Fire Curtains for Garment Factories: How to Choose UL-Compliant Smoke & Fire Curtains for Safety and RSC Compliance
Kent Smoke and Fire Curtains For Apparel Industries
In the apparel manufacturing industry, fire safety goes beyond regulatory checklists; it’s a matter of life protection in high-risk, high-occupancy environments. Factories typically operate with flammable raw materials, round-the-clock machinery, and large workforces, making them particularly vulnerable to fire and smoke hazards. Achieving full compliance with international fire safety standards is not only a legal requirement but a foundational step toward worker protection, operational continuity, and global buyer confidence.
The Role of Smoke and Fire Curtains in Garment Factory Safety
Smoke and fire curtains play a vital role in enhancing fire safety in garment factories. These systems are designed to automatically deploy during a fire event, creating physical barriers that contain smoke, heat, and flames. As passive fire protection systems, they help prevent the spread of fire across different zones, allowing crucial time for safe evacuation and emergency response.
Their importance is particularly evident in large open factory floors and at vertical openings such as stairwells, elevator shafts, corridors, and atriums, areas where fire and smoke can quickly propagate.
When tested and certified to internationally recognised fire safety standards, smoke and fire curtains, including automatic rolling curtains, accordion (concertina-type) curtains, smoke curtains, and static draft curtains, become essential components in meeting fire compartmentalisation requirements. These systems help factories comply with the fire safety mandates outlined in Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) issued by organisations such as the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), Accord, and Alliance.
Beware of Partial Compliance – Understanding Full UL Compliance for UL Mark
In the fire safety industry, it is essential to understand that true UL compliance involves certification of the entire fire curtain system, not just individual components like the fabric. A fully UL-compliant smoke and fire curtain system must be tested as a complete assembly. The curtain unit itself should be listed under UL 10D, which covers fire protective curtains, and UL 1784, which evaluates smoke leakage for smoke control systems. In addition, the control panel, which governs how the system integrates with fire alarms and activates during an emergency, must be listed under UL 864, the standard for fire alarm system control units and accessories. These combined certifications ensure that the curtain will perform as intended during a fire, especially when integrated with a building’s life safety systems.
For wider or non-standard openings, it’s also important that systems are certified for single and multiple roller orientations, and are listed as compliant for oversized dimensions. These factors ensure that the fire curtain can function reliably regardless of its configuration or installation size.
Unfortunately, the market today is flooded with non-compliant or partially compliant products, and in many cases, partial compliance is falsely advertised as full UL compliance. Some manufacturers only certify the curtain fabric or motor and not the entire system, misleading customers and potentially endangering lives. In other cases, buyers prioritise lower-cost solutions without verifying full compliance, unintentionally compromising fire safety. The risks of relying on such systems are significant, especially in high-risk environments like garment factories, where failure during a fire could lead to massive financial losses and, more importantly, loss of life.
Kent – A Trusted Manufacturer with Full UL & BS EN Compliance
At Kent Smoke and Fire Curtains, we are committed to delivering fully certified and reliable fire and smoke protection systems. Our solutions are tested and listed for complete system compliance, not just individual components. Curtain assemblies are certified to UL 10D for fire protection and UL 1784 for smoke leakage control, ensuring effective performance in real fire scenarios. The control panels used in our systems are UL 864-listed, allowing seamless integration with fire alarm systems.
We undergo regular factory audits conducted by UL Laboratories and Warringtonfire reinforcing our commitment to third-party verification. Our product certifications are publicly listed and accessible via UL Product iQ and official Warringtonfire/Certifire directories, providing full transparency and traceability.
All systems are manufactured under strict Factory Production Control (FPC) procedures, ensuring consistent quality, compliance, and performance across every unit. With this robust certification framework and rigorous quality control, Kent stands as a trusted partner in delivering safety, regulatory compliance, and peace of mind in critical fire protection applications.
Case Study: Sewtech Fashions Ltd – Shahi Exports Pvt Ltd, Bangladesh
A recent example highlighting the importance of full fire safety compliance is the Sewtech Fashions Ltd – Building 10 project in Bangladesh, operated under Shahi Exports Pvt Ltd. In July 2025, the facility achieved 100% Corrective Action Plan (CAP) completion, as certified by the RMG Sustainability Council (RSC), a significant milestone in the region’s ongoing efforts to elevate fire and life safety standards.
As part of this achievement, Kent Smoke and Fire Curtains supplied UL-marked fire curtains, strategically installed at elevator fronts to provide critical vertical compartmentation. These systems played an essential role in satisfying the compartmentation and smoke control requirements outlined in the CAP.
To date, Kent systems have been installed in over 80 apparel manufacturing facilities across Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. Our fully certified fire curtain solutions are trusted by leading garment exporters, industrial safety consultants, and third-party international compliance auditors. This project reinforces how properly tested and fully certified fire curtain systems contribute meaningfully to meeting the most stringent safety benchmarks set by global buyers and regulatory bodies alike.
Compliance isn’t just about passing audits; it’s about building safer futures for your workers and your brand. Get in touch with Kent today,
ABIN VARUGHESE
Assistant Manager – Sales & Marketing
Call/ Whatsapp: +971506604689
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