Safety curtain

The Iron Curtain ( curtain ) is a structural fire protection equipment in places of public assembly that separates the stage area as fire compartment from the audience in the form of fire protection closure to ensure a safe escape of the viewers and to prevent the encroachment of fire in other parts of the building.

History

Fires in theaters during the 19th century increasingly came before due to the use of gas lights or open flames. In addition, the former protection and extinguishing measures proved to be insufficient and often not operational. In the wake of major disasters in the last third of the 19th century, the unity of the auditorium and the stage has been identified as a weak point.

In Austria the iron curtain is required by law since the Vienna Ring Theater Fire in 1881. Founded after the accident Asphaleia Society took on the task of developing a fireproof theater pattern and mentioned in their documentation a " curtain sheet " or " metal curtain ". In Germany the curtain from 1889, according to several theater fires also mandatory where there was in Munich in 1879 already a " local police rule on the fire police in theaters ". The beginning of the modern era in technical theater Germany can be dated with the construction of the city theater in Halle in 1886.

The introduction of the Iron Curtain in the theater marked a turning point in the theater and significantly changed the requirements for the stage equipment, since a large wall at a distance above the stage had to find space. The large structures on the roofs theater housed now in addition to the mechanical equipment for the decorations and lighting hoists the Iron Curtain. The gridiron thereby given a new dimension, artistically created for stage and authors new opportunities. Many homes can make the curtains by well-known artists; this painting has often been re-tendered for each theater season competition. The need for security of the public should be satisfied with it visually.

Previously, non- massive curtains were often used (so-called Drahtcourtinen, first documented in Lyon, 1787), which were used as a normal fabric curtain. However, this technique proved to be insufficient, as this version had to be drawn or lowered cumbersome and the resulting fire at pressure differences did not stand up. In addition to slowly let down curtains worked through the expectant opening smaller and smaller in case of fire as a dangerous nozzle, which could throw a jet of flame into the spectator area.

Technology

Curtains are now mandatory for large stages. These include stage with a stage area behind the proscenium opening of more than 200 m², stages with an upper stage where the clear height is more than 2.5 m above the portal or stages with a lower stage. Such protection curtain must be able to close in less than 30 seconds by its own weight, creating a curtain movement is guaranteed even in case of failure of the mains supply. While driving a mains-independent alarm shall be audible. The release by hand must be conducted at least two places.

The curtain must not contain a door opening, the door leaf is more than 1 m wide and has to open the back stage area. It must also have a pressure difference of 450 Pa to withstand in both directions and will fit tightly on all sides of fire- resistant components ( F90 ). Curtains may not be underpinned with decorations, and there shall be no cables are laid in the closing area. The prescribed in large stages water spray system must also be able to apply the curtain to increase its service life in case of fire.

Pure and structurally seen from the permit side are the auditorium and stage ( nhaus ) two separate fire sections that must be separated by a fire in the final rule. Thus, the operation is with open curtain the exceptional case, which explains why the curtain is shut down immediately after the performance.

In addition, the curtain is playing every day to check by pulling up and draining for proper operation. Besides, he needs to be checked at regular intervals by an expert or a qualified person with appropriate qualifications. According to state law differences may arise regarding the inspection intervals: Some states require annual audits, in Berlin (after AnlPrüfVO 2005), a check is sufficient in three -year intervals.

The requirements can be found in the German legal space in the Sample Assembly Ordinance, the venue regulations or in the building regulations of the federal states and the trade association regulation BGV C1, which responds to the accident prevention measures for operation with protective curtains.

Interesting

Iron curtains can also be used for artistic purposes. In the Vienna State Opera since 1998, for example, transforms a series of exhibitions, designed by the Viennese museum in progress, the fire wall between stage and auditorium into a temporary exhibition space for contemporary art. For each playing season, the curtain is designed by a new artist.