An overlooked danger: How smoke protection can save lives

Fire and smoke doors meet important requirements in the field of fire protection in the building. While fire doors offer resistance against fire for a specified amount of time and must therefore remain accessible to pass through, the task of smoke doors is to prevent the spread of combustion gases. A fire door can also fulfil this requirement if appropriately equipped. Schüco therefore offers a wide variety of fire and smoke protection systems which fulfil the respective requirements either alone or in combination with each other. They can be flexibly installed and allow for a uniform appearance with optimum protection. Additional sound reduction and burglar resistance make the doors truly multifunctional. 

Smoke doors must function perfectly as the lives of people may depend on them. The type of construction and airtightness are regulated in accordance with DIN 18095 or EN 1634-3. The standards restrict the permeability for smoke, also called the "leakage rate", to a minimum. The European standard distinguishes between smoke protection at room temperature and smoke protection at an increased temperature of 200°C. Schüco smoke protection systems are tested at these temperatures and have passed an additional durability test. It is therefore ensured that all fittings components remain perfectly functional even after long periods of use and that the airtightness of the door is secure. Unlike fire doors, smoke doors have no limited time frame for their effectiveness. Background: This is dependent on the size of the room to be protected and its air exchange rate, so cannot be applied as a general rule. 

The following applies to both smoke and fire doors: The desired level of safety cannot be achieved by the door unit alone, but in combination with the wall in which it is installed. Correct installation is therefore of particular importance for smoke doors. Single and double-leaf options are available. The lock of a smoke door must have a spring-loaded catch, but is permitted to be locked if it meets the requirements set out in DIN 18095. In order to prevent obstacles for people evacuating the building, smoke doors in generally accessible corridors must not have any fastenings on the bottom or any thresholds – although half-round thresholds are permitted. Every smoke door must be clearly recognisable as such. The classification plate prescribed in accordance with DIN 18095 listing the manufacturer, number and date of the test certificate, test site and manufacturing year is essential for this. 

Our approach to 360° sustainability is to consider every stage of a building throughout its lifecycle. We therefore develop all of our products in accordance with the Cradle to Cradle principle and ensure that they can be easily recycled at the end of their lifespan. The materials are then fed back into the industrial cycle to be used in new products, without any loss of quality. This principle turns buildings into valuable material reserves for the future and helps to significantly reduce CO2 emissions.