Abstract: A curtain is wound on a roller (2), provided in a head box (4), mounted in a ceiling (6). The curtain is also provided with a bottom bar (10). When the curtain is drawn up onto the roller, the bottom bar (10) can be used to close the head box (4). When deployed the bottom bar provides stability to the descending curtain, and in full deployment rests on the floor. The curtain is provided with additional strips (30) of fabric, to allow ease of roll up onto the roller. The strip(s) arc attached at their top end only, to the curtain. Typically this will be by sewing (32), but also may be rivets or other form of heat resistant connection. The strip(s) are also connected to the bottom bar. A cable (34) is attached to the strip(s), usually through a rivet, but any other form of secure attachment may be used. The cable is then connected to the bottom bar, via a spring (36). This connects to keep the strip(s) in tension, to enable ease of rolling of the curtain.

Abstract: A fire or smoke barrier has a head box, a drum holding a curtain and a bottom bar for weighing the curtain. A stop mechanism includes a series of stops preventing the bottom bar of the curtain from descending. The stops being connected together, and held in non-deployment position. The barrier also includes a release such that in the event of a fire the stops can be withdrawn from their position by pivoting out of the way of the bottom bar either in the plane parallel to the bottom bar, or by rotation about their end to a position 90° to their original position. The release includes a handle to move the stops, and may include a spring to withdraw the stops. In addition the release includes thermal links which fail on temperature rise to allow a spring to move the stops away from the bottom bar resulting in deployment of the curtain.

Abstract: Fire and smoke barriers are deployed automatically on detection of fire of smoke. This can result in evacuees being on the wrong side of a deployed barrier and needing to evacuate through the barrier. The barrier includes a curtain rolled on a roller in a head box, a pair of side guides and a bottom bar. At least one of the side guides being partially movable, temporarily opening the barrier to allow the escape of an evacuee. Both side guides can be movable, allowing the barrier to swing from its top. Alternatively one side guide can be hinged to a wall with the other being able to move away from its wall, the head box joining the tops of the side guides. The barrier opens like a door to allow escape of an evacuee. The door having a closure spring to ensure it returns to its closed position.

Abstract: An alarm system for a smoke or fire barrier, including alarm circuits have a normally closed switch position. A control circuit connected to the alarm circuits applies a voltage to create a non-activation situation or remove a voltage to create an activation situation when the switch is open. The alarm circuit further including either a series connected resistance or a normally open switch position in parallel to the normally closed switch position, to create a “fault” condition in the absence of detection of the resistance, or an open switch position and a closed switch position.

Abstract: A twin roller smoke or fire barrier having: two parallel rollers and a curtain comprised of narrow curtain portions rolled on the rollers and arranged along the length of the rollers of alternate rollers with end margins overlapping opposite each other; the barrier including: a mechanism for varying separation of the rollers by at least the change in the overall diameter of one roller and its curtain portions between wound-up and unwound states, the mechanism including: movable supported roller or rollers; whereby in the unwound state of the curtain, the overlapping margins abut or at least are separated by a negligible amount at the rollers.

Abstract: An alarm system for a smoke or fire barrier, including alarm circuits have a normally closed switch position. A control circuit connected to the alarm circuits applies a voltage to create a non-activation situation or remove a voltage to create an activation situation when the switch is open. The alarm circuit further including either a series connected resistance or a normally open switch position in parallel to the normally closed switch position, to create a “fault” condition in the absence of detection of the resistance, or an open switch position and a closed switch position.

Abstract: A twin roller smoke or fire barrier having: two parallel rollers and a curtain comprised of narrow curtain portions rolled on the rollers and arranged along the length of the rollers of alternate rollers with end margins overlapping opposite each other; the barrier including: a mechanism for varying separation of the rollers by at least the change in the overall diameter of one roller and its curtain portions between wound-up and unwound states, the mechanism including: movable supported roller or rollers; whereby in the unwound state of the curtain, the overlapping margins abut or at least are separated by a negligible amount at the rollers.

Abstract: A fire or smoke barrier 1 has a curtain 2 deployed from a motorized roller 3 mounted in a head box 4. Remote from the head box and connected to the motor via a cable 5 is a motor controller circuit 6. A short circuit protection circuit 9 is connected to the motor within the roller at the motor end of the cable 5. On the motor side of the circuit 9 is a retarder circuit 10 connected across the motor terminals. The short circuit circuit comprises a pair of relays 11, 12, arranged with their normally open contacts 111,121 arranged in parallel. A drive voltage one 11 of the relays has its winding 112 across the input lines 14 of the circuit and the emf one 12 of the relays has its winding 122 across the output lines 15 of the circuit. The input lines 14 are connected to the cable lines 51,52 and the output lines 15 are connected to the motor terminals 16, via the retarder 10.

Abstract: A fire or smoke barrier 1 has a curtain 2 deployed from a motorised roller 3 mounted in a head box 4. Remote from the head box and connected to the motor via a cable 5 is a motor controller circuit 6. A short circuit protection circuit 9 is connected to the motor within the roller at the motor end of the cable 5. On the motor side of the circuit 9 is a retarder circuit 10 connected across the motor terminals. The short circuit circuit comprises a pair of relays 11, 12, arranged with their normally open contacts 111,121 arranged in parallel. A drive voltage one 11 of the relays has its winding 112 across the input lines 14 of the circuit and the emf one 12 of the relays has its winding 122 across the output lines 15 of the circuit. The input lines 14 are connected to the cable lines 51,52 and the output lines 15 are connected to the motor terminals 16, via the retarder 10.

Abstract: A heat resistant curtain has a vent typically extending up from a bottom edge. At the vent, flaps of the curtain on either side of the vent have marginal overlaps. To these are stitched elevated temperature resistant hook and loop fastening tapes. These normally keep the vent closed. The curtain is provided with a bottom bar drawn up to close the head box when the curtain is not deployed. When the curtain is deployed, the bottom bar rests on the floor.