What Are Elevator Smoke Curtains? (Complete Guide 2025)

Got a call from a GC last week: "My architect says we need elevator smoke curtains. What the heck are those, and why do they cost so much?"

The good news? Elevator smoke curtains aren't nearly as complicated as they sound. By the end of this guide, you'll understand exactly what they are, how they work, and whether your building needs them.

What Are Elevator Smoke Curtains?

It's pretty much just what it sounds like. The name actually gives it away.

An elevator smoke curtain is a fire and/or smoke-rated screen that mounts above elevator openings and automatically rolls down during a fire or smoke event. Its job? Keep the elevator shaft from acting like a chimney and allowing smoke to migrate from floor to floor.

Here's the thing: you've probably walked past elevator smoke curtains in buildings dozens of times without even noticing them. They're designed to be invisible during normal operation - hidden in ceiling-mounted housings above elevator doors. They may be in your building right now, and you had no idea they were there.

The best part? They're a smart alternative to building expensive elevator lobbies, which can cost building owners hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction costs and lost revenue space.

How Do Elevator Smoke Curtains Work?

Elevator smoke curtains work by being triggered by the smoke detector positioned in front of the elevators. That same smoke detector sends the elevator into what's called "Phase I recall" - causing the elevator to return to the primary recall floor with doors standing open.

When that smoke detector activates, it simultaneously sends a signal to the elevator smoke curtain system, telling it to deploy. The curtain rolls down in front of the elevator opening and creates a barrier preventing smoke from entering the elevator shaft.

If smoke is already in the shaft and starts to rise and migrate out onto each floor, the smoke detectors in front of elevator openings on each floor trigger their respective smoke curtains to deploy as well.

Safety Features Built In:

• Manual or electronic egress for elevator occupants if a curtain happens to deploy while they're in the elevator car
• Battery backup systems to ensure operation during power outages
• UL-listed components meeting strict fire safety standards
• Easily removed by firefighter personnel, if needed

Once the alarm condition clears, all deployed curtains automatically reset themselves back into their housings, ready to protect another day.

Why Do Building Codes Require Them?

Here's where I need to be clear: building codes don't specifically require smoke curtains. They require elevator smoke protection.

You can find the requirements for elevator smoke protection in Chapter 30 of the International Building Code, specifically Section 3006.2. That's what I call the "when" - when elevator smoke protection is required based on building height, occupancy type, and other factors.

The problem elevator smoke protection solves: During fires, elevator shafts act like vertical highways for smoke and heat. Without protection, smoke can rapidly spread from floor to floor, creating death traps for occupants trying to evacuate upper floors.

Elevator smoke curtains are just one of five methods the building code allows for elevator smoke protection. You can find these options in Section 3006.3 of the International Building Code - what I refer to as the "how" of elevator smoke protection:

1. Elevator lobbies: (expensive construction)
2. Elevator shaft pressurization: (complex mechanical systems)
3. Additional swing doors: (cheaper, and looks like "cheap")
4. Elevator smoke curtains: (cost-effective alternative)
5. Combination approaches

Twenty years ago, almost everyone built elevator lobbies. Elevator smoke curtains changed the game - providing the same life safety protection at a fraction of the cost.

Different Types of Elevator Smoke Curtains

There are two basic types of elevator smoke curtains, each with distinct advantages:

Magnet-Based Systems

The original elevator smoke curtain was invented by an architect who hated the aesthetic of fire-rated swing doors in front of elevator openings. He was trying to maximize square footage on a building he was designing, so he created a curtain that used magnets on each end to seal around elevator openings.

His reasoning was brilliant: magnets could be easily pushed aside if an occupant or firefighter needed to exit the elevator car during deployment.

Major manufacturers:

• Smoke Guard: (the original inventor)
• Stöbich: (German manufacturer - full disclosure: I work for Stöbich)
• BLE: (newest entry into the magnet market)

Side Guide-Based Systems

These curtains were originally introduced to the US market by BLE, a British company. Initially, they faced resistance because early versions simply dropped down and stayed deployed, offering limited egress options if someone was in the elevator car when the curtain activated.

The concern was valid: they weren't much different from using a coiling door in front of an elevator, which violates the "no special tools, keys, knowledge or effort" requirements in Chapter 30 of the building code.

Other manufacturers: DSI, Cornell/Cookson/Clopay, and even Smoke Guard now offers side guide options.

Performance wise? When it comes to stopping smoke, magnet-based and side guide systems are equally effective. Choosing between them usually comes down to architectural design preferences and aesthetic goals.

Note: While there are many international manufacturers, US testing and labeling requirements (particularly UL 1784 listings) create significant barriers to entry for foreign curtain manufacturers.

How Much Do Elevator Smoke Curtains Cost?

This is the million-dollar question - literally, in some cases.

Elevator smoke curtains typically cost $6,500-$10,000+ per opening, installed. This range accounts for different curtain widths, heights, and the complexity of elevator frame coordination (which becomes a major factor on most projects).

Several factors affect pricing:

• Number of curtains on the project
• Type of curtain system selected
• Distributor markup and local competition
• Installation complexity and timing

But here's what most people miss: The real cost comparison isn't just construction dollars - it's lost revenue potential.

The Hidden Cost of Elevator Lobbies

While people think of elevator lobbies as just "a couple of swing doors with panic hardware," the reality is much more expensive. You're sacrificing valuable square footage that could generate revenue.

Take an 8-story hotel with a typical single-corridor design. That elevator lobby space - usually about 10' x 20' (200 sq ft) - looks remarkably similar in size to the hotel rooms themselves.

The math is staggering: At $150/night average room rates, that 200 sq ft of "dead space" per floor represents $240,000 in lost annual revenue potential. During peak events (like that Auburn-Georgia game weekend where hotel rooms hit $1,600/night), that lobby space could generate serious money instead of just being a place for people to stand and wait uncomfortably.

Investment comparison: $16,000 for smoke curtains vs. hundreds of thousands in lost revenue over the building's lifetime.

*On the site: I've developed a revenue loss calculator that will show you exactly how much your elevator lobby design is costing you.*

Do You Need Smoke Curtains for Your Building?

Maybe. It really depends on multiple factors:

1. Does the building code require elevator smoke protection?: (IBC Section 3006.2)
2. What does your building and egress corridor layout look like?
3. How tall is your building?
4. What are the occupancy types in your building?
5. Is your building fully sprinklered?
6. What's your cost per square foot of construction?
7. Are you missing out on revenue based on your current layout?
8. What's the design intent and aesthetic goals for your building?

Buildings that typically require elevator smoke protection:

• Unsprinklered office buildings 4 stories and over
• Hotels and high-rise residential buildings
• Hospitals and healthcare facilities
• Mixed-use developments

Buildings that usually don't need them:

• Single-story buildings
• Some fully sprinklered buildings (depending on occupancy type and local amendments)
• Buildings with existing compliant elevator lobbies
• Certain industrial applications

My advice: Don't guess. Local building officials and/or fire marshals interpret codes differently, and what's required in Charlotte might not be required in Atlanta, or Chicago, or New York City or... you get the picture. Get professional guidance before finalizing your architectural plans.

Next Steps

Need to know if elevator smoke protection is required for your project? Use the decision tree tool on my website to get a preliminary assessment of your requirements.

Have specific questions about your project? Use the "Ask Me Anything" feature on this site. You can ask anonymously, or if you have project-specific questions, I'll reach back out to you directly.

Don't be the building owner who gets surprised by an emergency installation. I've seen too many projects where architects didn't consult with elevator smoke protection experts until the last minute, resulting in six-figure cost overruns and delayed certificates of occupancy.

The smart building owners and architects? They call product experts like me during the design phase, not during the panic phase.

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*Questions about elevator smoke curtains or building code requirements? Contact me directly at hello@thesmokecurtainguy.com or use the decision tree tool to assess your project needs.*