Dr.-Ing. Michael Reick and the Mobile Smoke Curtain (Mobiler Rauchverschluss): Development and Impact
Overview
- Subject: The conception, development, patenting, standardization, and global adoption of the Mobile Smoke Curtain (Mobiler Rauchverschluss, MRV).
- Focus: Protecting stairwells and egress routes from smoke spread during interior firefighting; combining MRV with positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) and flow-path control.
Background and Early Research (Early 2000s)
- Michael Reick (마이클 라이크), an engineer educated at the University of Stuttgart (슈투트가르트 대학) and a career firefighter for 25+ years, investigated smoke movement in buildings and the challenge of keeping stairwells clear during multi-story fires.
- Problem identification: PPV alone could not fully prevent smoke inflow into stairwells at the moment of door opening.
- 2004: Conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses of smoke spread when opening doors and examined PPV limits.
- Resulting need: A simple, fast, repeatable method to manage the doorway opening itself to reduce smoke spread into protected routes.
- Concept formed: “Mobile Smoke Curtain (Mobiler Rauchverschluss, MRV)” as a portable, rapidly installed barrier at doorways to retain hot smoke in the fire compartment while permitting limited low-level intake for visibility and stability.
Prototype Trials and Early Field Use (2004–2006)
- 2005 (September): Trial use in a North Rhine–Westphalia (노르트라인-베스트팔렌주, Germany) training building demonstrated feasibility.
- 2005 (November): WMF Geislingen plant fire brigade carried out installation drills with double fire doors and verified effectiveness.
- 2006 (February 6, Heilbronn (하일브론), Germany): In a multi-family dwelling fire, the MRV kept the stairwell clear despite severe damage in the apartment and hallway.
Adoption in the German Fire System (2005–2010)
- Mid-2005: Product launch (“Markteinführung”) followed by rapid uptake across volunteer, career, and industrial brigades.
- Acceptance: Unusually high for a new device; framed as an extension of existing tactics, enabling immediate integration after short training.
- Leadership context: Reick served as county fire chief for Göppingen (괴핑겐) in Baden-Württemberg (바덴뷔르템베르크주) from 1999, facilitating training and field implementation.
Patents and Productization
- Patents:
- Germany/EU: DE102005001211A1 (publication), with international filing PCT/EP2006/000091.
- United States: US 7,810,576 B2 (2010).
- Productization:
- Collaboration with established fire-equipment manufacturers (e.g., rescue-tec) for early production and supply.
- Subsequent production by multiple vendors (e.g., GFD, Dönges), including in Austria (오스트리아) and Switzerland (스위스).
- Iterations introduced “PRO” versions and improvements such as higher one-time direct-flame endurance (up to 600℃), detachable gaskets, and telescopic frames.
- Licensing in some regions; parallel product naming (e.g., Tempest PathMaster in the U.S.).
Standardization and Tactics (2010s)
- Standard equipment: MRV became a “Standardgerät” in Germany (독일), loaded on first-out engines (e.g., HLF/LF) across many states.
- Equipment lists: State-level specifications list MRV; e.g., Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (메클렌부르크-포어포메른) LF 20 loading lists.
- Guidance: MRV usage appears in national/regional tactical publications (e.g., FwDV references and regional technical directives, including TRH-StLF 20:2023 (Hesse, 헤센)) as part of flow-path control and stairwell protection.
Equipment Design and Operating Principle
- Structure:
- Lightweight tension frame (often aluminum) expands into the door frame.
- Flame-retardant, heat-resistant fabric curtain seals the upper opening; overlapping lower/side sections allow hose and personnel passage with quick reseal.
- Mechanism of control:
- Upper sealing retains hot, toxic smoke layer; limited low-level intake supports visibility and combustion stability.
- Compatible with PPV and push–pull venting to maintain positive pressure in the stairwell/egress.
- Field benefits:
- Maintains stairwell visibility/tenability.
- Enables concurrent rescue and fire attack.
- Reduces smoke contamination beyond the fire compartment.
Specification Checklist (Indicative)
| Item | Specification / Note |
| — | — |
| Supported door width | Approx. 0.8–1.4 m (adjustable tension frame) |
| Curtain height | Approx. 1.95 m |
| Frame material | Lightweight aluminum (or equivalent), ergonomic telescopic/tension design |
| Curtain fabric | Flame-retardant, heat-resistant; stated performance in direct-flame exposure (single-use conditions where applicable) |
| Seal features | Gaskets/overlaps to reduce leakage; pass-through for hose/personnel with immediate reseal |
| Setup time | Rapid deployment, ≤3 operations; gloved operation feasible |
| Portability | Dedicated carry bag; apparatus mounting/egress-path friendly |
| Durability/decon | Reuse contingent on cleaning/drying; clear damage and disposal criteria |
| Documentation | Instructions, performance test results, SOP/SOG, safety notes included |
Operational SOP (Field Use)
- Decision: Use MRV when door opening risks contaminating stairwells/egress with smoke.
- Preparation: Ready frame and curtain; clear obstructions; communicate with potential evacuees.
- Installation: Expand frame into jamb; deploy curtain; ensure upper seal; align lower overlaps.
- Entry/Attack: Pass hose/personnel through overlaps briefly; reseal immediately; use TIC as needed.
- Ventilation Integration: Operate PPV; establish push–pull routes from fire room out; maintain stairwell positive pressure.
- Monitoring: Watch for deformation/leakage; adjust tactics if temperature increases or combustion becomes unstable.
- Demobilization: Remove after knockdown; decon, dry, inspect; document damage and replace if required.
Training, Publications, and Collaboration
- Publications:
- 2005: First article in Brandschutz.
- 2015 (4th ed.): Mobiler Rauchverschluss (Die Roten Hefte series 212), consolidating theory, experiments, and correct use.
- 2016: “Smoke Flow and Flow Path Control: A European Perspective” (Fire Engineering).
- Education and outreach:
- Organized and delivered seminars in Germany (독일) and abroad (e.g., New York (뉴욕), London (런던), Antwerp (앤트워프)).
- Keynotes at the 2019 London High-Rise Firefighting Conference and the 2022 International High-Rise Fire Safety Conference; content shared on YouTube.
- CFBT-BE (벨기에 화재거동훈련) hosts application notes: “Anwendungshinweise – Mobiler Rauchverschluss.”
- Professional roles:
- Contributor/advisor in vfdb (German Fire Protection Association).
- Leadership roles in the Baden-Württemberg Fire Association’s “Preventive Fire & Hazard Protection” (바덴뷔르템베르크 소방협회).
- 2010: Honorary professorship at Hochschule Biberach (비버라흐 응용과학대), recognizing contributions to fire protection.
- Industry collaboration:
- Ongoing technical advisory to manufacturers (e.g., rescue-tec and others); joint development and field validations (e.g., improved jamb-mounted designs).
International Impact
- German-speaking Europe: Rapid diffusion to Austria (오스트리아) and Switzerland (스위스); by mid-2010s, commonly found across the region.
- Benelux: Netherlands (네덜란드) and Belgium (벨기에) integrated MRV into CFBT curricula.
- France: Paris Fire Brigade (BSPP) adopted MRV for high-rise operations.
- United Kingdom: After the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, stairwell smoke control gained emphasis; the 2020 interim recommendations cited Reick’s 2005 work. Pilots and subsequent adoption increased across England (잉글랜드) and Scotland (스코틀랜드).
- North America:
- Post-2014 FDIC exposure, U.S. departments explored “flow-path” control with smoke curtains (e.g., FDNY’s KO Curtain concept for high-rise operations).
- Coverage in Fire Rescue and Fire Engineering highlighted MRV’s potential to reduce air supply to the fire, moderate heat release, and delay flashover.
- Adoption and research expanded in major U.S./Canadian departments.
- Scale: By 2020, cumulative global deployments surpassed 40,000 units.
Advantages and Limitations
- Advantages:
- Maintains egress tenability and visibility.
- Facilitates simultaneous rescue and attack.
- Synergizes with PPV/push–pull ventilation.
- Simple, rapid, and repeatable deployment; minimal additional staffing.
- Limitations and cautions:
- Not a substitute for fire doors or compartmentation.
- Performance depends on heat flux and duration of direct flame exposure.
- Pinch/entanglement risk during installation; minimize curtain opening time for evacuees and crews.
- Reuse requires proper decon and inspection; follow single-use/disposal criteria where specified.
Representative Use Cases
- Protecting stairwells in multi-family dwellings.
- Corridor protection in hospitals and care facilities.
- High-rise/ultra-high-rise interfaces (elevator lobby ⇄ stairwell).
- Ships and subsurface occupancies.
- Night-time incidents in sleeping occupancies (schools, nursing facilities).
Key Milestones (2004–2023)
| Year | Milestone |
| — | — |
| 2004 | CFD studies begin on stairwell smoke control and door-opening effects. |
| 2005 | Multiple prototypes and experiments; vfdb Excellent Award (June); first article in Brandschutz (May); product launch and initial field use. |
| 2006 | Rapid adoption across German brigades; early real-world success (e.g., 2006-02-06 Heilbronn multi-family dwelling). |
| 2007 | German/EU patent publication and international filings completed. |
| 2010 | U.S. patent (US 7,810,576 B2, October); honorary professorship at Hochschule Biberach for contributions to fire protection. |
| 2012 | Mobiler Rauchverschluss (Die Roten Hefte 212) handbook published; training emphasis expands. |
| 2014 | Presentation at FDIC (Indianapolis); widespread availability across German services. |
| 2016 | “Smoke Flow and Flow Path Control: A European Perspective” published in Fire Engineering; >1,000 documented field cases. |
| 2020 | Global cumulative deployments exceed 40,000; Grenfell Inquiry interim recommendations cite 2005 work on stairwell smoke control. |
| 2023 | Reports affirm >15 years as a standard tactic in Central European fire services; approaching the concept’s 20-year mark (2005–2025). |
Abbreviations and Key Terms
- MRV: Mobile Smoke Curtain (Mobiler Rauchverschluss)
- PPV: Positive-Pressure Ventilation
- TIC: Thermal Imaging Camera
- FwDV: German fire service tactical regulations (Feuerwehr-Dienstvorschriften)
- CFBT: Compartment Fire Behavior Training
Selected Source Links (as provided in the corpus)