General description
Firepath is an automatically operating fire curtain designed and tested to BS 476 Part 22. The purpose of a fire curtain is to seal off an area to contain a fire and to prevent it from spreading to other areas.
Colt Firepath Fire Curtain under test
The fire curtain comprises a flexible, heat resistant fabric, which is impervious to smoke and hot gases, wound round a circular tube. The tube contains an electric motor which is normally held retracted at ceiling level, and which unrolls the fabric automatically upon a signal from a fire detection system or on loss of power. A bottom bar is fitted to the bottom edge of the fabric to keep it taut and provide a suitable finish when the curtain is retracted.
Metal side guides with a fabric retaining system provide a seal between the curtain fabric and the building. Due to the immense positive or negative pressures created by the fire, it is imperative that this seal remains in place at all times.
Controls
Each control panel can operate a series of curtains. It will generally include a battery back-up which will retain the curtains in their retracted position for a set time period if there is a mains failure.
Certification
Firepath fire curtains have been tested to and fully meet the requirements of BS476: Part 22: 1987, clause 8 and achieved an integrity rating to BS 476: Part 20: 1987 of 270 minutes.
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