Standards for Opening Protections in Fire and Smoke Walls

Understanding testing standards is essential for correctly designing and specifying systems that protect smoke barriers, smoke partitions, fire barriers, fire partitions, and firewalls.

At Door Systems we provide expert guidance in selecting, specifying, and installing fire-rated and smoke-rated door systems that comply with the latest testing standards. Our team ensures that your doors integrate seamlessly with fire and smoke barriers while meeting all regulatory requirements. Whether your project involves commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, mixed-use, multifamily, or industrial complexes, we offer a wide range of tested and certified products designed to enhance fire protection and life safety.

Defining Standards that are often mentioned but frequently confused or misinterpreted.

ASTM E84– Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

ASTM E84 is a widely used test that evaluates materials’ flame spread and smoke development when exposed to fire. Conducted in a Steiner tunnel, the test measures how quickly flames spread across the surface of a material and the amount of smoke produced, assigning a Flame Spread Index (FSI) and Smoke Developed Index (SDI). This classification helps determine a material’s suitability for use in building construction, ensuring compliance with fire safety codes and regulations.

ANSI/UL 1784- Standard for Air Leakage Tests of Door Assemblies

UL 1784 evaluates the air leakage performance of door assemblies, including their ability to limit the passage of smoke and air under pressure differentials. This test is crucial for fire and smoke-rated doors, ensuring they help control the movement of smoke in buildings, especially in life safety applications. The standard measures air leakage rates at ambient and elevated temperatures, assisting in the classification and compliance of doors with building codes and fire protection requirements.

Both ASTM E84 and UL 1784 have been the industry standards for Elevator Smoke Containment, as defined in the International Building Code (IBC) 3006.3, Elevator hoistway door protection.

Door Systems provides Syntegra Elevator Smoke Doors or DSI-600 Smoke Curtains to satisfy the building codes’ requirements for eliminating elevator lobbies.

DSI- 600 Elevator Smoke Curtain

Syntegra Integrated Fire Doors for Elevator Applications

While other manufacturers stop here, Door Systems has provided innovative solutions for almost 20 years. The introduction of UL 10D Fire Protective Smoke Curtains has been a fast-moving sector, ranging from elevator applications to atriums, mezzanines, and other large open spaces that need to mitigate the passage of smoke.

DSI- 600 Fire Rated Elevator Smoke Curtain in Los Angeles, CA

DSI-A4HR Accordion Fire-Smoke Curtain @ Escalator

DSI-C3HR Automatic Fire Protective Smoke Curtain @ Atrium

UL 10D Fire Tests of Fire-Protective Curtain Assemblies

The UL 10D test requirements cover the evaluation of fire-protective curtain assemblies intended to provide supplemental, passive fire protection as part of an engineered fire protection system.

Fire-protective curtain assemblies are horizontally or vertically oriented. They provide nonstructural separation only and are not intended to substitute for structural hourly rated partitions or opening protectives that have been tested for fire endurance and hose stream performance.

Door Systems UL 10D Fire-Protective Curtain Assemblies are a great solution for containing smoke (UL 1784) and are recognized by the 2024 International Building Code (IBC), Chapter 7 Fire and Smoke Protection, 716.4 Fire protective curtain assembly.

Visit our UL 10D webpage for a complete vertical and horizontal smoke curtains list.

Furnace Test of Fabric Fire Curtain

What is UL 10B with Hose Stream Test?

A more robust rating is generally required when opening protection is needed in fire walls, barriers, or partitions. That’s where Door Systems, as you covered with the introduction of UL10B Hose Stream Rated Curtain Products.

DSI-HS10B Hose Stream Rated Smoke and Fire Curtain

With a UL10B 3-hour fire rating, the DSI-HS10B Fire Curtain can be used in fire walls and fire barrier walls as a replacement solution to traditional Coiling Steel Fire doors.

DSI-HHS10B Hose Stream Rated Horizontal Fire Shutter

The DSI-HHS10B Hose Stream Rated Horizontal Fire Shutter allows architects to compartmentalize large floor openings, reducing the need for mechanical smoke evacuation systems.

DSI-FW119 Deployable Fabric Fire Wall

The DSI Deployable Fire Wall incorporates the cutting-edge technology of our Hose Stream Rated Smoke and Fire Curtain but with the advantage of being tested under UL 263, ASTM E119 as a 2-hour fire rated wall assembly.

DSI-HSM10B Manual Hose Stream Rated Smoke and Fire Curtain

With a UL 10B fire rating up to 180-minutes, the DSI-HSM10B Fire Curtain can be used in firewalls and fire barrier walls as a replacement solution to traditional Coiling Steel Fire Shutters using a fusible link with no need for electronics or fire alarm contact.

UL 10B Standard for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies

The UL 10B test exposes a specimen to a standard fire exposure controlled to achieve specified temperatures throughout a specified time period, followed by the application of a specified standard fire hose stream. These methods of fire tests are applicable to door assemblies of various materials and types of construction for use in wall openings to retard the passage of fire.

When applied to fabric fire curtains, these principles are crucial. Fabric fire curtains serve as flexible fire barriers, similar to fire doors, and must also undergo standardized testing to verify their fire resistance and durability. Like door assemblies, fabric fire curtains are evaluated for their ability to withstand fire for a designated period, ensuring they effectively compartmentalize fire and smoke in a building. While the testing conditions may not replicate all real-world fire scenarios, they offer a reliable benchmark for assessing the protective capabilities of fabric fire curtains in fire-rated applications.

Note: UL 10D Fire-Protective Curtain Assemblies tested to UL 10B are not limited in fire rating since they include the Hose Stream Test.

Hose Stream Test after Furnace Fire Test

ASTM E2226 Standard Practice for Application of Hose Stream

ASTM E2226 establishes procedures for applying a fire hose stream to test specimens after fire exposure in fire resistance tests. This practice evaluates the structural integrity and durability of materials or assemblies by simulating the impact of firefighting efforts. The hose stream test helps determine whether a material can withstand mechanical and thermal stress, ensuring its reliability in real fire conditions.

What about oversized openings in Fire Barriers?

Is there a Fabric Fire Curtain that can overcome the limitations of IBC Section 707.6 Openings? : “Openings in a fire barrier shall be protected in accordance with Section 716. Openings shall be limited to a maximum aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall, and the maximum area of any single opening shall not exceed 156 square feet (15 m2).”

The answer is Yes!

DSI Deployable Fabric Fire Wall

The DSI Deployable Fabric Fire Wall Model DSI-FW119 allows architects to exceed the maximum 25% fire barrier opening penetration restriction (IBC Section 707.6). Typical overhead or side-acting opening protectives with a fire-resistance rating fall into this limitation.

However, with an ASTM E119/ UL263 rating, the DSI Moveable Fabric Fire Wall is considered a wall and, therefore, meets the exception (Exception 3) and is not limited to this rule.

The DSI Moveable Fabric Fire Wall consists of two insulated DSI Hose Stream Rated Smoke and Fire Curtains mounted back-to-back to create a small, lightweight package above the ceiling that remains virtually invisible until deployed. The curtains consist of proprietary lightweight multi-layered insulated fire-rated fiberglass/stainless steel fabric and slim steel side guides that can be hidden in the walls.

The DSI ASTM E119 Fabric Fire Wall incorporates the cutting-edge technology of our Hose Stream Rated Smoke and Fire Curtain but with the advantage of being tested as a 2-hour fire-rated wall assembly. This allows architects more cost-effective options for open space design while still meeting code requirements.

DSI-FW119 Deployable Fire Wall

With our deep industry knowledge and commitment to quality, we can assist you in choosing the right materials, hardware, and installation methods to optimize your fire-rated assemblies. Additionally, we offer ongoing inspection and maintenance services to ensure continued compliance and performance throughout the life cycle of your building.

Let us help you navigate the complexities of fire door standards and ensure your next project is built to the highest safety standards.