# In the world of commercial building design and fire protection, few questions cause as much debate as smoke management in vertical shafts. If you are an architect, engineer, or building owner, you have likely asked: **Are smoke curtains required at elevators?**The short answer is: **Not always, bu

## IntroductionElevator smoke curtains are critical life-safety devices designed to prevent smoke migration through elevator shafts during fires. In modern high-rise buildings, elevator shafts act as vertical "chimneys," potentially drawing smoke and toxic gases from a fire floor to upper levels, en

Here is a breakdown of the main types of smoke curtains:---### 1. By Deployment Method (The Primary Classification)This is the most common way to categorize smoke curtains, as it directly relates to their operation and appearance.#### A. Automatic / Deployable Smoke CurtainsThese are the high-tech,