Fire Resistant Roller Shutters & Curtains
Life-Saving Fire Resistant Products to Suit All Budgets
Strictly Tested & Certified. Expertly Installed. Ongoing Support
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Fire Shutters are available in various levels of resistance. We offer 1hr, 2hr, and 4hr options.
Fire Shutters vs. Fire Curtains
The main reason for choosing shutters or curtains depends entirely on your requirement.
A fire shutter can be used in the same way as a regular shutter, they are usually less expensive than curtains, and because they are made of steel they are good options for a basic level of security.
It is worth noting that it is not possible to have a fire rating and security rating on the same shutter, this is due to the requirement for automatic closing on fire shutters, which is a feature not permitted on high security shutters in current regulations.
Fire curtains are more suitable for applications where creating a smoke resistant seal is a requirement. They also take up much less space than a shutter when rolled up, so do make a better solution when space is at a premium.
Fire curtains can also be more suitable to a building’s aesthetic, especially where a cleaner look is preferred. Due to their light weight construction they are also able to cover much larger openings than most fire shutters, however because they are made of fabrics they tend to offer far less security.
We offer 24/7 Call Out & Repair, Maintenance Contracts, and full Design, Manufacture & Installation Services.
How Do Fire Shutters Work?
Fire shutters are built to resist fire for different intervals of time, usually 30, 60, 90, 120, and 240 minutes.
The fire resistant nature is thanks in part due to the high melting temperature of steel, with different thicknesses or gauges of steel offering slightly greater fire resistance.
Fire curtains use the same rating system, but are usually created with a mixture of synthetic and treated materials to bolster the fire resistant properties of the material.
By using a fire resistant shutter or curtain you are able to add up to 30 minutes to the escape time for people inside your building during fire. This is a crucial window and is often the difference between life and death.
What Applications Are Fire Shutters & Curtains Used In?
Fire Shutters and curtains are found anywhere there is a requirement for fire protection, either by law, or just as an additional level of safety. Typically we see fire shutters in the following locations:
- Office
- Commercial
- Industrial
- Retail
- Residential
- Manufacturing
- Warehouses
- Apartment Blocks
Why Fire Shutters/Curtains?
Fire shutters and curtains are used in applications where it is necessary to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, or to create a safe means of passage to an exit in the event of a fire. Fire resistance and smoke resistance are governed by strict regulations outlined below:
For fire resistance: BS 476-22 or EN 1634-1
For smoke resistance: BS 476-31.1 or EN 1634-3
In order to prove their compliance to the above regulations, fire shutters are usually tested in controlled environments. Depending on the product, different tests can be used to inspect a door’s fire resistance capabilities, usually one of the following:
- 3rd party certification, usually tested by sampling products and observing the manufacturing process.
- An assessment by a fire test laboratory, such as Exova Warrington Fire.
- A single test report, which is good for products that don’t change in configuration.
Another requirement is that fire shutters are connected to a central fire alarm and that they either close or open on the activation of the fire alarm.
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Construction:
The shutter curtain is constructed from interlocking galvanised steel laths and a heavier duty manufactured bottom rail, running in steel side channels, mounted on mild steel support angles which are bolted to the structure.
The curtain weight is supported from a suitable steel tube barrel assembly at high level, running on steel bearings. The barrel assembly is supported between mild steel endplates in a flag guide arrangement and driven through gears. A galvanised steel coil casing and flame trap fascia are provided as standard.
Activation:
Electrical operation is by means of a high quality single or three phase controlled descent operator. All controls are 24-volt low voltage and have open, close and emergency stop button as standard. Emergency manual override is provided as standard to allow operation of the door in case of power failure.
Types:
- Single Phase Tube Motor (Fire Rated).
- 3 Phase Direct Drive Motor (Fire Rated).
As with all our motor-driven shutters, fire-rated doors are fitted with safety brakes, coupled with ‘drive ratio control’, to manage controlled descents correctly. Furthermore, we can incorporate one of our interface panels so that the roller shutter closes automatically when the fire alarm is set off.
Shutters are available in sizes to suit your needs and either galvanised or powder coated in a choice of colours.
Technical Specifications
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