Fire shutters are one way building owners and contractors can uphold their legal obligation to comply with fire safety regulations. In fact, building owners and contractors have a legal obligation and responsibility to ensure that the building is safe and complies with current regulations. To ensure the safety of the occupants or to protect the building itself, regular fire risk assessments should be completed, identifying any potential hazards and rectifying them immediately. Commercial and industrial buildings require employers
To ensure that a building complies with current building regulations, installing fire shutters on the premises ensures that protection is provided when it matters the most. Here are some strong reasons why you need fire shutters, and if you’d like to know more about their operation, head to our blog on how do fire shutters work?
1. Helps prevent the spread of fire
Unlike a standard roller shutter, fire shutters are specifically designed to contain a fire for a given integrity rating. Fire shutters are typically installed on openings which require to be isolated from the rest of the building. The fire shutter can be triggered upon the activation of the fire alarm or when a fire is detected within the building. Their main purpose is to compartmentalise a building in the unfortunate event of a fire, to contain it and reduce the spread to other areas until emergency services arrive. This will also increase evacuation times and help protect lives.
Insulated fire shutters, a specific kind of fire shutter with an additional radiation rating (EW), can help prevent the spread of radiated heat from passing through and causing combustible materials to explode. They’re especially important in industrial buildings and factories where combustible materials are present, and where further preventative measures are required as part of a wider COSHH strategy and HSE compliance.
2. Supports government legislation
The government recognises the need for fire shutters, their proficiency in compartmentalising buildings and the invaluable part they play in containing fires. Government guidance for fire risk assessments and fire safety in commercial, industrial and non-domestic sectors advises areas with extensive catering facilities to be in a separate building. This is especially important if these areas are equipped with high fire-risk facilities. If this is not possible, which it is quite often not, guidance strongly advises fire-resisting constructions to separate the areas, such as fire shutters.
Fire shutters achieve more than simply meeting government regulations, they offer an efficient and effective fire safety system throughout buildings. They are commonly installed in, but are not limited to, kitchens, canteens and rooms with fire hazards. Due to their outstanding capability to contain fire, fire shutters can be installed anywhere throughout a building.
3. Good for fire risk assessments
Fire risk assessments should be executed regularly, including practise fire drills/evacuation procedures and fire safety equipment checks. The installation of functioning and compliant fire shutters immediately ticks off part of the assessment. However, should a fire shutter not be compliant to current standards (BS EN 16034) and not tested and certified by a notified body, it won’t be legally compliant, therefore prohibited by law. See our update on how CE marking will change from leaving the EU.
SSS Industrial Doors manufactures and supplies fully tested and compliant CE marked fire shutters, being one of the leaders in the industry. Contact our team of experts to find out more about our products and to see if you need fire shutters.
4. Provides various fire rating levels
When purchasing a fire shutter, you have different fire integrity ratings. These levels indicate the level of fire protection provided by the shutter during the event of a fire. This helps limit the spread and damage to the building for that given period. The integrity rating is stated with the letter ‘E’ followed by the minutes of resistance required.
The fire rating levels are:
- One Hour Fire Protection (E60 Integrity)
- Two Hour Fire Protection (E120 Integrity)
- Four Hour Fire Protection (E240 Integrity)
5. Lowers insurance premiums
Installing fire safety equipment, such as fire shutters, to your premises will impress most insurance companies. Verifying, as a business policy holder, that you have measures in place to help prevent the spread of a fire should one occur, will show insurers you are doing all you can to help prevent major damage costs, which may lower insurance premiums. Insurers look at a range of risks to a business, they will analyse systems in place to control those risks when calculating property insurance premiums. Well-maintained fire shutters significantly reduce risks of major fire damage.
6. Choose different types of fire shutters
To suit your application and requirements, there are different types of fire shutters you can choose from, amongst these are:
- Tubular motor fire shutter
- Gravity fail-safe tubular motor fire shutter
- Inline (external motor) fire shutter
For more details, read more about different types of fire shutters from our blog.
7. Offers robust security
Made from the most secure and strong materials, you also benefit from robust security with your fire shutters. Their fire-rated construction makes them great for securing rooms or areas, both internally and externally. Upon activation, the system ensures the shutter is in position, designed to contain fire. You can rely on these shutters to secure and protect your premises effectively.
Fire shutters also act as a deterrent against unauthorised personnel. Shutters are usually incredibly heavy, and even if someone did try to gain access, they’re loud enough to alert nearby staff who may be present on site.
8. Can be made to match
If you do not want to compromise your building aesthetic, it is possible for a fire shutter to be manufactured with a powder-coated finish to ensure continuity.
Fire curtains may also be utilised to reinforce your shutters too, or if you require additional protection in certain areas of your commercial property.
What is the purpose of a fire shutter?
Fire shutters are a type of fire door designed to prevent the spreading of fire and smoke within a building. As they act as preventative measures to keep fires at bay, fire shutters are usually installed where there are fire hazards (these are usually identified as part of a fire risk assessment). You’ll find fire shutters installed in or near places such as stairwells, corridors, or entrances to high-risk areas.
Fire shutters are constructed with fire-resistant materials such as galvanised or stainless steel, and must meet the new government standard 16034:2104 and be fully compliant as a CE and UKCA marked shutter for its intended purpose. They’re designed to shut automatically when an alarm is triggered, or a manual switch in emergencies.
Where are fire shutters used?
We touched upon fire shutters usually being placed in areas where fire hazards may occur. Fire shutters are typically used in commercial and industrial estates where it is required by law to have fire prevention methods in place. You may commonly find fire shutters in:
- Medical practices
- Factories and warehouses
- Hospitals
- Shopping centres
- Schools.
They can also be used as a security measure to keep thieves and vandalists at bay, though their main intended purpose is to prevent the spread of fires and smoke.
What is the difference between a fire curtain and a fire shutter?
Fire curtains and fire shutters have the same intended purpose – to keep fire and smoke from spreading in a commercial building.
The main difference between a fire curtain and a fire shutter is that the latter is usually made from various forms of steel and is mounted so that they shut downwards when triggered manually or automatically (through motorised means). Fire curtains, however, are made from a flexible material that’s fire-resistant. When triggered, the fire curtain will deploy and unroll, creating a barrier to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Plus, fire curtains are often used in large open spaces such as atriums, lobbies, and stairwells where traditional fire shutters may not be practical. They also “look” better too, as they’re normally concealed within the wall and most fire curtains go completely unnoticed – meaning they can fit into your building’s aesthetic seamlessly.
What is the difference between a fire damper and a fire shutter?
Both fire dampers and fire shutters are used to prevent fire and smoke from spreading to the rest of a commercial building. Fire dampers are a type of duct fitting that’s made from fire-resistant materials and are typically installed within air outlet openings. They form part of a wider HVAC system to stop the spread of fire and smoke through air ducts.
As we’ve already established with fire shutters, they work by having a shutter system installed through an opening in the wall. They trigger and close off a room or section of a commercial building to ensure fire and smoke do not spread. Fire shutters can last up to several hours, giving time for the fire to be handled and to safely evacuate personnel.
Convinced you need fire shutters? Contact us today – we are always happy to help. Also, head on over to our blog to read our complete guide to fire shutters to find out more about how they work.
Want to know more about how fire shutters could work in your building? Do you need to discuss designs and finishes? Contact us today, we are always happy to help. Also, head on over to our blog to read our complete guide to fire shutters and read about the change of CE marked fire shutters after leaving the EU.
