The guy behind the name
Independent by design.
“Sometimes a curtain is the wrong answer. You'll hear that from me first.”
John McPhail — 24 years in the field
Why “The Smoke Curtain Guy”?
Well, I didn't give it to myself.
Contractors on jobsites would say, “you the smoke curtain guy?” or “oh, you're the smoke curtain guy” — and I'd say yes. So the name stuck.
The work grew past elevators alone. Today this site is independent authority on building code and fire & life safety, with a specialty in fire and smoke curtains — U.S. market, zero brand allegiances.
What I actually do
- →IBC Section 3006 compliance questions
- →Elevator smoke curtain vs lobby decisions
- →Code path & AHJ strategy
- →Budgeting & scope alignment
- →Installation & commissioning guidance
- →Product selection without brand loyalty