The DSI Hose Stream Rated Horizontal Fire Shutter, a horizontal fabric fire shutter, allows architects to compartmentalize large floor openings and reduce or eliminate mechanical smoke evacuation systems. A solution to design challenges of preventing smoke and fire from spreading through the ceiling and atrium voids, stairwells, and skylights.

The UL 10B Horizontal Fire Shutter consists of a light gauge compact steel headbox that houses the roller, fabric, and motor within the casing to create a small package that remains virtually invisible until deployed. The curtain consists of a lightweight proprietary multi-layered fire-rated fiberglass/ stainless steel fabric and slim steel side guides.

The DSI-HHS10B Hose Stream Rated Horizontal Fire Shutter incorporates the cutting-edge technology of our UL 10D curtain products but with the advantage of being tested and labeled to 2 hours UL 10B with Hose Stream.

 

Cleveland Foundation Headquarters

Atrium Photo of DSI-HHS10B Hose Stream Rated Horizontal Fire Shutter

 

2024 International Building Code (IBC)

CHAPTER 4 SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY AND USE
404.6 Enclosure of atriums

Atrium spaces shall be separated from adjacent spaces by a 1-hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.

Atrium Photo: Photo Credit ICC – I Codes

Video of Progress during Construction

 

 

Video of completed project

 

 

“I recently had a DSI UL 10B horizontal fire curtain installed at the Cleveland Foundation’s facilities, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the entire process. From start to finish, the project went incredibly smoothly. The team’s professionalism and attention to detail were outstanding, making the installation seamless and efficient. The fire curtain works perfectly every time and looks great. I am truly impressed with their work’s quality and commitment to customer satisfaction. I highly recommend Door Systems and their DSI smoke and fire curtains, and I look forward to using their services again.”

-Darryl Bradley, Facilities Director for the Cleveland Foundation

 

Code Updated for IBC 2024

CHANGE SIGNIFICANCE: Due to the limitations regarding the self-preservation capability of occupants in Group I-2 and Group I-1, Condition 2 occupancies, it has historically been important to limit smoke movement under fire conditions. The mandate for smoke compartmentation in such occupancies is a key concept in controlling the smoke movement. One of the basic premises of the atrium requirements is that an engineered smoke control system combined with an automatic fire sprinkler system that is properly supervised provides an adequate alternative to the fire-resistance rating of a shaft enclosure. It is also recognized that some form of a boundary is required to assist the smoke control system in containing smoke to just the atrium area. The basic requirement, therefore, is that the atrium space be separated from adjacent areas by fire barriers and horizontal assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of at least 1 hour.

Source: https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2024P1/chapter-4-special-detailed-requirements-based-on-occupancy-and-use#IBC2024P1_Ch04_Sec404.6

At Door Systems, we believe in building stronger communities through our products and services and actively supporting initiatives that make a tangible difference. For this past holiday season, we were proud to sponsor HomeAid Orange County’s Stock the Pantry event, a community-driven effort to provide essential food and cleaning supplies to residents moving into the newly built FX Residences.

Making an Impact

From November 25 to December 13, individuals, teams, and organizations came together to adopt units at FX Residences in Santa Ana, CA, gathering essential items like canned goods, rice, pasta, and cleaning supplies to support those transitioning into stable housing. The initiative provided much-needed resources and strengthened community bonds, ensuring residents had the foundation to begin their next chapter.

A Personal Connection

For one of our employees at Door Systems, this initiative hit close to home. Having grown up in the FX Residences community in Santa Ana, he shared how meaningful it was to return and see the efforts made to restore and uplift the area.

“It’s incredible to see organizations coming together to make a difference in the community I was raised in. Seeing the dedication to helping families settle into stable housing makes me hopeful for the future of this neighborhood.”

– Salvador Perez, Director of Design & Development @ Door Systems

Coming Together for a Cause

On December 13, volunteers delivered the collected items to FX Residences, where they helped stock the pantry for those in need. Through collaboration and generosity, HomeAid Orange County and its partners, including Door Systems, Brookfield Residential, Pacific Life, Shea Homes, and others, impacted families and individuals moving into safe, secure housing.

Why It Matters

At Door Systems, we are committed to more than just business—we are committed to helping our communities thrive. Partnering with HomeAid Orange County allows us to take meaningful action in fighting homelessness and housing insecurity. By supporting programs like Stock the Pantry, we help ensure that newly housed individuals have access to the essentials that make a house feel like home.

Looking Ahead

We are honored to have been part of this initiative and look forward to continuing our partnership with HomeAid Orange County in the years to come. If you’re looking for a way to give back, consider joining HomeAid’s efforts—because together, we can build stronger communities.

Learn more about HomeAid Orange County and how you can support their mission:

HomeAid Orange County has approached the crisis of homelessness with a unique and collaborative mindset. Their mission is to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through: construction, community engagement, and education.

Elevator smoke curtains play a vital role in ensuring the safety of occupants in high-rise buildings during fire emergencies.

These systems are designed to prevent smoke from spreading through elevator shafts, which can act as chimneys that rapidly draw smoke to upper floors.

By creating a barrier to block smoke from entering the elevator shaft, the smoke containment system helps maintain a smoke-free evacuation path for building occupants. This is critical for allowing people to safely exit the building via the stairs without being overcome by smoke inhalation.

The smoke containment system usually consists of a curtain of non-combustible material that deploys from the elevator shaft ceiling to seal off the opening when triggered by a smoke detector.

Some systems also pressurize the elevator shaft with clean air to further prevent smoke infiltration. In addition to enabling safe evacuation, elevator smoke containment helps firefighters utilize the elevators for staging and rescue operations by keeping the shafts clear of smoke.

Properly functioning smoke containment is an essential fire safety feature in tall buildings where many occupants would struggle to evacuate quickly enough by stairs alone. It works in tandem with other fire safety elements like alarms, sprinklers and pressurized stairwells to protect lives in the event of a high-rise fire emergency.

Manufacturers are making significant strides in developing new smoke containment technologies to enhance passenger safety. One promising advancement is the use of transparent elevator smoke curtains that deploy automatically when smoke is detected, creating a barrier to prevent smoke from entering the elevator cab while still allowing passengers to see out.

Another key innovation is the increased use of fire-rated materials in elevator construction, from the paneling and flooring to the wiring and mechanical components.

These specialized materials are designed to withstand intense heat and flames for extended periods, helping to keep smoke and fire from spreading to the elevator shafts and other parts of the building.

With stricter safety regulations and ongoing research, smoke containment is becoming an increasingly critical aspect of modern elevator systems.

When developing a comprehensive fire safety plan for a building, it’s critical to account for the many complex, interconnected elements that could impact fire and smoke control. From the windows, doors, elevators, and stairwells to the prominent atrium in the front lobby, careful planning is required to effectively mitigate the spread of fire and smoke in the event of an emergency.

Fire and smoke curtains offer a simple, cost-effective way to manage fire and smoke in an emergency. They can be configured to fit and protect any space, making them a more affordable alternative to engineered ventilation systems.

It’s crucial to understand that different types of curtains serve different functions. When selecting the right fire and smoke curtains for your building, it’s important to consider whether your goal is to contain the fire or facilitate evacuation. This understanding will guide you in choosing the appropriate method or combination of methods.

Elevator Smoke Curtains

In a fire emergency, elevator smoke curtains play a crucial role. They work in tandem with fire-rated elevator doors to prevent smoke from entering the elevator and migrating to other floors through the elevator shafts. These curtains are designed to deploy automatically when activated by the nearest smoke detector or fire alarm, rolling down over the elevator doors to create a tight seal.

When selecting a smoke curtain for your elevator system, there are several important factors to consider:

1. When selecting an elevator smoke curtain, ensure the dimensions – both width and height – are appropriate to fully cover the entire elevator opening for proper functionality.
2. The depth or distance between the wall and the face of the elevator door frame is commonly referred to as the “return.” Certain elevator smoke curtain models have specific return requirements, so you may need to choose a customizable model to meet your needs.
3. Elevator smoke curtain housings can be mounted to the door frame, ceiling, or valence. It is important to determine which mounting option is compatible with your elevators.
4. Elevator smoke curtains are designed with power-failure contingencies in mind and do not require power to deploy. Most systems incorporate a battery backup to ease egress during a power outage; this can also help prevent unnecessary and disruptive deployments during minor power failures.

Fire Curtains

Fire curtains, constructed from fire-resistant materials, are engineered to contain or impede the spread of flames throughout a building.

If you’re planning to install fire curtains, keep the following in mind:

1. Fire curtains come in vertical and horizontal configurations to address different fire safety needs. Vertical curtains are installed around stairwells and escalators to facilitate occupant evacuation during a fire. Horizontal curtains are used to divide an atrium into smaller areas, which helps limit the spread of fire. Window curtains contain fires at exterior windows. In large, multi-story buildings, a combination of these various fire curtain types is often required to provide comprehensive fire safety.
2. When selecting fire curtains, it’s important to consider their fire protection and endurance ratings. While we hope emergency responders can arrive quickly, the time it takes for them to control a fire may vary depending on your location and building size. To ensure adequate safety, choose fire curtains rated to withstand flames long enough for the fire department to contain the spread.
3. When selecting a fire curtain system, it’s crucial to consider the space requirements for housing the curtain when not in use. Fire curtains can cover expansive areas, with Door System’s model capable of spanning spaces hundreds of feet wide.
4. To ensure fire curtains can be deployed even during a building-wide power outage, they should be installed with a backup battery system. Additionally, some fire curtain systems can be connected to the building’s standby power supply. It’s crucial to properly install and power the fire curtains to guarantee they function correctly in an emergency.
5. When selecting a fire curtain system, prioritize ease of operation. Fire curtains are effective at protecting evacuating building occupants, but there may be situations where a curtain needs to be opened – either to facilitate exit flow or allow more people into the stairwell. It’s important to choose a model that is simple to operate and can be quickly used by occupants during an emergency.

When selecting smoke and fire curtains for your building, be sure to understand the maintenance and testing requirements for this critical fire safety equipment. Proper care and regular checks are essential, as smoke and fire curtains play a vital role in any comprehensive fire safety plan.