Fire curtains, smoke curtains and fire-rated roller shutters can form an important part of a building’s fire-safety strategy. However, simply having these systems installed is not enough. They need to remain in suitable working condition and be capable of operating as intended.
One of the most common questions asked by facilities managers and building operators is: how often should these systems be serviced?
There is no single servicing interval that should automatically be applied to every product in every building. The appropriate schedule should take account of the system type, manufacturer’s instructions, tested specification, building use, fire-risk assessment and any applicable maintenance requirements.
Why Regular Inspection and Servicing Matter
Deployable fire and smoke barriers may remain concealed or open for long periods. A problem might therefore go unnoticed during normal day-to-day use.
Regular inspection and operational testing can help identify issues such as:
Finding these issues before an emergency gives the responsible person an opportunity to arrange appropriate investigation and remedial work.
The servicing schedule should be based on the actual installation rather than a generic assumption. Important considerations include the following.
The manufacturer’s operation and maintenance information should be one of the first points of reference. Different systems, components and control arrangements can have different inspection and testing requirements.
The building’s fire-risk assessment should identify the fire precautions present and how they are managed. GOV.UK guidance says the responsible person must carry out and regularly review a fire-risk assessment and put in place and maintain appropriate fire-safety measures.
A system installed in a busy warehouse, shopping centre, hospital or industrial environment may face different conditions from one in a quieter building. Dust, vibration, impact risks, moisture, temperature and nearby building work can all affect equipment.
Recurring faults, previous damage, repeated activations or incomplete service records may justify additional attention. Older systems may also require closer assessment where parts, controls or documentation have become difficult to obtain.
New ceilings, partitions, signage, shelving, cables and decorative finishes can interfere with a curtain or shutter. Fire protection systems should be reconsidered whenever the surrounding space is altered.
Routine building-management checks can complement professional servicing. The precise checks should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the building’s fire-safety arrangements, but they may include looking for visible damage, keeping the opening clear and confirming that no unauthorised work has affected the system.
Staff should not dismantle, adjust or repeatedly operate specialist equipment unless they are authorised and competent to do so. Any unusual operation or visible damage should be reported rather than ignored.
A clear maintenance history helps demonstrate how the system has been managed and gives engineers useful information during future visits. Records may include:
Where several systems are installed, an asset register can make it easier to identify each unit and track its condition.
Do not necessarily wait for the next planned visit if:
Associated Smoke & Fire Products provides nationwide inspection, operational testing, planned servicing, fault diagnosis and repair support for fire curtains, smoke curtains and fire-rated roller shutters.
If you are unsure when a system was last inspected, or you need help establishing an appropriate maintenance schedule, contact our team with the site location, system type, manufacturer details and service records where available.
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