A fire curtain and a fire door serve the same fundamental purpose — compartmenting a building to slow fire spread — but they do so through different mechanisms, occupy different physical spaces, and carry different certification requirements. The key distinction is that a fire door is a solid, hinged or sliding barrier integrated into a wall opening, while a fire curtain is a flexible, fabric-based system that descends automatically from a ceiling-mounted housing to form a temporary barrier. For architects specifying passive fire protection in industrial buildings, choosing between the two is a technical decision that depends on opening dimensions, traffic patterns, structural constraints, and the required fire resistance classification.
Where does each solution physically fit in an industrial building?
A fire door fits within a defined wall opening and requires a structural frame, adequate wall thickness, and sufficient clearance for the door leaf to swing, slide, or roll. A fire curtain, by contrast, is mounted above the opening in a ceiling-mounted cassette and descends vertically when triggered, making it suitable for large or irregular openings where a conventional door frame is impractical or structurally impossible.
In practice, this means the two solutions rarely compete directly for the same location. Fire doors are the standard choice for personnel access points, emergency exits, and compartment walls with fixed openings. Fire curtains are more commonly applied in wide logistics openings, internal transport corridors, atria, escalator shafts, or production halls where the clear width required for forklift or conveyor passage makes a conventional door leaf mechanically unfeasible.
The structural implications also differ. A fire door transfers load through its frame into the surrounding wall construction. A fire curtain transfers load through its cassette housing into the ceiling or structural beam above the opening. This means a fire curtain installation requires a structural engineer to confirm adequate load-bearing capacity at the mounting point, whereas a fire door installation focuses on the integrity of the surrounding wall and frame.
Architects working on industrial door specifications should map each opening type early in the design phase, as the choice between a curtain and a door affects structural coordination, ceiling build-up, and the routing of electrical trigger systems.
What fire resistance classifications apply to each product type?
Both fire doors and fire curtains are classified under EN 13501-2, the European standard for the classification of fire resistance results for construction products in assemblies. Fire doors are commonly classified as EW or EI1/EI2, while fire curtains are most often classified as EW or, in some configurations, EI1 or EI2. The classification depends on what the product has actually been tested and certified to achieve, not on the product type alone.
Fire door classifications
Under EN 13501-2, three performance criteria determine the classification of a fire-resistant door:
- E (integrity) — the door stops flames and hot gases from passing through.
- W (radiation reduction) — the door limits radiant heat transfer to the protected side. W is the Dutch standard baseline criterion for fire-resistant industrial doors.
- I1 or I2 (insulation) — the door additionally limits the temperature rise on the unexposed face. EI1 applies a stricter temperature threshold than EI2, which permits a higher temperature rise on the unexposed side. Always specify EI1 or EI2 explicitly — never write “EI” without the suffix.
The number following the classification code indicates the duration in minutes for which performance is maintained under standardised test conditions — for example, EW60 means flames, hot gases, and radiant heat are controlled for 60 minutes; EI2-120 means the door blocks flames and limits temperature rise on the unexposed side (less strict criterion) for 120 minutes.
Fire curtain classifications
Fire curtains are typically classified as EW, meaning they contain flames and gases and limit radiant heat transfer — the Dutch standard baseline criterion — but do not insulate against temperature rise on the protected side in the same way an EI1- or EI2-classified door does. Some fire curtain systems can achieve EI1 or EI2 classification, but this is product-specific and must be confirmed by the manufacturer’s test documentation. Architects should never assume a fire curtain achieves EI1 or EI2 performance without verifying the classification report.
The project-specific fire safety calculation determines which classification is required at each opening. The BBL (Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving) sets only the absolute minimum threshold; sector regulations such as PGS15 for chemical storage, client requirements, or insurer specifications may impose higher demands. Which classification is sufficient for a specific project depends on that project’s fire safety calculation — consult a qualified fire safety engineer or Metacon-Next directly rather than relying on a general rule.
How does each solution perform under active fire conditions?
Under active fire conditions, both systems are designed to activate automatically and maintain their classification for the rated duration. The difference lies in how each system responds, what triggers it, and how it behaves mechanically when fire loads increase.
A fire door closes when triggered by a fusible link, a smoke detector signal, or a building management system alarm. Once closed, it forms a rigid, sealed barrier. Its performance depends on the integrity of the door leaf, the frame, and the intumescent seals around the perimeter, which expand under heat to close any gaps between the door and its frame. A fire door that is held open by a magnetic hold-open device will release and close automatically upon alarm.
A fire curtain descends from its housing when triggered, typically by a heat or smoke detector. The fabric barrier forms a continuous seal against the floor and adjacent walls. Fire curtain fabrics are engineered to remain stable at high temperatures, and the system relies on gravity-driven or motor-assisted descent to reach its deployed position. Because a fire curtain has no rigid frame at its perimeter, the seal against side walls and the floor is critical to its performance and must be verified in the installation design.
One practical distinction is behaviour during smoke control scenarios. Some fire curtain systems are designed to integrate with smoke extraction strategies, acting as a smoke reservoir boundary rather than a full compartment barrier. This dual function makes fire curtains useful in atria and large open spaces where smoke management is part of the overall fire safety strategy. A conventional fire door does not serve this function.
Which documentation does an architect need at specification stage?
At specification stage, an architect needs the CE declaration of performance, the classification report from an accredited test body such as Efectis, and, where required for BREEAM or LEED assessments, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). For fire doors and fire curtains alike, the classification report is the primary document that confirms which fire resistance classification the product has achieved and under what test conditions. Classification reports are produced in accordance with EN 1634-1 (fire resistance testing) and EN 1634-3 (smoke control testing), with results classified per EN 13501-2.
The CE declaration confirms that the product has been manufactured in conformity with the declared performance and that it meets the requirements of the relevant harmonised standard. For industrial fire doors, two CE marking standards apply simultaneously: EN 16034 (fire- and/or smoke-resisting closing elements) and EN 13241 (industrial, commercial, garage doors and gates generally). Both are mandatory and must not be treated as interchangeable or alternative to one another. Without a valid CE declaration, a product cannot legally be placed on the market in the European Economic Area.
Beyond the CE declaration and classification report, architects specifying for industrial applications typically require:
- Technical drawings showing overall dimensions, installation clearances, and frame details
- BIM or IFC files for integration into the project model
- Installation instructions confirming which wall or ceiling constructions the product is certified for
- Maintenance requirements, which affect the facility manager’s long-term obligations
- EPDs where the project has environmental certification targets
Metacon-Next publishes classification reports, CE declarations, and EPDs directly on its website, removing the documentation request cycle that often delays specification. This level of transparency matters at design stage, when an architect is closing a permit-ready file and cannot afford to wait for a supplier to locate a certificate.
When should a fire curtain replace or complement a fire door in an industrial building?
A fire curtain should replace a fire door when the opening is too wide for a practical door leaf, when ceiling height makes a conventional door structurally impractical, or when the operational requirement is for an unobstructed clear opening during normal building use. A fire curtain complements a fire door when the two solutions address different openings within the same fire compartment strategy.
In logistics centres and production halls, the most common driver for choosing a fire curtain over a fire door is clear opening width. Forklift passages, automated conveyor openings, and large internal transport routes frequently require openings that exceed the practical limits of a single or double door leaf. A fire curtain can span these widths while remaining fully retracted in its ceiling housing during normal operations, creating no obstruction to traffic flow.
A fire curtain is not always the right answer, however. If the required classification is EI2 and the available fire curtain system is only tested to EW, the curtain does not meet the specification. If the opening is in a wall that must also resist forced entry, a fire curtain provides no burglar-resistant performance. In these cases, a fire door is the correct solution, and the opening dimensions need to be resolved through structural or architectural design rather than product substitution. Which classification is actually required for a given opening depends on the project’s fire safety calculation — a qualified fire safety engineer or the local authority is the appropriate party to make that determination.
The most robust approach for complex industrial projects is to treat fire doors and fire curtains as complementary tools within a single passive fire protection strategy. Personnel doors, emergency exits, and access points in compartment walls are typically served by fire doors. Wide transport openings, smoke reservoir boundaries, and atrium separations are candidates for fire curtains. Mapping each opening against its functional and regulatory requirements at design stage prevents substitution decisions during construction that may not hold up under permitting review.
Metacon-Next manufactures both fire-rated industrial doors and fire curtains, with products tested to EN 1634-1 and available in classifications including EW60, EW90, EW120, EW240, EI1-60, EI2-60, EI1-120, and EI2-120, among others. All products are supplied and installed through a network of certified dealers. Architects who need technical drawings, BIM files, or classification documentation ahead of specification can access these through the Metacon-Next website or request project-specific information directly. For questions about which solution fits a specific opening or project context, the Metacon-Next team is available to support at specification stage without requiring a commercial commitment.
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