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Learn How to Choose and Specify the Right Fire Shutters for Your Building
Fire shutters are essential components of a building’s fire safety strategy. Their primary function is to compartmentalise a fire, containing it to a specific area and thereby protecting lives, property, and infrastructure. Roché’s fire shutters are built to meet varying fire resistance requirements, rated for 60, 120, or 240 minutes, indicating the duration the shutter can effectively resist fire under test conditions.
Key Features and Functionality
Material and Design
Steel Construction: All of our tested shutters are made from steel. Unlike aluminum, steel glows red when heated, providing a visible indicator of heat on the other side. This crucial feature helps prevent accidental contact during a fire, ensuring enhanced safety.
System Components:
Each shutter consists of a
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Shutter box – Houses the rolled-up curtain when not in use.
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Curtain – Forming the physical barrier during fire.
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Vertical side guides – Mounted tracks that hold the curtain in place.
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Bottom rail – Closes off the shutter’s base for a flush finish.
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All components can be customised to suit specific opening sizes and design requirements.
Fire Activation and Power Back-up
In the event of a fire, shutters are triggered via the building’s fire alarm system to descend and create a fire barrier.
All shutters are equipped with a battery backup (UPS), ensuring functionality even during power outages, in accordance with BS EN 16034:2014.
Regulatory Compliance and Legislation
Key Regulations
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Regulation 18
European Fire Door Standards (BS EN 16034: 2014 and BS EN 13241-1: 2003)
Non-compliance can result in legal action, fines, nullified insurance, and business liability in the event of an incident.
All fire shutters must comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which mandates that fire doors and shutters undergo regular servicing to ensure optimal performance in the event of a fire. Routine maintenance plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of your fire protection systems and helps prevent extensive damage to property.
Additionally, adherence to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Regulation 18 is essential. This regulation requires all workplace equipment to be suitable for its intended use, safe to operate, well-maintained, and included in a documented maintenance program.
Compliance with current European standards, including BS EN 16034:2014 and BS EN 13241-1:2003, is also critical. All fire safety documentation, including service logs and system plans, must be readily available for Health and Safety inspections.
Business owners have a legal and ethical responsibility to create a safe environment for staff and visitors. Investing in certified fire-rated equipment, such as Roché’s steel fire shutters – independently tested by Exova Warringtonfire, a global leader in fire testing and certification – ensures high-performance fire protection.
Fire shutters are especially vital for emergency escape routes in offices, schools, industrial facilities, and commercial buildings. For lower-risk environments like office blocks, a 60-minute rating may suffice, whereas high-risk premises such as warehouses or factories with hazardous materials require shutters with a higher fire resistance rating.
It is also crucial to consider evacuation times when specifying shutters, ensuring they maintain structural integrity until the building is cleared. In accordance with BS EN 16034:2014, all fire shutter systems must include a battery backup to guarantee functionality in the event of a power failure during a fire.
Design and Customisation Options
Customisable Features
Dimensions: Customised to fit openings of varying sizes (see individual products for maximum dimensions).
Finish Options: Galvanised finish as standard with specialist powder-coating options in a variety of RAL colours available at a surcharge.
Operation Modes: Key switch, rocker switch and audio-visual panel which allows the fire shutter to interface with the buildings fire alarm, to allow for automatic closure upon activation of the fire alarm.
Installation Considerations
Headroom and Side Room Requirements: Ensure structural compatibility for the shutter box and guides.
Building Integration: Verify connections to fire alarms, smoke detectors, and building management systems.
Key Considerations
When specifying a fire shutter, factor in the following:
- Opening size – what is the exact width and height of the opening?
- Fire rating – what is the required fire resistance duration?
- Usage frequency – will the shutter be used daily or only in emergencies?
- Security needs – should the shutter double as security?
- Power supply – is there back-up power available, or will a UPS be needed?
- Fire system link – Is the shutter integrated into the building’s alarm system?
- Budget constraints – what is the financial allowance for the project
Specification
Roché offers two ranges of fire shutters:
Maintenance and Servicing
Mandatory Servicing
Fire shutters must be serviced at regular intervals by qualified professionals. Maintenance should include operational checks, battery and power source tests, lubrication and alignment and alarm system integration verification.
Learn about Roché’s maintenance and servicing.
Record Keeping
Keep detailed logs of installation certificates, service records, fire test reports and compliance documentation.
These records are essential during insurance claims, fire authority inspections and health and safety audits.
What next?
Specifying fire shutters is a critical process that blends safety, compliance, and customisation. By understanding fire risk levels, legal responsibilities, and the technical features of Roché fire shutters, businesses can enhance both protection and peace of mind.
Whether your building is a high-risk industrial site or a low-traffic office, Roché offers solutions tailored to your needs – backed by international certification, engineering excellence, and proven fire performance.
Explore our fire shutter range or contact our team of in-house experts to find the required solution for your space:
