Where Are Smoke and Fire Curtains Required in Commercial Buildings?

Vanguard Smoke & Fire Curtains installs in commercial warehouses and other occupancy types that need smoke and fire protection to help contain smoke during emergencies to improve building and occupant safety.

Walk into almost any modern commercial building and you’ll notice the same trend: open lobbies, multi-story atriums, glass walls, wide corridors and flexible floor plans. Today’s architecture is designed to feel connected, open and expansive. But, from a life-safety perspective, those same features create challenges for smoke containment and fire safety that must be addressed during design and construction to keep occupants safe during emergencies. One of the most common and optimal solutions for modern smoke and fire safety is the use of smoke and fire curtains, which Vanguard specializes in.

Smoke and fire curtains are deployable fire protection systems that remain concealed until activated by a building’s fire alarm system. When triggered with the local detector, the curtains automatically descend to prevent smoke migration smoke or compartmentalize fire. In many commercial projects, they are not always optional upgrades — they are code-required components from local and state agencies having jurisdiction.

Smoke and fire safety requirements change depending on the type of building or occupancy group in need of smoke and fire protection. Occupancy types are mandated by the CBC or IBC and provide guidance on necessary building safety measures. For example, Vanguard’s ESC or SC60GS smoke curtains are great options for elevator and hoistway door smoke protection in commercial or multi-residential buildings with many elevators whereas draft curtains are more appropriate for large industrial warehouse buildings with high ceilings. Here’s a quick guide to different building types where smoke and fire curtain protection are needed:

Lobbies in Commercial Buildings

Large open lobbies are one of the most common areas where smoke curtains are required. Whether in office towers, healthcare facilities, hotels or mixed-use developments, lobbies often connect to multiple floors or adjacent spaces. Smoke containment is crucial in these areas because they serve as central gathering and circulation areas for occupants.

Smoke curtains are frequently installed in lobby areas to create separations between elevator banks, corridors and open seating areas. Instead of installing intrusive and clunky magnetic fire doors that interrupt the aesthetic and design, deployable curtains provide the necessary smoke compartmentation when needed. This allows architects to maintain an open and welcoming lobby design while still meeting life-safety requirements.

Atriums and Multi-Story Open Spaces

Atriums are visually striking and are often incorporated in building designs to open a building’s open floor plan, let natural light inside and simulate nature aesthetics indoors. As aesthetically pleasing as atriums are, they present significant smoke control concerns. Atriums are one large open space in the center of a building that connects multiple floors vertically, which creates a chimney effect during a fire causing smoke to rise and spread throughout a building quickly. Because of this, sufficient smoke control and containment strategies, per building code, need to be in place.

Smoke curtains are the most effective way to control and contain smoke in buildings with a large open space because they can seal off the perimeter of the atrium in the center on multiple floors. Vanguard’s smoke and fire curtains can be installed to deploy vertically during emergencies to create a barrier and contain smoke from every floor that is exposed and accessible to the atrium – from the ground floor to the highest level. By sealing off the atrium with a barrier of Vanguard’s smoke and fire-rated and building code-approved curtains, occupants are protected from hazardous and, potentially fatal, smoke inhalation during emergency evacuations.

Cross Corridor Applications

Corridors are another area where smoke curtains are often required, particularly in healthcare facilities, educational buildings and large office complexes. Corridor openings are designed to limit smoke migration between different smoke compartments within a building.

In many cases, codes require these openings to be protected due to corridors connecting parts of the building with high-occupancy traffic. Installing smoke and fire curtains with an integrated egress flap can serve as an alternative to traditional swinging fire doors, especially in high-traffic areas and egress routes. Vanguard’s smoke and fire curtains remain concealed during normal operations and deploy automatically in an emergency, helping to maintain clear pathways while still providing code-compliant containment solutions.

Draft Curtains in Warehouses and Industrial Facilities

In large commercial and industrial facilities, such as warehouses, distribution and manufacturing centers, draft stops are commonly required by building code as part of the smoke control system. Draft curtains are designed to contain and channel smoke in high-ceiling environments up toward the building's ventilation and sprinkler system.

Warehouses and other large industrial facilities often have expansive open floor areas with tall ceiling heights. Draft curtains, either static or motorized, are installed at the roof level and create smoke reservoirs and direct smoke toward exhaust points. This improves the effectiveness of sprinkler systems and mechanical smoke control strategies.

In these environments, draft curtains are not simply optional enhancements — they are code-compliant components from local and state agencies that have jurisdiction over building safety and appropriate smoke and fire protection.

Planning or Developing a Commercial Project? Vanguard is Here to Help

If your project includes a large lobby, multi-story atrium, cross-corridor openings, elevator banks, open stairs, escalators or a high-ceiling warehouse space, there is a strong possibility that smoke curtains, fire curtains or draft curtains will be required and Vanguard is here to help.

Vanguard Smoke & Fire Curtains works with architects, developers and contractors to evaluate building layouts, interpret building code and design systems that are appropriate and required for your specific building type. Vanguard tailors smoke and fire protection specifically to your building and integrates seamlessly into the project. Properly engineered and professionally installed smoke containment systems from Vanguard protect occupants, satisfy code requirements and preserve the architectural integrity of the space.

Understanding where smoke and fire curtains are required is the first step toward building safer, compliant commercial environments — without compromising design. Reach out to our team today and let's get started on smoke and fire protection in your new project today at (888) 584-0002. #firecurtains #smokecurtains #smokeandfirecurtains #buildingsafety #californiabuildingcode #vanguardsmokeandfirecurtains