more than 60mm where the curtain is taller than 6m
Key considerations are: Gap at head, Gaps at edge, Gaps at joints and any enlarge gaps caused by defection, as all of these items can reduce the effective smoke layer height. Section E.5 of the guidance provides the calculation formula for this to enable designers to calculate any possible smoke leakage.
If you wish to obtain further information regarding our Fire Safety Products, please click the products tab provided or click here. For further information please contact us at (02) 9526 3100, or email us at sales@greenefire.co.nz.
Alternatively, you can speak to us in person at Greene Fire Pty Limited, Level 2 381 Port Hacking Road Caringbah, NSW 2233
SMOKE BAFFLES OR SMOKE CONTAINMENT
A number of key solutions are used within building design to combat the problems associated smoke zones and compartmentation prescribed by the BCA. These can include smoke baffles and/or smoke containment systems, however there are subtle differences between the two systems with varying products available on the market.Smoke Baffles
Smoke Baffles are non-combustible products (such as glass, plasterboard bulkheads or smoke curtains) that create a smoke reservoir with an intention to keep the smoke layer above head height to aid safe, unobtrusive evacuation. The advantage of using Smoke curtains is the flexibility. With a smoke curtain there are two options: i) a fixed smoke curtain baffle (mostly seen in industrial buildings) which is light weight and less prone to damage than glass or ii) a hidden, automatic drop-down smoke baffle which, when not in alarm, is completely invisible. This is very suitable to residential and commercial projects. Smoke curtains, used as automatic drop-down baffles are usually installed at high level and drop down to a pre-determined height to channel heat and smoke via extraction fans to specific extraction points, as part of a smoke control system. Often, side guides are not required so long as the fire engineer has taken into consideration any possible smoke leakage at the sides (and/or headbox) and is aware of any high pressures across the curtain causing the fabric to deflect.
Smoke Containment Curtains
Smoke containment curtains generally have side guides to create an efficient smoke seal. If the smoke curtain is not within an exit route then a typical full height drop down smoke curtain can be installed. Lift shafts and lobbies are a very typical area within a building that will require a sealed unit using guides that may even contain smoke seals within them. Many buildings may also require dual purpose compartmentation with egress. Modern smoke curtains now contain options for soft surface egress doors, eliminating the need for separate exit doors. During a fire event, occupants may pass through the curtain to the shortest path to safety, with the curtain closing safely behind them. However, a critical element to consider in the design of such a system is air or smoke permeability and smoke leakage.SMOKE LEAKAGE
As there is no specific Australian design guidance for Smoke Curtains, designers should consult the European Standard EN12101-1:2005 – Smoke and heat control systems – Part 1: Specification for smoke barriers. This standard provides everything from performance requirements to evaluation of conformity and is a required starting point for all designers using smoke curtains. EN12101-1 also specifies the maximum acceptable amount of smoke leakage at the edge of a smoke curtain to ensure that any opening allows only minimal amounts of smoke to pass through. Whilst the designer can specify to minimise gaps down to 0mm, maximum permissible gaps between a wall and smoke curtains are based on the height of the curtain and can be as follows: