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Concertina fire and smoke curtains are bespoke, folding barriers that hide in a compact ceiling housing and deploy around atria, stairs, escalators and other open-plan voids. They can preserve an uncluttered architectural scheme, but an attractive finish or concealed headbox is not evidence of fire safety. The correct choice depends on the project fire strategy, the curtain’s exact classification, its tested geometry and the certificate for the complete assembly.
Start by deciding whether the barrier must provide fire resistance, smoke control, smoke-leakage control, or a documented combination. Then select a system whose orientation, dimensions, interfaces, controls and support details are all covered by current test and certification evidence. A curtain described loosely as a “fire and smoke” product may not perform both functions.
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What are concertina fire and smoke curtains?
A concertina curtain is a folding barrier that gathers into a small headbox or ceiling pocket when not deployed. Instead of rolling onto a drum like a roller shutter, its linked sections fold back on themselves. This makes it useful where a barrier must follow an open-sided, angled or faceted plan without filling the ceiling with a large visible enclosure.
Architects and fire engineers use these systems around atria, stair and escalator openings, boundary lines and other locations where a permanent wall or conventional door would damage the intended spatial experience. Open configurations may form an L or U shape, a curve or another multi-sided arrangement. Closed configurations can form squares or faceted circles. Some bespoke systems are designed to avoid visible corner posts in particular layouts, while selected headbox and rail finishes can coordinate with the interior.
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Those are architectural benefits, not performance ratings. The barrier remains safe only when the installed assembly matches the system that was tested and certified, including its fabric, guides, support, controls, warning devices and interfaces with the surrounding construction.
What is the difference between a fire curtain and a smoke curtain?
An active fire curtain is intended to maintain compartmentation or protect an escape route for a defined fire-resistance period. A smoke curtain is a smoke-control device: it channels or contains smoke as part of a wider smoke-management strategy and does not, simply by being made from fire-resistant-looking fabric, provide fire-resistance integrity.
The distinction matters because product language is often imprecise. The Passive Fire Knowledge Group’s April 2026 guidance says that smoke curtains are made to BS EN 12101-1:2005+A1:2006, typically have no guide rails and do not descend to floor level; their purpose is to direct smoke towards smoke-control systems, not to provide fire-resistance integrity. Its warning is explicit: “The construction industry often uses the term ‘smoke and fire curtains’, but this terminology should be avoided as it is misleading and can result in the specification of an incorrect product.”
ISO 21524:2021 covers active fire curtains used as fire-separating elements, including curtains designed to provide fire and smoke resistance. It excludes barriers intended solely for smoke control, which are addressed separately. Therefore, a specification should name the required function and classification rather than relying on the phrase “fire and smoke curtain”.
How do open and closed concertina layouts affect a design?
Geometry determines how the curtain turns corners, where it is supported, how it deploys and what the test evidence actually covers. An open concertina can protect several sides of a void while leaving an access side open under normal conditions. A closed concertina can surround a complete opening, such as a square atrium edge or a faceted circular void, when deployed.
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Ask the manufacturer to show the proposed plan and section, not just a product photograph. Confirm the number and position of corners, the direction of travel, the maximum length and drop, the headbox size, the location of guides or tracks and the space required for inspection. A visually minimal arrangement is acceptable only if that exact arrangement remains within the certified system configuration.
Where corner posts are omitted, check how the system maintains alignment and smoke or fire performance at each junction. A concealed housing also needs a coordinated access strategy: maintenance staff must be able to inspect and service it without removing architectural finishes or compromising fire-stopping.
What performance ratings are available?
Ratings from different products are not interchangeable. The following examples illustrate the range of functions and classifications described in current manufacturer documents; they are not a league table and do not prove that one system is better for a particular building.
| Named system and source | Documented example | What it means for a specification |
|---|---|---|
| Coopers Fire FireMaster Concertina “Open” | Up to 180 minutes fire protection; bespoke multi-sided shapes including curves and L shapes | Listed for atria, boundary protection, compartmentation, stairs and escalators. Confirm the exact tested geometry and current certificate. |
| Coopers Fire FireMaster Concertina “Closed” | Up to 240 minutes fire integrity; E240 and EW30 listed; smoke control available under BS EN 1634-3 | Intended for closed shapes such as squares and faceted circles. Fire and smoke functions still require confirmation for the selected configuration. |
| Coopers Fire SmokeStop Concertina “Open” | DH60/D60 smoke classification; maximum 6 metre drop | A smoke curtain to EN 12101-1, not a fire-resistance product by virtue of that classification. Temperature-time, permeability and reliability requirements must be checked. |
| Adexon-CFC120E Concertina Fire Curtain | E120 fire resistance; smoke containment listed as not applicable | A specific integrity example. Do not assume smoke leakage performance from the fire rating. |
| Adexon CSC60DH Concertina Smoke Curtain | DH60 smoke containment; fire resistance listed as not applicable | A specific smoke-control example. It cannot be substituted for a fire-resisting compartment barrier. |
For current product details, consult the open FireMaster page, closed FireMaster page, SmokeStop page, the CFC120E specification and the CSC60DH brochure. Manufacturers’ “up to” figures apply only within the stated test method, dimensions, orientation and assembly.
How should a concertina curtain be specified?
Set the performance requirement before discussing appearance. A fire engineer and the design team should work through the following sequence.
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- Define the barrier’s role. Record whether it forms part of compartmentation, protects a means of escape, controls smoke movement, limits smoke leakage or performs more than one documented function.
- Map the fire strategy. Mark the opening on plans and sections, identify the fire compartment boundary, adjacent occupied areas and escape routes, and state the required resistance period or smoke class.
- Set geometry and operation. State open or closed layout, orientation, direction of deployment, overall width and drop, number of corners, allowed deflection zone and any floor-level or headroom constraints.
- Define smoke requirements separately. If smoke leakage, smoke containment or radiation limits are needed, list them as explicit criteria. Do not infer them from an E rating or from marketing language.
- Check the complete assembly evidence. Request the test reports, classification report and third-party certification for the exact fabric, guides, headbox, supports, controls and interfaces. The assembly described in those documents is the one the project can assess.
- Coordinate structure and finishes. Confirm support loads, fixings, fire-stopping, access panels, ceiling tolerances, visible rails, headbox finish and interfaces with glazing, doors, sprinklers and smoke-exhaust equipment.
- Coordinate controls and egress. Document detection or alarm inputs, manual controls, warning signals, deployment sequence, power supplies, monitoring and the curtain’s behavior on fault or power loss. Ensure deployment cannot create an unplanned obstruction to escape.
- Obtain local approval. Apply the regulations and standards edition required in the project jurisdiction. UK guidance such as Sweco’s fire-curtain specification advice is useful for UK projects but is not a substitute for local authority or fire-engineer approval elsewhere.
Which design details need the most coordination?
The best-looking installation is usually the one resolved early with the architect, fire engineer, structural engineer, services designer, installer and facilities team. A ceiling pocket must leave enough room for the folded curtain, motor, controls and inspection access. If the pocket is made smaller after selection, the system may no longer match the tested arrangement.
Visible rails, cover plates and warning indicators can be finished to suit the interior where the certified system permits it. Do not substitute a different track, fabric coating, detector, motor or control panel simply because it appears visually similar. Fire performance belongs to the documented assembly, not to an individual component viewed in isolation.
Interfaces deserve particular attention. A curtain crossing a glazed edge, soffit, services zone or uneven floor may require details that are not covered by a standard drawing. Coordinate smoke-exhaust paths so that a smoke curtain directs smoke where the smoke-control design expects it to go. At stairs and escalators, verify that deployment, landing geometry and evacuation movement remain compatible with the approved strategy.
How should systems be compared?
Compare like with like. A duration number alone is a poor basis for selection because a fire-integrity classification, a smoke-containment classification and a smoke-control classification address different hazards.
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|---|---|
| What function is certified? | Fire resistance, smoke control, smoke leakage or a documented combination, with the applicable standard and classification. |
| Does the test match the proposed geometry? | Plan and section drawings showing open or closed form, corners, orientation, dimensions and drop. |
| What happens to smoke and radiation? | Smoke-permeability or leakage data, radiation limit where relevant, and any stated limitations. |
| How does it deploy? | Activation logic, travel direction, warning devices, fail-safe or fault behavior and manual intervention requirements. |
| Will it work with egress and services? | Interface details for stairs, escalators, doors, sprinklers, detectors, smoke exhaust, ceilings and structural supports. |
| Who can install and maintain it? | Approved installer requirements, commissioning records, inspection access, maintenance schedule and certification scope. |
Ask for a written schedule of deviations if the project differs from the tested arrangement. A bespoke shape is not automatically an untested shape, but the manufacturer and certifier must identify what is covered and what requires engineering assessment or approval.
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What are the common specification mistakes?
- Using “fire and smoke curtain” as a performance description. Replace it with the required function and classification.
- Choosing by the longest time rating. Verify the test method, assembly, orientation and intended use before comparing minutes.
- Assuming a smoke curtain reaches the floor. Smoke curtains commonly form a reservoir boundary or direct smoke to extraction; confirm the specified drop and role.
- Designing the ceiling pocket after the product is selected. Reserve space for the actual headbox, motor, guides and access panels.
- Leaving controls to the electrical package. The fire strategy must define activation, supervision, warning, reset and fault behavior.
- Accepting a product photograph as evidence. Require current test reports, classification and third-party certification for the complete assembly.
- Ignoring maintenance access. A concealed barrier still needs inspection, cleaning, testing and repair without damaging adjacent finishes.
Can a concertina curtain deliver appealing design and credible protection?
Yes, when design intent is treated as a constraint within the certified solution rather than as a reason to relax performance requirements. Compact housings, bespoke open or closed geometry, carefully coordinated rails and permitted finish selections can keep a large opening visually calm. They are especially valuable in atria and circulation spaces where a permanent wall would block sightlines or reduce daylight.
The trade-off is that bespoke geometry increases coordination risk. Every corner, support, control interface and dimensional change can affect the evidence. The project should therefore approve appearance and performance together: show the architectural elevation beside the tested configuration, identify visible components and record the finish, access and maintenance provisions in the specification.
What should be handed over after installation?
Handover should identify the installed system, its exact configuration and the documents that establish its performance. Include the approved drawings, classification and certification, installation and commissioning records, control schematics, activation interfaces, operating instructions, inspection access points and maintenance requirements. Record any project-specific limitations, such as maximum drop, permitted deflection zone or restrictions on later ceiling alterations.
Facilities staff should know that painting, drilling, signage or suspended services added later can obstruct deployment or alter clearances. Any refurbishment that changes the headbox, guides, surrounding construction or controls should be reviewed by the fire engineer and the system’s approved technical route before work begins.
Bottom line: specify the function first
Concertina curtains can protect open architectural layouts while remaining largely concealed, but appearance is only one selection criterion. Define the fire strategy, distinguish fire resistance from smoke control, and accept only the geometry and components covered by current evidence for the complete assembly. A qualified fire engineer should confirm the applicable national requirements and approve the final installation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a smoke curtain replace a fire door or compartment wall?
No. A smoke curtain is intended to control or direct smoke and does not automatically provide fire-resistance integrity. Where compartmentation or escape-route protection is required, specify an active fire curtain or another tested fire-separating element with the required classification.
Do concertina curtains always need floor guides?
No. Smoke curtains commonly operate without guide rails and may stop above floor level, while active fire curtains can require different guiding and sealing arrangements. The required guides, drop and floor interface must come from the selected system’s test and certification documents.
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Only if the available void, access and support conditions match the manufacturer’s certified arrangement. A ceiling change that reduces headbox space or blocks inspection can invalidate the approved configuration, so coordinate the pocket before construction.
What information should a fire engineer request from a manufacturer?
Request the current test and classification reports, third-party certification, allowable dimensions and geometries, smoke and radiation data where relevant, deployment and fault behavior, interface details, installer requirements and maintenance instructions. The documents should describe the complete assembly, not just the fabric.
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