Engineering Safer Metro Networks Without Compromising Architectural Vision
Fire and Smoke Curtains for Metro Stations
Modern metro systems are more than transportation networks. They are high-capacity public environments and architectural landmarks designed to move millions of passengers safely through underground platforms, expansive concourses, multi-level stations and complex interchange hubs.
These open, connected spaces improve passenger movement and experience, but they also create demanding fire-engineering challenges. Smoke can travel rapidly through escalator voids, atriums and interconnected levels, while permanent walls and conventional barriers can restrict visibility, passenger flow and architectural freedom.
At Kent Smoke & Fire Curtains, we believe fire safety should support great architecture – not limit it. Our engineered curtain systems help control smoke movement, provide fire compartmentation and protect evacuation routes while remaining discreetly integrated within the station design.
Design Freedom for Architects
Kent’s bespoke smoke and fire curtains remain concealed within coordinated ceiling or bulkhead details during normal operation and deploy automatically when activated by the station’s fire alarm or control system. They can protect atriums, escalator and stair voids, passenger concourses, cross-passages, lift lobbies, retail areas and other large openings without introducing permanent visual barriers.
Specialist engineering supports extensive widths, long drops, compact headboxes, multiple-roller arrangements and straight, faceted, overlapping or complex geometries. Early coordination helps integrate headboxes, side guides, bottom bars, access panels, structural supports and surrounding MEP services into the architectural design.
Where passenger movement or escape must be maintained, Kent Automatic Egress Fire Curtains can incorporate an integrated egress opening within the deployed curtain. This provides a secondary means of escape for suitable cross-corridor and circulation applications, subject to the approved Fire & Life Safety strategy and Authority Having Jurisdiction requirements.
Supporting Smoke Management and Safe Evacuation
In underground and enclosed metro environments, uncontrolled smoke can reduce visibility and affect evacuation routes beyond the fire location. Kent Automatic Smoke Curtains are engineered to complement Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation Systems (SHEVS) by limiting smoke spread, directing smoke towards extraction points, forming smoke reservoirs and supporting smoke zoning.
Curtain dimensions, deployment levels and interfaces must be coordinated with smoke modelling, extraction capacity, make-up air and evacuation analysis. Kent therefore works with Fire & Life Safety consultants so the curtain functions as part of the complete smoke-control strategy rather than as an isolated product.
Confidence for Fire & Life Safety Consultants
Performance-based fire engineering requires reliable systems supported by appropriate testing, certification and clearly documented limitations. Depending on the selected system and required performance, Kent’s portfolio is supported by internationally recognised standards and third-party certification, including:
1. UL 10D fire-protective curtain assemblies
2. UL 1784 air-leakage performance
3. BS EN 12101-1 smoke-barrier performance
4. BS EN 1634 fire-resistance and smoke-control testing
5. BS EN 13501 fire classification
6. Warringtonfire CERTIFIRE third-party certification
7. CE-marked solutions, where applicable
Selected Kent systems carry recognised UL Listings and Warringtonfire CERTIFIRE certification, supported by relevant fire-test reports and assessment evidence. Kent’s Design, R&D and Specification teams assist with product selection, performance classification, tested size limitations, control interfaces, two-stage descent, override requirements, maintenance access and project-specific submissions for consultant and AHJ review.
Reliable Delivery for Main Contractors
Major metro programmes require repeatable quality, coordinated manufacturing and dependable logistics across multiple stations and construction packages. Kent supports contractors from design development through production, delivery, installation guidance and commissioning. Its Dubai manufacturing facility is audited under applicable UL and Warringtonfire certification programmes and can produce up to 600 roller assemblies per month.
Controlled identification, inspection, labelling and packaging are aligned with approved drawings, tested standards and installation sequences. Experience across more than 34 international markets supports phased shipments, export documentation, regional coordination and responsive technical assistance.
Featured Metro Project: Riyadh Metro, Saudi Arabia
The Riyadh Metro is one of the world’s largest urban rail developments and a major component of Saudi Arabia’s transformation of public transportation. Kent supplied Automatic Egress Fire Curtains and Automatic Smoke Curtains for stations across the Orange Line (Line 3), Green Line (Line 5) and Purple Line (Line 6).
Installed in station lobbies, corridors and escalator voids, the systems support smoke compartmentation, protect evacuation routes and improve the effectiveness of the stations’ smoke-management strategies. Bespoke engineering allowed the curtain systems to meet demanding architectural and operational interfaces while remaining discreet during normal conditions.
Trusted Across Landmark Metro Projects
Kent has delivered bespoke smoke-management and fire-compartmentation solutions for major metro projects, including:
8. Riyadh Metro – Saudi Arabia
9. Dubai Metro – United Arab Emirates
10. Doha Gold Line Metro – Qatar
11. Delhi Metro – India
12. Mong Kok Metro – Hong Kong
Why Leading Metro Projects Choose Kent
Kent combines independently tested and certified fire and smoke curtain systems with specialist engineering, scalable production and international logistics capabilities – providing metro project teams with reliable support from early design through installation and commissioning.
13. Globally recognised certifications: Selected systems carry UL Listings and Warringtonfire CERTIFIRE certification, supported by relevant fire-test reports, assessment evidence and applicable Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) approvals.
14. Specialist engineering: Solutions for extensive widths, long drops, compact headboxes, multiple-roller configurations and complex ceiling geometries.
15. Dedicated design and specification support: Kent’s Design, R&D and Specification teams coordinate with transport authorities, architects, Fire & Life Safety consultants, MEP engineers and contractors.
16. Factory Production Control: Quality, inspection, labelling and packaging are controlled in accordance with approved drawings, tested standards and installation sequences. Kent’s manufacturing facility is audited under applicable UL and Warringtonfire certification programmes.
17. Scalable production and international logistics: Kent’s Dubai manufacturing facility has the capacity to produce up to 600 rollers per month, supported by phased shipments, export documentation and regional coordination across more than 34 international markets.
18. Proven large-scale project delivery: Experience includes landmark metro systems and more than 2,000 projects across 34+ international markets.
19. End-to-end project support: Specification, engineering, manufacturing, delivery, installation guidance, and commissioning support are coordinated as one complete project solution.
Why Is Early Design Integration Important for Metro Fire and Smoke Curtains?
Early integration allows architects and fire engineers to explore extensive widths, long drops, compact headboxes, multiple rollers and complex configurations before ceiling zones, structural supports and MEP routes are frozen. It also helps project teams confirm the required performance, applicable standards, deployment paths, fire-alarm and SHEVS logic, egress provisions, testing access and maintenance requirements.
Kent supports this process through product selection, specification assistance, bespoke engineering, BIM coordination and certification guidance. Early involvement helps fire and smoke curtains become an integral part of the station’s architectural, fire-safety and smoke-control strategy, reducing interface conflicts and late-stage redesign.
Planning a new metro station, network extension or fire-safety upgrade?
Engage Kent before ceilings and MEP routes are frozen for design assistance, specification support, project-specific drawings and system selection.
Contact Us,
ABIN VARUGHESE
Deputy Manager – Sales & Marketing
Call/ Whatsapp: +971506604689
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