|
Fire Curtains are designed as a fire and smoke barrier,
separating the stage house and the auditorium. In case of a fire on stage the fire curtain
will automatically close, providing the theater patrons extra time to safely leave the theater.
Local building codes do vary, requiring different levels or types of fire protection. Please
consult your local Fire Marshal and building codes to determine the system required. No
obstructions should ever be placed in the proscenium opening that would prevent the fire
curtain from lowering.
Straight Lift
Raising and lowering of the Fire Safety Curtain is normally
operated manually. In an emergency, a release system will cause the curtain to lower by
gravity. An emergency release will close the curtain fully in less than one minute. The last
eight feet of curtain travel will require a minimum of 5 seconds, as a safety measure.
Straight Lift fire curtains typically utilize a lattice track mounted to the back of the
proscenium wall for operation. A straight lift fire curtain does require loft storage space
equal to the height of the fire curtain plus a minimum of five feet for proper storage. This
system utilizes many components of SECOA’s standard rigging systems.
Brail Winch
Raising and lowering of the Fire Safety Curtain is normally
operated manually, using the brail hand winch machine. In an emergency, a release system will
cause the curtain to lower by gravity. An emergency release will close the curtain fully in
less than one minute.
With a brail winch the top edge of the fire curtain is dead hung from the overhead roof
steel or other support structure. The curtain itself has vertical rows of "D" rings, sewn 18"
on center at each lift line location and at the side of the curtain. The lift cables pass
through the "D" rings and attaches to the bottom pipe, allowing curtain material to "stack"
in an accordion style upon itself and store above the proscenium opening. The brail winch is a
manually operated winch to store the fire curtain, and automatically lowers the curtain with
the hydraulic speed governor to control curtain descent. The braile winch will hold the fire
curtain in storage position by means of a friction band brake, attached to the emergency
release line. This system utilizes many components of SECOA’s standard rigging systems.
Lineshaft Winch
When motorized, the raising and lowering of the fire
curtain is done at the push of a button using a modified lineshaft winch. Lineshaft fire
curtain winches may be straight lift or brail style fire safety curtains. Provisions are
added allowing for a coupling clutch that can be released through the emergency release
system. When the emergency release system does release the clutch, the drums and shafts
descent is regulated through the use of a hydraulic speed governor that limits the descent
speed of the fire curtain.
Common System Components
Dashpot
Dashpots are utilized to control the
descent rate for the final 8 ft of a fire curtain on a counterweight straight lift system.
The dashpot slows the speed of the incoming fire curtain to a safer speed. This allows for
any person in its path to have additional time to get out of the path of the fire curtain,
and lowers the impact speed of the fire curtain.
Smoke Pocket / Smoke Seal / Curtain Guides
Smoke pockets are designed to provide both a
guide system for the fire curtain and also act as a seal to restrict smoke from entering
the auditorium. Smoke pockets are required on both sides of the proscenium arch. Smoke seals
are required on the back of the proscenium wall above the arch to seal the top opening of
the fire curtain from leaking air and smoke from the top of the fire curtain.
SECOA utilizes a J-formed steel plate system for the side smoke pocket channels
which can accommodate various guide systems. Guiding the fire curtain can be done with
either steel tracks and carriers, or tensioned wire rope with guides spools mounted on
the fire curtain.
Emergency Release System
The emergency release system must effectively
lower the curtain in the event of fire with or without human intervention. There are
several forms of emergency release systems. SECOA’s emergency release systems utilize
manual pull pin boxes, fusible links, and an optional electronic rate-of-rise release
system.
The pull pin boxes and fusible links can provide a simple system that is either
hand activated with the pull pin boxes or automatically triggered when the fusible links
reach 165 degrees. The electronic rate-of-rise release control can be added to the above,
as an option or as required by code, by adding in 2 heat detectors and an electronic
release mechanism.
▪ In a counterweight straight lift system when the release system is
triggered either manually or automatically it releases a counterweight arbor which
unbalances the system and lowers the fire curtain.
▪ When the emergency release system in triggered on a lineshaft or brail winch
system it releases a clutch that disengages the lifting mechanism from the motor. When the
motor is disconnected the descent is controlled by a hydraulic descent governing system
attached to the lifting mechanism (shaft and drums)
165 degree fusible link
Used in almost all fire curtain systems as an
automatic release in the emergency release system. When the fusible links temperature
reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit the link melts separating the release line which activates
the emergency release system.
Electro-Thermal Release (ETL)
ETL’s are electrically activated from a UL listed control
station triggered from rate of rise heat detectors. When activated the electrical current
melts the connecting link and separates the release line which activates the emergency
release system.
Fire Curtain Fabric
THERMO-SPECTM Fabric Style 44-WFCC is
a 2-1/2 lb./sq.yd (40oz./sq.yd.) wire inserted NON-ASBESTOS, High Temperature coated
fiber glass fabric which replaces the 2-3/4 lb./sq.yd. wire inserted asbestos fabric.
Specifically designed to incorporate the strength of stainless steel yet provide excellent
flexibility, Style 44-WFCC is the premier fire curtain fabric available.
THERMO-SPECTM Fabric Style 37-FCC is a 2-1/4 lb./sq.yd (37oz./sq.yd.)
NON-ASBESTOS, coated fiber glass fabric without a wire insertion. Like Style 44-WFCC,
Style 37-FCC exceeds the Code criteria (except it weighs less and has no wire.) It is
an economical alternative for those applications that do not demand or require the 40 oz./sq.yd.
wire inserted product.
|
