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A draft standard which specifies requirements for the design, testing and classification of active fire curtain barrier assemblies is now available for public comment.
The draft BS 8254-1 Active Fire Curtain Barrier Assemblies – Part 1: Specification can be viewed online at the BSI British Standards draft review system. The latest date for receipt of comments is 31 July 2009.
In preparation also is a code of practice, BS 8254-2. This code will give guidance on those issues currently specified in PAS 121. It will include advice on specifying, installing and maintaining active fire curtain barrier assemblies. Once both parts of BS 8254 have been published, PAS 121 will be withdrawn.
Meanwhile, the first tests to the requirements of PAS 121 have been carried out on fire curtains from Coopers Fire by Chiltern International Fire.
“Retractable fire barrier curtains, more and more, are seen as an alternative to traditional glazed screens and partitions, but the product is still new and less experience exists among end users,” said Mark Cummings, head of fire resistance at of Chiltern. “As a result, they demand greater levels of demonstration that it will be fit for purpose. By meeting the PAS 121 requirements Coopers Fire can give that reassurance.”
Fire curtain barriers are designed to provide full fire separating elements when initiated by fire alarm systems, local detection or in the event of total power failure.