Elevator Smoke Curtains vs. Lobby Compartmentation | CBC Compliance Guide

CBC-compliant BLE Elevator Smoke Curtains installed by Vanguard provide effective smoke and fire containment across multiple elevator openings while meeting California Building Code smoke containment requirements and preserving modern design aesthetics.

When it comes to life safety and smoke and fire protection in modern buildings, elevator shafts present a unique challenge. Elevator shafts are a permanent breach to a building’s fire and smoke compartmentation. During a fire, elevator shafts can act as a chimney and quickly spread smoke throughout the building which is a threat to occupants and egress evacuation routes.

Traditionally, designers have relied on elevator lobby compartmentation to meet code and control smoke spread. Now, the California Building Code (CBC) allows for alternative elevator smoke containment systems, such as BLE Smoke and Fire Curtains provided by CA exclusive distributor Vanguard Smoke and Fire Curtains as a performance basis of design product alternative that meets the same fire and life safety objectives and code requirements with greater flexibility and efficiency.

What is an Elevator Lobby Compartmentation?

Elevator lobby compartmentation is a smoke and fire control approach required by many building codes. For years, elevator lobby compartmentation has been the standard fire safety solution to prevent smoke from moving throughout the building through elevator shafts while occupants evacuate.

It’s a simple and highly effective idea that provides maximum smoke and fire containment. The concept involves surrounding elevators with smoke and fire-rated curtains that activate during an emergency smoke and fire event to form an enclosed and protected lobby that prevents smoke and fire spread. A smoke and fire curtain lobby solution would also be ideal for containing or redirecting smoke in buildings with open-air atriums. 

Elevator lobby compartmentation works and is best for:

• An all-in-one solution –– This smoke and fire safety solution is ideal for buildings that must protect and compartmentalize multiple elevators at once in case of emergency.

• Enhances safety and architectural design –– Vanguard’s elevator lobby design configures smoke/fire curtains rated from 60 to 180 minutes of fire resistance into a three-sided elevator lobby that will drop in case of emergency. This concept allows for increased safety and architectural design freedom by removing the need for physical and permanent smoke and fire partitions.

• Customization –– At Vanguard, we understand the importance of architectural design and occupancy safety. Our smoke and fire curtain safety solutions allow for specialized and customized design offerings with our innovative overlap technology to create near infinite curtain widths to meet your building’s needs.

What is an Elevator Smoke Curtain?

Elevator smoke curtains are a smoke containment system that automatically deploys during a fire to seal the elevator opening and prevent smoke mitigation from entering or exiting the hoistway. When a fire alarm or smoke detector activates, the curtain automatically deploys, sealing the elevator opening to keep smoke from entering or escaping the shaft.

Vanguard provides design, installation and maintenance services for BLE smoke and fire curtains, which are compact, automatic barriers that are installed above the elevator door and only drop in case of a smoke and fire emergency. The curtain housing is recessed into the finished ceiling above the elevator and is discreet and nonintrusive during normal building operation and automatically deploys when a smoke detector is activated.

Installing elevator smoke and fire curtains are an ideal and cost-effective solution for buildings that need to protect and seal off elevator hoistway openings only. Buildings with elevator shafts that do not need to protect open spaces during a smoke and fire emergency should consider an elevator lobby containment system instead.

Elevator smoke curtains have many advantages including:

• Compact and discreet –– Vanguard’s smoke and fire curtains are installed above the elevator door and are out of the way which preserves architectural aesthetic and design while still prioritizing safety.

• Fully code compliant –– Our curtains meet California Building Code requirements and are UL 1784-tested for smoke and draft control.

• Lower cost –– less construction, fewer fire-rated construction materials and less time for installation.

Why Choose Vanguard Smoke and Fire Curtains?

At Vanguard Smoke and Fire Curtains, we specialize in installing BLE Smoke and Fire Curtain Systems — trusted worldwide for providing quality, performance, and fire safety compliance.

We provide:

• CBC compliant and ICC-ES, CA SFM and OSHPD-approved systems for all building types

• Full design support to integrate curtains seamlessly into any project types or occupancies.

• Certified installation and maintenance backed by BLE’s global engineering expertise

Whether you’re designing a new high-rise, mid-rise, renovating a commercial building or seeking code compliance solutions, Vanguard helps you protect occupants, preserve design intent, and meet California’s fire protection standards.

Protect your building. Preserve your design. Stay code compliant — with Vanguard Smoke and Fire Curtains.