Use All Ordinary Hazard in Lieu of Water Curtain?

8/11/2025

While water curtains can be used in lieu of a fire-resistant rated proscenium curtain to separate light and ordinary hazard areas, could the water curtain be deleted if the entire area was protected by a properly designed and installed ordinary hazard sprinkler system?

Essentially, trade increased coverage for the water curtains?

Example - all large stages and theaters, and small ones like all-purpose rooms with stages. Hose valves, if required, would remain.

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4 Comments

Todd E Wyatt

8/11/2025 08:23:45 am

The scoping Code (e.g. IBC-2024) includes a WATER CURTAIN as (1) of (4) solutions per 410.2.5 "where a proscenium wall is required to have a fire-resistance rating" per IBC-2024 410.2.4.

If (1) of the other (3) solutions are selected, then a WATER CURTAIN is not required.

REFERENCE

IBC-2024
Chapter 4 Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and Use
Section 410 Stages, Platforms and Technical Production Areas
410.2 Stages

410.2.4 Proscenium Wall
Where the stage height is greater than 50 feet (15 240 mm), all portions of the stage shall be completely separated from the seating area by a proscenium wall with not less than a 2-hour fire-resistance rating extending continuously from the foundation to the roof.
Exception: Where a stage is located in a building of Type I construction, the proscenium wall is permitted to extend continuously from a minimum 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor slab of the space containing the stage to the roof or a minimum 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor deck above.

410.2.5 Proscenium Curtain
Where a proscenium wall is required to have a fire-resistance rating, the stage opening shall be provided with a FIRE CURTAIN complying with NFPA 80, HORIZONTAL SLIDING DOORS complying with Section 716 having a fire protection rating of not less than 1 hour, or an approved WATER CURTAIN complying with Section 903.3.1.1 or, in facilities not utilizing the provisions of smoke-protected assembly seating in accordance with Section 1030.6.2, a SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEM complying with Section 909 or natural ventilation designed to maintain the smoke level not less than 6 feet (1829 mm) above the floor of the means of egress.

IBC-2024
Section 903 Automatic Sprinkler Systems
903.3 Installation Requirements
903.3.1 Standards
903.3.1.1 NFPA 13 Sprinkler Systems
Where the provisions of this code require that a building or portion thereof be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with this section, sprinklers shall be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13 except as provided in Sections 903.3.1.1.1 through 903.3.1.1.3.

Anthony

8/11/2025 08:28:15 am

No. Proscriptive code can't be replaced by increased coverage density. Also the whole point of the water curtain is the linear spacing not the surrounding density. I think in general its of dubious efficacy. Window sprinklers have been specifically tested and have a spray pattern specific to the use. Sprinklers as a method to separate areas ehh, I like actual physical barriers better for that.

Might be a hole in the market for a fan type spray nozzle?

Glenn Berger

8/11/2025 08:33:41 am

Anthony's response is spot on. The water curtain system is a specific code requirement for the specific occupancy and hazard..

Chris Nelson

8/11/2025 08:37:44 am

As no one has said it, stages are considered a special hazard because they are just that. A special hazard. Backdrops, stage decorations, potential pyro, lightening, sound.

Its a whole hog pod of fire hazards and fuel loading. Think of like an atrium with atrium protections. You are not protecting the hazards so much as delineating spaces.

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Use All Ordinary Hazard in Lieu of Water Curtain?

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