BLE Smoke and Fire Curtains

BLE Smoke and Fire Curtains

Introduction BLE has, for a number of years, been at the leading edge of smoke & fire curtain technology providing our customers with innovative and cost effective solutions to overcome the problems associated with Smoke and Fire control. Our smoke & fire curtain systems, which are gravity fail safe, incorporate the latest in electronic technology making them one of the most advanced yet cost effective systems on the market. We have the most comprehensive set of globally recognised tests on our SD60 & FC240 systems. Our SD60 Automatic Smoke Curtain achieved a 1 hour rating at 1000º C and our FC240 single roller Automatic Fire Curtain system achieved a rating of 4½ hours when tested to BS: 476: Part 22. We have a a 4 hour test to BS 476: Part 22 for FC240 overlapping roller curtains, allowing us to cover large openings using multiple roller systems. We also have a full set of test reports confirming that our smoke and fire curtains are fully compliant with all the latest EN standards. Both SD and FC systems are now also tested to UL standards. All our manufacturing processes and Quality Control procedures are certified to meet the full requirements of BS EN ISO 9001:1994 and products are designed and manufactured in full compliance with the appropriate UK, European and American regulations. Description When a smoke or fire curtain is required to deploy in an emergency situation it is probable that the mains supply to the control panel may have already failed and that the cables linking the curtains to the control panel might become damaged. Under these circumstances with no power available the curtain will have to deploy by gravity. For this reason the BLE SD60 and FC240 systems are always deployed by gravity, every time the system is tested it is a 100% confirmation of the fail safe operation of the system. A test in which a curtain is powered down under normal test conditions from either mains power or the battery supply is only proving that it can deploy when powered. This does not confirm an ability to fail safe. SD60 and FC240 are gravity fail safe Automatic Curtain systems utilising the latest in electronic technology. The systems meet the requirements of British, European & American standards, a list of which can be seen in this catalogue. All BLE smoke curtain systems are manufactured in accordance with our BS EN ISO 9001 certification. Operation Under normal conditions the curtain is retracted in the head box and is held in position by an extra low voltage supply from the semi conductor regulator in the motor control circuit (MCC). The bottom bar will be resting against the under side of the box or below the box if a stopping bar is installed, the stopping bar will then rest against the box. In the event of a fire condition or operation of the test key switch, the group control panel removes the power to the MCC s and the extra low voltage supply to the motor is isolated. The curtain descends by using the weight of the bottom bar to rotate the tube and deploy the fabric. The motor rotates at a constant speed using the voltage generated by the rotating motor to feed the electronic speed monitoring and control circuits which in turn calibrates and controls the speed of descent (to within safe limits defined by International Standards) until all the fabric is deployed. When the signal is reset the group control panel re connects the power to the motors which will retract the curtains to the up position. Should the mains power fail to the group control panel the supply is automatically switched to the integral standby battery. The curtain will remain fully operational until the battery low voltage cut off reads a voltage less than 85% of the nominal, the curtains will then descend under the power of gravity to the operational position. United Kingdom The British Museum, London The National Gallery, London John Lewis Partnership, London Peter Jones, London Bluewater Shopping Centre, London Harrods, London Earls Court Convention Centre, London Trafford Centre, Manchester Metro Centre, Gateshead John Lennon Airport, Liverpool Eurocentral, Glasgow St Enochs Shopping Centre, Glasgow Tesco, Glasgow John Lewis Partnership, Cardiff St Davids Shooping Centre, Cardiff Magnox Nuclear Plant, North Wales House of Fraser, Dundrum, Ireland Page 2 Worldwide Abraj Al-Bait Mall, Saudi Arabia Marina Mall Shopping Centre, Hotel & Apartments, Dubai Al-Whada Mall, Abu Dhabi Helicopter Military Training Centre, Abu Dhabi Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), USA Princeton University, USA Bank of Boston, Brazil Bruxelles Airport, Belgium Olympic Stadium, Munich, Germany Athens Airport, Greece Novartis Pharma, Turkey Corte Ingles department stores, Spain Chep Lap Kok Airport, Hong Kong Royal Mint, Thailand Galaxy Resort and Casino, Macau Las Vegas Sands Casino, Macau Britomart Transport Centre, New Zealand

Why The Need For Automatic Curtains? Graphic 1 Smoke is the greatest threat to life safety in a fire situation, graphics 1 and 2 indicate one of the many problems smoke can cause in large buildings. Graphic 1 shows a typical Multi Storey Shopping Mall with a Central Atrium. In the event of a fire at a lower level, smoke will rise and enter the upper floors. This smoke will reduce visibility and cause occupants to be disorientated, and could result in deaths. By using Smoke Curtains with Smoke Ventilators and fresh air intake it is possible to ensure that the unaffected floors are protected. Graphic 2 In Graphic 2 you can see the result of installing an automatic smoke control system. The smoke detections system would activate and the Smoke Curtain system would be deployed on all floors with the exception of the floor on which the fire has been detected. In turn the smoke extraction system would operate. Smoke is restricted to the fire floor leaving the remainder of the building free from smoke allowing safe egress for the occupants. Graphic 3 Fire compartmentation is a requirement of Building Regulations, access routes through fire compartment walls need to be protected to provide the required fire integrity. A cost effective solution is to install Automatic Fire Curtains which are a lightweight compact and convenient alternative to fire shutters. Graphic 3 shows an access door between 2 areas in a storage warehouse, the doorway is in constant use from pallet trucks and employees, however the doors installed would not provide an adequate fire barrier. Upon activation of the fire alarm system the fire curtain would descend and a compartment with a fire rating of 4 hours would be created. Fire curtains can be manufactured to various widths using single or multiple roller systems. Page 3

SD60 Automatic Smoke Curtain SD60 smoke curtains are totally gravity fail safe and incorporate the latest in electronic technology. As a result SD60 is one of the most advanced, yet cost effective systems on the market. Limit switch control has been replaced with current-limiting systems to determine the upper position of the curtain. The 24v motor will retract the curtain until the bottom bar pulls against the underside of the head box. The current drawn by the motor will begin to rise, this will be detected by the motor control circuit and the supply will be stepped back to a holding voltage of approximately 4 volts. Upon receipt of a fire or test signal the holding voltage will be removed to the motor. The weight of the bottom bar will force the motor windings to return generating a back EMF. This facility ensures a controlled descent of the curtain even in the event of total power failure. This method of operation should be used to deploy the system at all times. A curtain that is powered down under normal test conditions from either mains power or the battery supply is only proving that it can deploy when powered. This does not confirm the ability to fail safe. The curtain fabric has a Panama weave which offers a more even surface and allows a tighter interlacing of the fabric edges. The tensile strength of Panama weave fabric is 10% greater than other fabrics due to the constant thread tension. The extra strength helps the curtain to keep its shape whilst retracting onto the roller. Smoke curtains can be installed onto the void edge to prevent smoke entering the floor from a fire on the floor below. The curtains in this instance were installed inside a facetted head box allowing us to form a curve profile using separate rollers. The facetted head box is designed to ensure that the edge gap on the non-overlapping curtains meets the requirements of EN12101-1:2006. Smoke reservoirs can be formed using automatic curtains. The curtains will descend to a pre determined height, this height will be greater than the calculated smoke layer produced from the surrounding fire load. The depth of the reservoir is also based upon either how much smoke can be removed from the area using the extraction system or how long the smoke layer will remain buoyant. The drop height of the curtains does not prevent escape from the area. Smoke curtains are often used as channelling screens. The hot smoke will be prevented from moving laterally around the atrium. Instead the smoke will be forced to move up into the ceiling area where it can be safely extracted. Escalators can form a direct means for hot smoke to enter floors above. For the project shown on the left automatic smoke curtains were installed on the three open sides to the escalator. Upon receipt of a fire signal the curtain along the length of the opening will drop to full height, the two end curtains will descend part way until a brake is energised in the motor. The partial drop will prevent the hot smoke entering the floor above and also allow egress from the escalator. Page 4

SD60 Automatic Smoke Curtain A B C C A B Head Box Specification: Material: 1.2 mm galvanized steel Finish: Optional powder coating Optional stainless steel Access: Removable cover plate Dimensions: (Up to 3 m drop) Type A: 150 mm x 150 mm Type B: 250 mm wide x 150 mm high Type C: 150 mm wide x 250 mm high Infil Threaded rod A B Unistrut channel Due to the problems caused by tubular motors with limit switches, our SD60 system utilises automatic current limiting systems to determine the top limit of the curtain. The 24v tubular motor will retract the curtain until the bottom bar pulls against the desired stop, the current drawn by the motor will increase until a limiting circuit steps back the supply voltage holding the bottom bar in the retracted position. The physical obstruction can be in the form of: Type A: The bottom bar pulling against the head box. Type B: A stopping bar pulling against the head box leaving the bottom bar level with the ceiling. Type C: The bottom bar pulling against the ceiling*. C The head box is usually suspended by threaded rod from the slab connected by Unistrut channels. An infil may be required between the top of the head box and the slab to prevent smoke flowing over the box and through the ceiling void. The infil can be manufactured from the same fabric as that used on the curtain, the fabric is secured to the top of the box and then fastened to the slab above. Page 5 * Subject to strength of ceiling

FC240/FC60 - Single Roller Automatic Fire Curtains The FC240 or FC60 Automatic Fire Curtains are fully certified to BS: 476 Part 22 have a rating of 270 or 60 minutes at 1000º C. The FC240's wire reinforced fabric was subjected to a heat flux density test. The following results were recorded at 1.0m away from the curtain: 15 Minutes - 1.6KW/m² 30 Minutes - 2.6KW/m² 60 Minutes - 4.4KW/m² From the above data it can be calculated using a formula from the SFPE Handbook, section 2, that it would be possible for building occupants to safely pass a 6.0m wide BLE fire curtain at a distance of 1.0m after a period of 60 minutes. FC240 and FC60 curtains incorporate the latest technology to allow gravity fail safe operation and also to eradicate the need for limit switches. The integral tubular motor and the motor control circuit together provide a current limiting facility for the upper curtain position and back EMF generation for the controlled fail safe descent. Fire and test deployment is always by gravity, even when the mains and battery supplies are available. This system will operate under worst case (mains and battery failure) conditions. All fire curtains use rollers of 76mm diameter. The headbox is manufactured from mild steel angle with an overall dimension of 42mm having a weight of 1.76Kg per linear metre. For curtains less than 2.3m wide a 4.3Kg per linear metre bottom bar would be used to ensure correct deployment under gravity. The T bar can be powder coated to any standard RAL finish. fabric curtain steel roller bracket mild steel T bar removable cover plate Single roller head box - 180 mm wide x 180 mm high based upon a curtain drop of 3 metres, larger drops would require oversized boxes. The head box will be supplied with a galvanised steel finish although a powder coated or stainless steel finish can provided as an optional extra. Page 6

FC240/FC60 - Multiple Roller Automatic Fire Curtains Automatic fire curtains are now regularly used as an alternative to fire shutters, and building designers are requiring curtains to replace partition walls spanning large openings. Large single roller systems using support rollers were trialled but the supporting rollers soon damaged the fabric. Also the integrity of the fabric could not be guaranteed when the panels were sewn together on site. An overlapping system was preferred and subsequently tested to BS 476: pt22. Rollers with an overlap of 600 mm were installed in a mild steel head box joined with a common bottom bar. Integrity rating of 240 minutes and 60 minutes were achieved respectively. fabric curtain Fire curtains with multiple rollers use the same gravity fail safe method of operation as single roller fire curtains. Rollers with a diameter of 76 mm will be used for all multiple roller fire curtains steel roller bracket The head box is manufactured from 1.2mm galvanised steel. The box can be powder coated to any standard RAL finish. As shown in the diagram below the rollers will include for a 600mm overlap. The rollers must be positioned one above the other (over & under) to prevent the curtain gaping at the top and losing integrity. Curtains with a drop of 3.0m or less would be housed in a head box with dimensions of 180mm wide x 290mm high. mild steel T bar removable cover plate Page 7

Side Guide & Fire Curtain Head Box Typical Installation Details Fire curtain systems require side guides to provide a seal between the curtain fabric & the structure of the building. A fire will cause either positive or negative pressures, these pressures can cause the curtain to billow & pull the curtain fabric out of the side guides. Fabric retaining tabs are fixed to the edge of the curtain to prevent this occurring. The side guides are extruded from 2 mm galvanised steel. Powder coating is available as an optional extra. Unit dimensions 100 mm D x 50 mm W. Reveal fix side guide. The fixing into the structure is inserted through the back of the guide. Face fix side guide. A steel angle is fixed to the back of the guide. The angle is secured to the structure Fixed Ceiling Removable Ceiling Removable Ceiling Typical Head Box Arrangement A: Recessed box with a stopping bar leaving the bottom bar level with the ceiling. B: Flush mounted box. The cover plate can be made from 2 mm steel with a countersunk screws for improved aesthetics Page 8

Smoke & Fire Curtain Optional Extras Fig.1 Fig.2 2 Stage Descent Facility! Upon activation of the fire alarm system a timer in the Group Control Panel applies 24v from the integral battery to the brake unit. The curtain stops at a pre determined limit to form a partial barrier and also allow egress under the curtain. (Fig.1)! After the specified time limit has elapsed the 24v brake is released and the curtain will fall to the required drop height. (Fig.2) ALARM! ALARM! Fig.1 Fig.2 Fire Alarm Override Facility! Operation of the fire alarm system will result in the curtain descending. (Fig.1)! A remote key switch can be installed to allow the fire service to raise the curtain even though the fire alarm system is active. (Fig.2) Audio Visual Units! 24v audio visual units can be installed to warn people that the curtains in that area are descending. SB101/68/RR Stock Codes: SB/101/68/RR - 101dB, 68mA c/w deep mounting base. S90/AVU - 90dB, requires surface or flush mounting box. S90/AVU Page 9

Group Control Panel Specification Operation of the SD60, FC60 and FC240 automatic curtains is carried out via a Group Control Panel. Each GCP is capable of controlling up to 6 no. BLE 24v motor assemblies. In normal operating conditions the GCP will provide a 24v AC supply to the curtain motors and the curtains will be held in the retracted condition. Should smoke be detected, the fire alarm contact in the GCP will be opened by the fire alarm control system, the GCP will remove the 24v supply to the curtain motors and the curtains will descend under the power of gravity in a controlled manner. As soon as the fire alarm system is reset the GCP will reinstate the 24v supply to the curtain motors and the curtains will retract. Current limiting circuits will detect when the curtain has fully retracted and the supply voltage to the motor will step down to a holding voltage. Each GCP will be supplied with a 24v 7aph battery, this will enable full control of the system should the mains power fail. The battery voltage will be monitored, upon the voltage reaching 85% of the nominal charge it shall be disconnected and the curtains will deploy under gravity at a controlled speed. Power Supply - 230V 50Hz AC or 120-130V 60Hz AC Battery - Fire Signal - Test Facility - Indication - Panel Size - 2 x 7 aph Rechargeable Sealed Lead Acid Cells Open on fire - configured to be fail safe Key Switch Green LED = Mains Healthy Yellow LED = Battery Fault Red LED = Fuse Blown Green LED = Fire alarm Status Normal 396 mm High x 334 mm Wide x 105 mm Deep Motor Control Circuit Clean contact supplied by fire alarm, open on fire Group Control Panel can support up to 6 no. Motor control circuits 24v supply loop should not exceed 100 m when wired using 2.5 mm cable Page 10

Motor Control Circuit Specification 24v galvanised motor Optional 24v brake unit Overview Our 24v motor & motor control circuit were re-designed in 2001. A new control circuit now enables each motor to lift a weight of 20 Kg whilst still being capable of meeting the 2000 cycle test as required by BS 7346: part 3.The new power capabilities have enabled BLE to produce curtains with a 12.0 m drop on a roller width of 2.8 m as installed on the Nam Cheong project for the KCRC railway in Hong Kong. The motor control circuit is now housed in a remote enclosure to aid maintenance engineers. Access is now readily available to the control circuit to allow routine maintenance checks eradicating the need to extract the motor from the smoke curtain roller. Up to of 6 MCC s can be connected to the Group Control Panel. MCC Dimensions: 145 mm H x 250 mm L x 50 mm D Motor Specification Nominal Voltage: 24V Nominal Speed: 3100 rpm Motor Description The motors are permanent magnet DC Motors. Because of their modest size yet powerful capacity these motors are particularly suitable for semi-industrial applications such as rolling curtains or automatic doors. Design Our motors are designed to give a long, maintenance free service life. The careful selection of the appropriate components ensure a longer working life at the desired operating speeds. Gear Box Specification Continuous Torque: 1400 Ncm Efficiency: 0.70 Ratio: 100.00 Shaft Load Capacity - Axial: 150 N Shaft Load Capacity - Radial: 250 N Gear Description Planetery gears are particularly well suited to industrial applications. Equipped with a lubrication system with a high viscosity, these gears transmit higher torques. The double bearing output shafts can withstand large radial and axial forces with a self centering planetary wheel providing a symmetrical force distribution. Gravity fail safe operation Current limiting device incorporated, motor limit switches are not required Synchronised motor control circuitry, variable speed control is not required Back EMF controlled speed of descent, separate brake units are not required Up to 6 no. Motors can be controlled from each Group Control panel (dependant on tube size) Battery low voltage cut off facility, the curtains descend in a controlled manner Integral 24v brake unit available to provide a 2 stage descent. The brake unit is fed from timer circuits housed in the GCP to stop the curtains during descent allowing escape whilst still providing a partial barrier, the curtain then descends to the floor. Page 11

X32K - Fabric Specification Specification BLE Automatic SD60 and FC60 Curtain systems are manufactured from glass cloth with a micronised aluminium polymer coating on each side of the fabric. The raw material weight can be seen in the table below, however the fabric on a completed curtain will have a total weight of 540 g/m ² allowing for the hems, seams and thread used during the manufacturing process. This fabric is manufactured & tested to withstand 1000 Centigrade for a period of 60 minutes. All fabrics used in the manufacture of BLE SD60/FC60 curtains are manufactured from a unique "Panama" weave which offers a more even surface and allows a tighter interlacing of the fabric edges. The tensile strength of "Panama" weave fabric is 10% greater than other fabrics due to constant thread tension. The fabric is grey in colour, alternative RAL colours can be supplied although a minimum order quantity of 1000 linear metres will apply. Each curtain will be supplied with top and side hems, these shall be sewn using stainless steel thread. The stainless steel thread shall also be used to form the joining seams in larger curtains. Data Style: X32K Test Characteristics Unit Rating : 1000 C for 60 minutes Data as per examination Testing method/remark Total tested weight g/m² 540 + 5% DIN 53854 DIN 53854 Width mm 1000 + 1% DIN 53851 Thickness mm 0,43 + 5 % DIN 53855 T1 Weave Panama Threads/warp Fineness/warp Tensile strength/warp Per cm Tex N/cm 18,0 + 3% EC9-68x2 + 5% 900 EN 1049 DIN 53830 DIN 53857 T1 Threads/weft Fineness/weft Tensile strength/weft Per cm Tex N/cm 11,5 + 3% EC9-68x2 + 5% 500 + 10% EN 1049 DIN 53830 DIN 53857 T1 Coating Quantity One side/ both sides G/m² 1/2 35 + 5% 2 DIN 52273 Application temperature ºC 500 (Glass) oven - test Magnified View Page 12

C41000WK - Fabric Specification Specification BLE Automatic FC240 Curtain systems are generally manufactured from stainless steel, wire reinforced, woven glass fibre fabric coated on each size with silver polyurethane. The raw material weight can be seen in the table below, however the fabric on a completed curtain will have a total weight of 700 g/m² allowing for the hems, seams and thread used during the manufacturing process. C41000WK fabric is rated at 1000 Centigrade for a period of 270 minutes. The fabric is grey in colour. Alternative RAL colours can be supplied although a minimum order quantity of 1000 linear metres will apply. Each curtain will be supplied with top and side hems, these shall be sewn using stainless steel thread. The stainless steel thread shall also be used to form the joining seams in larger curtains. Data Style: C41000WK Test Characteristics Unit Rating: 1000 C for 270 minutes Data as per examination Testing method/remark Total tested weight g/m² 700 + 5 % DIN 53854 Width mm 1000 + 1 % DIN 53851 Thickness mm 0,50 + 5 % DIN 53855 T1 Weave Leinwand Threads/warp Fineness/warp Tensile strength/ warp Per cm Tex N/cm 16,0 + 3 % EC9-68x2 +V4A + 5 % 450 EN 1049 DIN 53830 DIN 53857 T1 Threads/weft Fineness/weft Tensile strength/weft Per cm Tex N/cm 10,0 + 3% * + 5% 550 + 10% EN 1049 DIN 53830 DIN 53857 T1 Coating Quantity One side/ both sides G/m² 1/2 35 + 5% 2 DIN 52273 Application temperature ºC oven - test Page 13 Magnified View

Fixed Position Smoke Curtains The top hem of the curtain is secured, using self tapping screws, to a 40 x 40 x 0.9 mm galvanised mild steel angle which is fixed to the site steelwork. A pocket hem is provided at the bottom edge of the curtains to allow the insertion of a steel rod to aid stability. To ensure that all penetrations are smoke tight the surrounding curtain fabric should be sealed using either metal gaskets or fire resistant tape. Cuts made in the fabric would be sewn using stainless steel thread. galvanised mild steel angle self-tapping screw with washer reinforced hem conduit pocket BLE Fixed Curtains are manufactured as standard from a white EKC 404 woven, continuous filament glass cloth, with a nominal weight of 440g per square metre. This material is tested to the requirements of BS 476:Parts 4 & 7. Other fabrics such as our X32K Smoke Curtain fabric & C41000WK Fire Curtain fabric could also be utilised dependant on the project specification. The Fixed Curtain fabric panels would be machine sewn using stainless steel thread. We would not staple or glue the fabric on site. Page 14

Test Name Test House Test Parameter BS 476: Part 22 Warrington Fire Vertical Fire Curtain, Single up to 6m width and Overlapping with unlimited overlap and 7m drop. 240 mins FR and integrity. BS EN 1364-1, BS EN 1364-2 BRE FR & Integrity 180 minutes overlapped curtain BS EN 1363 1, BS EN 1363-2 BS EN 1634 1 BS EN 1634 3 Fire Curtain Test Reports Provided E60 (integrity) I30(insulation) Smoke Control for Fire Doors & Shutters demonstrating Air Leakage through System AS1530.4 Branz Australasia FR & Integrity Test 125 minutes EN 55024 EMC Authorised declaration of conformity for electrical components EN 12101 Part C & D Warrington Fire Pressurised Air Leakage Test, 2hr FR/Integrity Test EN1634 3 Warrington Fire Pressurised Air Leakage Test in accordance with EN12101 not to exceed <25m3 UL 10 C and D UL USA Standards for Fire & Smoke Protective Curtains Test Name Test House Test Parameters EN 12101 Part B BRE Reliability & Response Time Test 10m wide x 3m drop specimen 3m wide x 10m drop specimen EN 12101 Part C Warrington Fire Pressurised Air Leakage Test EN 12101 Part D Warrington Fire 2hr FR & Integrity Test EN1634 3 Warrington Fire Pressurised Air Leakage Test in accordance with EN12101 not to exceed <25m3 BS 7346: Part 3: 1990 BS 476: Part 6: 1989 BS 476: Part 22: 1987 Smoke Curtain Test Reports Warrington Fire: WFRC No. C82984 WFRC No. 121880 WFRC No. 103023 WFRC No. 103547 WFRC No. 100909 Warrington Fire WFRC No. 72503 Warrington Fire WFRC No. 121878/ BRE BRE No. 211081 Tested to Clauses: 3.2.3 and 4.3 4.1 4.2 and 3.2.3 4.2 and 3.2.3 4.2 To determine the fire propagation index of specimens of a product when they are tested in accordance with BS 476: Part 6: 1989 Fire tests on building materials and structures, method of test for fire propagation for products. WFRC: Fire Resistance Test in accordance with Clause 8 of BS 476: Part 22: 1987 on an Asymmetrical Un-insulated Drop Curtain BRE: on a 2 barrel, Un-insulated Drop Curtain UL 10 B and D UL USA Standards for Fire & Smoke Protective Curtains Page 15

Unit 3 Holbrook Commerce Park Holbrook Rise Sheffield S20 3FJ Tel: +44 (0) 114 251 4703 Fax: +44 (0) 114 251 3908 E Mail: curtains@blegroup.co.uk Distributor Details Gravity Fail Safe, Automatic Smoke and Fire Curtain Systems www.blegroup.co.uk/curtains BLE reserve the right to change colour, price or specification without prior notice MSW/Curtain/Product_Catalogue/Vers.006