One should consider if this is a teaching facility or a professional
venue. If it is a teaching facility, then a
Fire Curtain system serves as a training tool to familiarize the students with the operation and functionality of a
Fire Curtain System so they are not suprised by it's presence and understand the set design limitations of a facility equipped with a
Fire Curtain.
Additionally, a
Fire Curtain that is up to the
current NFPA 80
Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives can provide some security by physically separating the
stage from the audience chamber to keep vandals and other unauthorized people from entering the
stage area by way of the
proscenium opening. This can save damage to set and scenery, theft, and reduces the likelihood that the unauthorized person might tamper with the rigging or electrical equipment in a manner that could either result in their death (or injury) or the possibility of them leaving the equipment in a condition that it could injure or kill someone else that enters the
stage later (i.e. a 'booby
trap', intentional or otherwise).
Keeping the
Fire Curtain closed when the
stage is not in use for shows or rehearsals also provides a dust barrier to keep set construction dust from migrating (air-born or by being tracked on shoes) into the audience chamber and soiling the upholstery and carpet.
Keeping the
Fire Curtain closed also provides a physical barrier that can keep equipment on casters and inattentive people from wandering off the front of the
stage apron and falling into the
Orchestra Pit or front cross-aisle (particularly if it is dark - which is should never be, but that is a whole other conversation).
I generally don't agree with the idea that you should only have a
Fire Curtain in a
venue just because the Building / Fire Code requires it. Building Codes are a MINIMUM requirement. You can do more. The philosophy of "Save people, not buildings" doesn't sit well with me and the way my tax dollars are spent, either. Even if there isn't a huge database of $10M-$100M buildings being saved by a $50K
Fire Curtain, there are other considerations like
smoke damage and down-time due to smaller fire events. Have a
Fire Curtain that works, use it, test it, and teach it. It's a much smaller investment than goes into sound, lighting, and rigging, let alone the whole building.
