Deployable Fire- and Smoke-Protection Solutions
CASE STUDY: NETFLIX
At Netflix offices in the ICON tower in Los Angeles, Gensler created an elaborate 12-story communicating staircase as a central spine through the space.
When Netflix rented the entirety of the ICON tower in Los Angeles, Gensler designed a sweeping renovation tasked with supporting Netflix’s unique culture and rapid growth. Now the bright entry features floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall digital displays showcasing Netflix’s newest content and a large coffee bar. The work areas feature adjustable workstations that can be quickly reconfigured or moved. Perhaps one of the most notable tweaks in this vertical campus is the large central staircase that runs from the second to 14th floors.
The LA Fire Department asked for a 30-second pause in the deployment of the fire curtain 7 feet above the floor, allowing for easy occupant egress in case of a fire.
Designers worked with local building and fire officials to employ fire-rated perimeter curtains surrounding all 12 landings of the communicating staircase to protect against vertical smoke migration while maintaining an open concept throughout the space.
In terms of how this solution works, the LA Fire Department asked for a 30-second pause in deployment 7 feet above the floor after the alarm initiates to allow for occupant egress. Retract buttons on each landing allow occupants to raise the curtain if they encounter it after it has been fully deployed. Once the curtains reach the floor on each landing, the communicating staircase is fully encased inside the enclosure created by the fire-rated perimeter curtains.
CONCLUSION
Through the long lens of history, fire and smoke have illustrated just how dangerous and destructive they can be. Building codes now require what they do in an attempt to prevent past mistakes and avoid repeated and avoidable tragedies from occurring. Luckily, advancements in materials and technology offer architects solutions that enable them to achieve their next-level visions and create contemporary interiors designed for today while incorporating the hard-earned lessons from the past.
Rolling magnetic gasketed systems and fire- and smoke-rated vertical, horizontal, and perimeter curtains are examples of solutions that deliver the code-mandated protections in open, multistory spaces, enabling architects to design large, open spaces and grand central staircases. In addition, these systems are more space savvy and cost-effective than other mechanical systems that have been on the market for years, proving yet again that product innovation is a key support in the quest for cutting-edge and code-compliant design.
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Innovative smoke containment has been the focus at Smoke Guard for more than a decade. We specialize in reclaiming usable space and creating interior options for design professionals. Now Smoke Guard offers fire and smoke control protection solutions for your entire building. |
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