Did you know that asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation is the lead cause of fire-related deaths? This cause exceeds burns by a 3:1 ratio. This harsh reality is what drives certain building codes such as enclosed elevator lobbies in order to protect occupants from both fire and smoke.
Elevator lobbies provide quite the design obstacle when trying to integrate openness and sunlight into a multi-story building. This atrium area provides a critical first impression for the patrons of the building and a traditional elevator lobby does not allow for much flexibility when it comes to aesthetics.
Flexible fire and smoke partitions provide many advantages over a stand-alone, complex, smoke exhaust system. Not only do deployable fire partitions provide effective protection around elevators as well as integrated into an atrium design, but they do so at reduced costs.
For most buildings, fire doors are typically located around stairwells and elevator shafts as to limit the ability for smoke to leak from floor to floor. However, fire and smoke containment systems can be a little more complex for buildings in the healthcare industry such as hospitals.
Airports provide a unique challenge when it comes to fire safety, They combine the complexities of open atriums with compartmentalized secure spaces. Therefore, the ability to securely section off smoke and fire in the case of an emergency is a necessity.