Smoke Curtains

If an unexpected fire breaks out, the spread of harmful smoke and heat can be a significant challenge. Thick smoke and excess heat can make it incredibly difficult for employees and others to find safe escape routes, and smoke inhalation can cause significant adverse health effects. Most local building fire safety codes enforce minimal fire safety protocols for detection, notification and response — including detection for recognizing excess smoke and heat with an alarm that alerts occupants of a fire and water sprinklers that automatically engage when the system detects a fire. While alarms and water sprinkler systems are an adequate method for detecting and alerting fires, to optimize fire safety, local Spokane-area businesses should invest in smoke curtains.

At Continental Door, we're the leading Spokane provider of commercial garage door products and installation services. We're a full-service commercial garage door company that performs comprehensive services and offers guidance on personalized garage door solutions to improve the safety and performance of your business. With a new smoke curtain from Cornell Smokeshield, you can improve the safety efforts of your property by effectively trapping smoke and preventing it from spreading.

What Is a Smoke Curtain?

While smoke alarms and sprinkler systems are intended to extinguish flames, they're not ideal for controlling the spread of heat and smoke. That's where a smoke curtain comes in. Smoke curtains are the best solution for heat and smoke control. They're physical barriers that extend from a ceiling housing unit when a fire alarm is triggered to effectively seal areas against smoke movement. Smoke curtains can be installed in existing buildings to seal off doorways and elevators as well as form a perimeter around open spaces like staircases or atriums that don't have surrounding walls.

The Purposes of Smoke Curtains

The design of effective smoke curtains may seem simple, but they're one of the best solutions for controlling the spread of fires, smoke and heat by acting as a passive barrier. Smoke curtains prevent and slow the spread of smoke, increasing safety for employees and guests in the event of a fire and reducing the amount of damage caused to your property. These smoke guards also help divide larger or more expansive spaces into smaller zones that are especially vulnerable to quick-spreading fires. With smaller, better-controlled areas, your staff will have a clearer evacuation route and firefighters can better access the fire safely to control and extinguish it.

How Cornell Iron Smoke Curtains Protect Your Building and Occupants From Smoke and Heat

When exploring your smoke curtain installation options, you'll find there's a wide variety of different styles, sizes, installation types and seals to accommodate your specific space and protection needs. The most common types of smoke curtains are elevator, vertical, draft and perimeter guards.

Smoke curtain products from Cornell Iron utilize the most advanced industry technology to create the most effective and comprehensive smoke guards for industrial spaces. Their elevator smoke guards use an exclusive, state-of-the-art GuideLock technology that always reseals the hoistway after cycling. Their other smoke curtains use magnetic methods to properly seal exposed openings and will reseal any time the barrier is opened. As an added precaution, Cornell Iron's smoke guards feature backup emergency lift straps to ensure the barriers are always safe and functional.

Even More Safety From Cornell Iron Smoke Curtains

Cornell Iron's selection of smoke curtains has increased in popularity because of its easy installation and effective resealing technology. When you invest in smoke curtains, you can also expect:

• Large, easy-to-interpret graphics for simple use.
• Exceptional craftsmanship, including durable, transparent materials to ensure safe surroundings for emergency responders.
• Reliable battery backup capabilities allowing the smoke guard to open and cycle for up to 24 hours after losing power.
• Easy manual operations in case power and battery backup is unavailable.
• Compatibility with your existing fire alarm system for automatic deployment when smoke is sensed and automatic reset and reopening once the threat has been cleared.

Benefits of Having a Smoke Guard Installed

Smoke guards are an essential fixture for helping control the spread and damage caused by unexpected fires. But they also provide a range of unmatched benefits, including:

• Easy accessibility during emergencies.
• Allow guests, employees and other visitors to safely and quickly escape the premises during fire.
• Compact design that blends with your building. Smoke guards install flush with your ceiling and conceal easily in wood, sheetrock, masonry and other building materials.
• Easy and effective installation that doesn't require large amounts of space or extra structural reinforcement.
• Elevated installation prevents people from mistakenly tampering with the smoke guard or hindering its performance.

Potential Dangers of Not Having a Smoke Curtain for Your Building

During a fire, smoke is one of the greatest threats to safety. Smoke can quickly spread and rise throughout your building, which can inhibit sight and cause disorientation and serious health effects later. Installing smoke guards restricts the movement of smoke and prevents it from entering certain areas of your building during a fire.

Does Cornell Smokeshield Work With Existing Fire Alarm Panels?

No matter what type of smoke curtain is right for your property — elevator, vertical, draft or perimeter — you're assured that every style is compatible with other fire safety systems already in place. Smoke guards work with existing safety fixtures and can be installed to automatically deploy when a smoke or fire alarm is triggered.

Industries That Should Have Smoke Curtains

With their streamlined design, simple installation and effective use, smoke curtains are the most effective solution for protecting employees and other occupants from smoke inhalation as well as protecting your building from additional smoke and fire damage. Smoke curtains can be used in a variety of different industries:

• Warehouses, industrial locations and processing facilities
• Schools and universities
• Hotels
• Hospitality venues
• Hospitals

Why Choose Continental Door for Smoke Curtain Installation?

When you choose Continental Door, Co. for all of your commercial garage door installation and repair needs, you'll always receive responsive and helpful workmanship, honest answers and high-quality products designed to meet your exact needs and long-term expectations. We happily provide services and commercial product guidance to business owners throughout the greater Spokane area in WA, complete with 24-hour emergency services and free project quotes. Call us today at 509.921.2260 to learn more about our Cornell Smokeshield smoke guard products or complete our online contact form to request services.