ETFE cushions have become increasingly popular as a cost effective alternative to glass in rooflights and facades. They offer many benefits over glass; they are very light, so require much reduced structural support and they are able to absorb large deflections without fracturing. They have been used successfully in numerous projects – among them the very distinctive Biomes of the Eden Project, in Cornwall.

1. ETFE rooflights are not an alternative to smoke control!
ETFE cushions have become increasingly popular as a cost effective alternative to glass in rooflights
and facades. They offer many benefits over glass; they are very light, so require much reduced
structural support and they are able to absorb large deflections without fracturing. They have been
used successfully in numerous
projects – among them the very
distinctive Biomes of the Eden Project,
in Cornwall.
Why would they be any good for
smoke control?
It has been argued that because
ETFE can melt, the cushions are able
to ‘self vent’ in the event of fire,
‘shrinking back from flames to allow
the fire to vent to atmosphere,’
eliminating the need for smoke
control.
Why is it not a good idea?
There are some very real concerns
about using ‘low-melt’ panels for smoke control. First of all, the claim that a rooflight will ‘self vent’
means that there will be no design input into the arrangement of smoke control measures in the
building. This could leave the responsibility for smoke control design to a contractor who may not have
the necessary expertise.
The second concern is whether the ETFE panels, with a melting point in excess of 200oC have the
ability to ventilate the smoke in the necessary timeframe and quantities.
ETFE is no substitute for a smoke control system
When considering ETFE as an alternative to glass in a rooflight, its ability to melt is not a substitute for
the installation of a properly designed automatic smoke control system. And it doesn’t negate the need
for a fire engineer or smoke control specialist to competently design a complete system that will take
into account all aspects of the building and its usage.
Designing a smoke control system when using ETFE cushions
© 2013 Colt International Licensing Ltd.

2. There are a number of important considerations about effective smoke control when designing a
building with ETFE rooflights. You will find useful advice in our whitepaper, which you can download
here.
© 2013 Colt International Licensing Ltd.