BS 8524 is the UK’s dedicated standard for active fire curtain barrier assemblies. It sets out how fire curtains must be designed, tested, installed and maintained to reliably compartmentalise fire and smoke in real buildings. Below we explain what BS 8524 covers, how products are tested, key classifications to look for, and where BS 8524 is used—plus our Fire & Smoke Curtain tested to BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2.

What is BS 8524?

BS 8524 is a two-part British Standard:

• BS 8524-1: Specification — performance and testing requirements for active fire curtain assemblies.
• BS 8524-2: Code of practice — guidance for application, installation and maintenance so systems in the field match the tested performance. 
   

BS 8524 focuses specifically on active (deployable) fire curtains, going beyond pure furnace fire resistance to include operational reliability (e.g., cycling, fail-safe deployment, controls, and power loss behaviour). 
 

How BS 8524 relates to other standards

• Fire resistance is established using EN 1634-1 (or BS 476 option); smoke control is assessed to EN 1634-3; classifications follow EN 13501-2 (E / EW / Sa, etc.).
• An international counterpart, ISO 21524, builds on BS 8524 and introduces features like pass-doors and vision panels in test scope. 
   

What the Testing Involves

BS 8524-1 requires evidence that a curtain will deploy, stay deployed, and perform under fire/smoke conditions—not just once, but repeatedly and reliably. Typical elements include:

1. Furnace Fire Resistance Test
   Curtain is installed in a furnace following the standard time–temperature curve to verify integrity (E) and, where applicable, radiation control (EW) for a rated period (e.g., E120, EW60). 
    
2. Smoke Leakage Test (Sa / S200)
   Measures leakage at ambient (Sa) and sometimes at 200 °C (S200) to ensure tenable escape conditions in protected routes. 
    
3. Operational Reliability & Cycling
   Cycle testing proves long-term reliability; many systems are cycled hundreds/thousands of times and checked for gravity fail-safe deployment on power loss. 
    
4. Controls, Power & Interfaces
   Validation that the curtain fails safe on alarm or power failure, integrates with fire alarm systems, and meets specified deployment speeds and obstruction handling. (Operational criteria are a key reason BS 8524 is preferred for UK fire curtains.) 
    
5. Classification & Labelling
   After testing, products are classified under EN 13501-2 (e.g., E240 EW60 C1 Sa shown in a recent test report), and documentation is issued to support specification and Building Control. 
    

Key Classifications to Look For

• E (Integrity): Resists flames/hot gases for stated minutes.
• EW (Integrity + Radiation): Limits heat radiation to a safe threshold for the stated minutes.
• C (Cycling/Closing ability): Operational durability class (e.g., C1).
• Sa / S200: Smoke leakage at ambient / 200 °C. 
   

Our Fire Curtain Tested to BS 8524

Meet our Fire & Smoke Curtain (FC8)—independently tested and certified to BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2 for life-safety performance.

Use cases: Compartmentation over openings, atria, lift lobbies, and to protect escape routes while enabling open-plan design. 
 

Why specify this curtain?

• Tested to BS 8524-1 with smoke control to EN 1634-3 and radiation performance to EN 1634-1 / EN 1363-2 where applicable.
• Gravity fail-safe and reliable cycling to support real-world use.
• Supported by BS 8524-2 installation & maintenance practices for consistent site performance. 
   

Typical Applications

• Protected escape routes & lobbies in commercial and residential buildings
• Open-plan offices and retail where compartmentation is needed only in a fire
• Atria, voids and escalators to limit smoke spread and heat radiation
• Lift lobbies, corridors and fire-separated areas in complex buildings 
   

Installation, Commissioning & Maintenance (BS 8524-2)

• Design & application: Choose the correct curtain configuration, headbox, side guides, and bottom bar to suit the opening and fire strategy.
• Installation: Follow approved details and fixing substrates; verify alignment and drop paths.
• Commissioning: Prove alarm interfaces, fail-safe behaviour, and deployment speed; document the as-installed configuration.
• Maintenance: Periodic inspections and re-testing of operation/cycling are essential for ongoing compliance. 
   

BS 8524 vs EN 16034 

• Both use EN 1634-1 for furnace fire testing.
• BS 8524 adds UK-specific operational performance criteria (cycling, controls, fail-safe), which specifiers often require for fire curtains.
• Industry guidance continues to recognise BS 8524-1 as the primary UK standard for active fire curtains. 
   

FAQs for BS8524

Is BS 8524 mandatory?

Building Regulations don’t name specific product standards, but UK specifiers commonly require BS 8524 for active fire curtains to ensure both fire performance and operational reliability. Always check your fire strategy and Building Control requirements. 
 

What do E, EW, C, Sa mean on a data sheet?

They’re the EN 13501-2 classification codes for integrity, radiation control, cycling/closing ability and smoke leakage. Example: E240 EW60 C1 Sa. 
 

How does ISO 21524 affect my project?

It’s an international standard that builds on BS 8524, adding features like pass doors and vision panels. Many UK projects still specify BS 8524; we can advise on both. 
 

Why not just test to EN 1634-1?

EN 1634-1 proves furnace fire resistance, but BS 8524 layers on operational testing (e.g., cycling, fail-safe), giving specifiers fuller assurance for active systems.