The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

The Bourne Ultimatum

Fire doors and curtains should be enhanced with a clear panel to assist fire wardens and firefighters.
14 February 2020
 

Enhancing a fire door or curtain with a transparent vision panel should be considered in an attempt to assist both fire wardens and fire fighters says Stuart Bourne, a leading fire expert.

The latest innovation in passive fire protection is the use of vision panels. In-built fire protection such as fire doors and curtains that have a clear, window-like panel, enable first responders to see smoke or flames on the other side. This is extremely beneficial for first responders according to passive smoke and fire containment specialist, Stuart Bourne, MIFireE at Coopers Fire.

Bourne says: “According to Approved Document B, vision panels should be provided where fire doors on escape routes subdivide corridors; any doors are hung to swing both ways; or where it is required for providing an inner room arrangement.

 

"In the event of a fire, where a fire curtain is utilised instead of a fire door, the curtain will deploy with a vision panel and give the person the same options as a door would, when carrying out their search techniques in a fire situation."

 – Stuart Bourne

MIFireE, Coopers Fire

Precious time

 

Vision panels could save precious time by allowing individuals to see through the curtain like looking through a window. In an emergency, time is crucial and fire protection measures should help make first responders more efficient in their role and not hinder the evacuation process.”

Fire curtains are key to compartmentation, which is fundamental for maintaining the fire safety measures and overall fire strategy of a building, and greatly reduces the effect of fire spreading from one compartment to another.

Choosing a fire curtain with a vision panel allows building occupants and first responders to identify risk in different sections of a building, even once the curtain has been deployed. Coopers Fire’s ResQ-Window, for example, permits first responders to see through the curtain to see what is on the other side.

 

Compliance

 

BS 8524 is an important standard, providing comprehensive guidance on the specification, installation and ongoing maintenance of fire curtains. BS EN 1634-1, meanwhile, is the key testing certification to look for in terms of compliance and product integrity. Both of these standards are worthy of careful consideration from fire and security specialists looking to take their fire safety specification to the next level.

 

Massive difference

 

Bourne concludes: “As a fully compliant, translucent fireproof panel, the ResQ-Window is a concept capable of making a massive difference in areas of a building which need to be assessed prior to entry. A fire curtain with a vision panel is perfect for lift openings and lobbies, as well as escape routes incorporating doorways and corridors.”

Picture: Fire doors and curtains should be enhanced with a clear panel to assist fire wardens and firefighters.

 

 

 

 

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 14 February 2020

Share



Related Articles

FD60 - Crucial In Fire Door Safety

Yale Door and Window Solutions has successfully tested a number of its products to meet the FD60 fire door specification as part of a commitment to improving fire safety...

 Read Full Article
Government Offers Combustible Cladding Ban And Fire Door Inspection Advice

Having issued a ban on combustible materials on new high-rise homes, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has established the Building Safety...

 Read Full Article
10 Years of Fire Door Safety Week 

In its tenth year of promoting fire door safety, the British Woodworking Federation reports that the majority of people can’t identify a faulty fire door. A...

 Read Full Article
Advanced Supports ‘Be Ready Campaign’ for Building Safety

Fire protection solutions manufacturer Advanced is supporting the new Building Safety Regulator’s "Be Ready" campaign, which calls on the industry to...

 Read Full Article
Grenfell Tower Inquiry Costs Revealed

Financial statements published by the Grenfell Inquiry show that its total expenditure is at £170 million. Total expenditure for the period 01 April 2022 to 31...

 Read Full Article
LHC Launches New Fire Safety Framework

Procurement consortium LHC is asking fire safety experts to get involved in the new Fire Safety (FS2) Framework. FS2 covers the end-to-end spectrum of fire safety...

 Read Full Article
IWFM Calls on FMs to Update Fire Safety Knowledge for 2023

IWFM and PlanRadar have released a newly updated fire safety management good practice guide for its members. The document covers the changes to fire safety from 23...

 Read Full Article
Fire Door Safety Week 2022 – Spotting the Faults

Kirk Smith of Allegion UK discusses fire door neglect and how to spot the potential faults that could be compromising your fire safety procedures. Kirk Smith is...

 Read Full Article
Building Safety Bill Becomes Law

The much-discussed Building Safety Bill has received Royal Assent and will become an Act of Parliament. The bill has been one of the most talked-about legislative...

 Read Full Article
The Cuba Street Development – A 570ft Skyscraper With One Staircase?

An application for a residential 51-storey tower close to London’s Canary Wharf has been delayed due to fire safety strategy concerns from the London Fire...

 Read Full Article