DIVISION 7: MOISTURE PROTECTION

SECTION 078700 SMOKE CONTAINMENT BARRIERS

SECTION 078700 AUTOMATIC SMOKE CURTAIN

1.0 GENERAL

1.1 DESCRIPTION

The scope of works includes the supply and installation of an automatic smoke
curtain system that comprises curtain assemblies, motors, brakes and controls, with
activation by a control signal from an automatic detection system and/or manual
override from the fire command centre as spelt out in M&E Smoke Control
specifications, and reference to the Bills of quantities and contract documents in
general.

1.2 STANDARDS

The components of the smoke curtain assemblies shall be manufactured in

accordance with:

 BS 8519
 ISO 9001: 1987 or later for the Design, Manufacture, Installation, Testing and
Commissioning of Smoke Curtain System.
or equivalent proposed by the Contractor subject to approval.

1.3 SUBMITTALS

1. Shop Drawings

The Contractor is to submit complete large scale shop drawings inclusive of these
showing all dimensions, details of construction/fabrication, installation etc.

2. Technical Data &Test Reports

The Contractor is to submit all technical data; and test reports. Together with the
shop drawings and this specification, these are to strictly be with no claim for any
additional cost or time incurred by the Contractor.

3. Samples

The Contractor is to supply product samples of the smoke curtain with the actual
thickness; weight; and finish. Samples of the smoke curtain are to be provided free
of cost and all subsequent materials delivered to site are to be equal to the approved
sample/s.

4. As-built Drawings

During construction, the Contractor is to maintain accurate records of the actual

construction of the smoke curtain works. This information is to be consolidated by the
Contractor on prints of drawings and supplied to the Employer and is to form the
basis of an as-built record of the finally constructed Contract Works.
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1.4 PERFORMANCE

1. General

The automatic smoke curtain system shall comprise of curtain assemblies, motors,
brakes and controls. The activation of the smoke curtain system shall be by a control
signal from an automatic detection system and / or manual override from the fire
command centre.

To avoid the risk of injury, the curtain shall fail safe gravity descend in a controlled
manner to their operational positions under the following conditions:

a. Mains power failure

b. Emergency power failure
c. Back-up battery power failure
d. All the above.

Status of Smoke Control Equipment During a

Fire Scenario with the following conditions :
TABLE ON FAIL SAFE
REQUIREMENTS Mains Emergency Battery Complete
Power Power Power Power
Failure Failure Failure Failure

Gravity Fall Fail-safe

Automatic Smoke DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN
Curtain System

The braking systems must not rely upon battery power and power up & power down
system shall not be accepted.

2. Smoke Curtain Assemblies

The components of the smoke curtain assemblies shall be manufactured in

accordance with BS 8519; or equivalent proposed by the Contractor subject to
approval. A factory certificate shall be issued by the manufacturer to certify this.

All the materials used in the construction of the smoke curtains shall be impervious to
smoke and should not add to the fire risk nor contribute to a fire during use.

The curtain fabric shall be coiled onto an octagonal shaped tubular roller during
ambient conditions. The curtain assemblies shall be housed within galvanized mild
steel enclosure with the curtain bottom bar fully flush with the ceiling to the Architect’s
/ design team’s detail.

Summary test report shall be prepared to relate the results of the tests to the
requirements for a Class O surface of a material or composite product. The results of
the tests detailed shall demonstrate that the smoke curtain complies with the
requirements for Class O, as defined in BS 476: Part 7: 1997 or later: Method of
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test to determine the classification of the surface spread of flame of products and
BS 476: Part 6: 1989 or later: Method of test for fire propagation.
Bottom bars of curtains will seat exactly flush with ceilings. If limit switches are
utilized, the supplier will provide evidence to demonstrate that an alignment tolerance
of + 1.0 mm will be achieved.

[Note]: Limit switches are generally not reliable in terms of durability. Full guarantees
shall be provided for any limit switches used in the tender.

3. Motor Specification

To allow the curtain to be reset in the raised position after operation or testing, a
motor shall be provided with curtain assembly. To ensure the integrity of a fail-safe
smoke control system is maintained, the smoke curtain shall be designed to be
gravity fail-safe, in other words, drop by gravity during a complete power failure
situation.

[Note]: Powered Up / Powered Down system will not drop under a complete power
failure, it is not a fail-safe system. Therefore, it upsets the integrity of a fail-safe
system and it should not be used at all.

4. Retarding Mechanism

A means of controlling the rate of descent of the curtain is required to minimize the
risk of injury to building occupants and to protect the curtain from damage on
reaching the limit of its travel. This should not be more than 0.7m/s.
[Note] : No 240V AC cablings shall be used between the battery unit to the motor.
Live cablings are dangerous and hazardous. Any contact or short circuit could
endanger the safety of servicemen or even start up a fire.

5. Wirings, Controls and Operation

Control signal cabling and 24V DC power supply wiring to the smoke curtains shall
be provided. Onus is on the curtain contractor to coordinate and ensure that
proposed smoke curtains are able to interface with both the Master Smoke Control
Panels and Zone Control Panels.

The curtain contractor is also to provide all necessary interface to receive the control
signal and power supply; complete with a key switch to activate the panel and status
indication of the mode of smoke curtains.

The actuating mechanism shall be operated by a signal from a smoke detection

system to ensure that the curtains assume their operational position at the earliest
opportunity in the event of a fire.

Upon power failure, the smoke curtain system should stay in the raised position at its
operational mode. The minimum performance of the smoke curtains should conform
to the following:

 The battery back-up should maintain the smoke curtain system at an

operational mode for at least 0.5 hour.
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 The descent of curtain Should Not Only be gravity fail-safe, the rate of
fall should be controlled at 0.7m/s maximum in order to avoid any risk of
hitting any occupants or evacuees.

[Note]: The rate of descent shall be demonstrated with a working sample when
required under a total mains failure situation.

6. Power Supply

The wiring configuration of the entire smoke curtain system shall be as follows:

 Isolator to Power Unit : 240V AC cabling

 Power Unit to Smoke Curtain Motor : 24V AC cabling
 Power Unit to Zone Control Panel : 24V DC cabling
 Zone Control Panel to Master Smoke Control Panel/Fire Alarm Panel :
24V cabling

Each power unit which is capable of serving up to 10 smoke curtain motors, shall
only require a 20Amps / single phase emergency power isolator.

7. Installation Method

In order to ensure an effective smoke curtain system is installed with the minimum
number of gaps, maximum size of 5.0m long smoke curtain rollers should be used
wherever possible. In the situation where curtains meet at a corner, the gap between
curtains shall not exceed 50mm. Gaps between structure and curtains should not
exceed 60mm where a number of curtains are used to create a continuous length or
curtains abut at a corner. When more than one curtain is necessary to provide the
required length of smoke barrier, a minimum overlap of 600mm or more is required
between curtains, subject to the Fire Authority’s requirements. Approval letter from

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the local Fire Authorities Having Jurisdiction for such an installation shall be
submitted for assessment.

As the smoke curtain system must be a fail-safe operation during an emergency, the
following tests must be conducted to ensure its reliability and safety:

 Warrington Fire Research or equivalent tests on the curtain reliability, curtain

deflection and controlled rate of curtain for at least 8.0m drop [BS7346 Part
3]
- 2000 successful cycles
- 0.11m/s rate of descent

 Warrington Fire Research or equivalent tests on the Class “O” fabric

material requirements [BS476 : Part 20]
- indicative fire test on fabric up to 1020ºC for 2 hours

2.0 PRODUCTS

The smoke curtain system shall include all materials, accessories and installation to
ensure a complete system to the satisfaction of the Employer.

In addition, smoke barriers shall be provided in the ceiling space to form smoke free
zones according to the locations of the automatic smoke curtains.

i) The smoke barriers shall be made of non-combustible materials and be able to

resist heat temperature of above 250°C.

ii) The smoke barriers shall consist of corrugated galvanized steel metal sheet of
0.53mm thick secured to 50X50X5mm thick hot-dipped galvanised steel angles
framing system at 1200mm spacing consisting of vertical members and diagonal
bracing.

iii) The height of the smoke barriers shall be such that it forms a complete smoke
free barrier from the top of the smoke curtain up to the soffit.

iv) The framing system shall be fixed to the soffit of slabs or other structural
members using appropriate size of galvanized anchor bolts. Where inserts are
provided at the soffit of slabs, they shall be fully utilized to secure the framing
system.

v) Openings shall be formed in the smoke barrier system to allow services to pass
through. No gap of more than 5mm between the smoke barrier and services as
well as other adjoining smoke enclosure shall be permitted. Where necessary,
modification shall be made to the framing system to avoid clashing of services
and other obstructions.
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vi) Rockwool of 60kg/m shall be used to cover any gap of more than 5mm wide
where the smoke barrier is. These gaps include electrical trunking space, cable
trays, space between pipes and etc.

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3.0 EXECUTION

The installation of the smoke curtain system is to be carried out in strict compliance
with all of the manufacturers’ recommendations and all approved submittals
including shop drawings, samples, and material technical data.

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