Substitutes to Enclosed Elevator Lobbies

Did you know smoke inhalation is the leading cause of fire death, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio? Due to that reality, buildings must be designed to protect its occupants from both fire and smoke.

Elevators in multi-story buildings present the largest challenge as they can act as chimneys in the case of a fire. Therefore, architects and contractors have long relied on an enclosed elevator lobby to separate the elevator shaft from the rest of the building. However, enclosed these lobbies require quite a large footprint on each floor and can be quite costly.

Luckily, modern technology is now providing some alternatives to the enclosed elevator lobby. In part two, of this subject we will dive into another option to the standard enclosed elevator lobby: the smoke-rated curtain.

This option is definitely more space friendly than an enclosed elevator lobby. It can be installed right into the elevator door frame and is virtually invisible when not deployed. A smoke rated curtain can be connected to a larger fire or smoke control system or used on its own and deployed at the first sign of smoke or flame.

If you are looking for an alternative to an enclosed elevator lobby, Smoke Guard California has a variety of options to ensure fire and smoke safety without compromising design. Contact us today for more information and specifications.