When does the smoke curtain requirement apply to existing buildings?

For existing buildings, the smoke curtain or smoke protected lobby requirement is triggered when performing Level 2 Alterations to an elevator or elevator lobby, per EBCNYS 801.4. New construction elements must comply with the current BCNYS, which now explicitly includes the smoke protective curtain under § 3006.3 Item 5.

Is there an alternative to the smoke protective curtain?

Yes. The code provides an alternative: the smoke curtain may be omitted if the elevator is enclosed by a fire and smoke protected lobby. Both the curtain and the protected lobby are compliant paths — the design team selects the approach based on the project's architectural and functional constraints.

Does this affect all elevator types?

The requirement applies at each elevator hoistway door opening, per the code language. The exception for a fire and smoke protected lobby applies per opening. Projects with multiple elevators in a bank need to carefully evaluate each hoistway opening unless a protected lobby covers the group.

What changed between Item 3 and Item 5 in § 3006.3?

Under the 2020 BCNYS, Section 3006.3 Item 3 addressed smoke control for elevator hoistways but did not explicitly require the smoke protective curtain assembly. The 2025 update created Item 5, which explicitly names the smoke protective curtain assembly as a required element at each hoistway door opening, removing any ambiguity in interpretation.

BCNYS 2025 § 3006.3: Elevator Hoistway Smoke Curtains Now Explicitly Required

Of the several structural and life safety updates in the 2025 BCNYS, the elevator hoistway smoke curtain change under § 3006.3 Item 5 stands out for one specific reason: it doesn't just affect new construction. Through the EBCNYS compliance pathway, it also reaches existing buildings undergoing Level 2 Alterations to elevators or elevator lobbies. For fire alarm contractors and expediters working on renovation projects, that distinction changes the scope of what you need to coordinate with the design team before filing.

TWO COMPLIANCE PATHS — BOTH ARE VALID

The code provides a choice: either install a smoke protective curtain assembly at each elevator hoistway door opening, or enclose the elevator in a fire and smoke protected lobby. One or the other is required — both satisfy the code. The design team selects the appropriate path based on architectural and cost constraints.

What Changed: Item 3 to Item 5

The NYSED Notable 2025 Code Changes document describes this update under Item #3 of the BCNYS section:

"Item 5 now explicitly requires a smoke protective curtain assembly at hoistways. This curtain shall be provided at each elevator hoistway door opening, unless the elevator is enclosed by a fire and smoke protected lobby. For existing buildings undergoing Level 2 Alterations, according to EBCNYS 801.4 Compliance, new construction elements must comply with the requirements of the Building Code of New York State. So a smoke curtain or a smoke protected lobby is required when performing Level 2 alterations to an elevator or the elevator lobby."
— BCNYS § 3006.3 Item 5, Notable 2025 Code Changes, NYSED OFP (12/15/2025)

The key word is "explicitly." Under the 2020 BCNYS, the smoke control requirements for elevator hoistways existed under Item 3 but left room for interpretation on whether the physical curtain assembly itself was mandatory. Item 5 in the 2025 code removes that ambiguity entirely.

The Two Compliance Paths

When § 3006.3 Item 5 is triggered, the code offers two valid design approaches:

Path A: Smoke Protective Curtain

A listed smoke protective curtain assembly at each elevator hoistway door opening. Deployed automatically upon smoke detection. Typically the more cost-effective option for existing shafts where lobby reconfiguration isn't feasible.

Path B: Fire and Smoke Protected Lobby

Enclosing the elevator within a dedicated lobby with the required fire and smoke ratings. Eliminates the curtain requirement per opening. More architecturally disruptive but preferred in some renovation scenarios.

The design professional selects the path based on project constraints. What's not acceptable is providing neither — that's the interpretation the 2025 code update closes off definitively.

The Level 2 Alterations Trigger: Existing Buildings

This is where the change gets operationally significant for renovation projects. Under EBCNYS § 801.4, new construction elements introduced during alterations must comply with the current BCNYS. This means that when a project performs Level 2 Alterations to an elevator or its lobby, the smoke curtain or protected lobby requirement follows — even if the building was built under an earlier code edition that didn't require it.

Project Type	§ 3006.3 Item 5 Applies?	Notes
New Construction	Yes — always	Full compliance required
Additions	Yes	New elements comply with 2025 BCNYS
Change of Occupancy	Yes	Per the scope of the change
Level 2 Alterations — elevator or lobby work	Yes — via EBCNYS 801.4	New elements must meet current BCNYS
Level 1 Alterations	Not directly triggered	Confirm scope with RDP

Your Filing Package Doesn't Have to Be the Bottleneck

When elevator alteration scope expands due to new code requirements, project timelines tighten. Fire PDF Pro auto-fills your TM-1, A-433, and B-45 forms in under 2 minutes using live DOB/BIS data, so your filings keep pace with the project.

Access the Filing Tools →

Fire Alarm Interface: What Contractors Need to Coordinate

The smoke protective curtain assembly doesn't operate independently — it's triggered by the fire alarm system. This creates a direct coordination requirement for fire alarm contractors on any project where a curtain is the chosen compliance path. Specifically:

The curtain's activation sequence must be documented in the fire alarm system sequence of operations
The smoke detection device(s) that trigger the curtain must be specified and located per the system design
The TM-1 or equivalent filing documentation should reflect the curtain as an auxiliary control function of the fire alarm system
Interface wiring between the fire alarm control panel and the curtain motor/controller must be coordinated with the curtain manufacturer's specifications

On renovation projects with Level 2 Alteration scope, this often means the fire alarm system itself needs to be updated to support the new curtain interface — which can expand the project's fire alarm filing scope unexpectedly if not identified early.

Checklist: Elevator Projects Under the 2025 Code

Confirm project type: new construction, addition, change of occupancy, or Level 2 Alteration
If Level 2: confirm whether alteration work touches the elevator or elevator lobby
Confirm the chosen compliance path: smoke curtain or protected lobby
If smoke curtain: confirm fire alarm interface requirements are reflected in the system design and TM-1
If protected lobby: confirm fire and smoke ratings are specified in the construction documents
For multi-elevator banks: confirm each hoistway opening is addressed individually unless covered by a single protected lobby

Frequently Asked Questions

For existing buildings, it's triggered when performing Level 2 Alterations to an elevator or elevator lobby, via EBCNYS § 801.4. New construction elements introduced during those alterations must comply with the current BCNYS, which now explicitly includes the smoke curtain or protected lobby requirement.

Yes. The code allows the curtain to be omitted if the elevator is enclosed by a fire and smoke protected lobby. Both paths satisfy the requirement — the RDP selects the approach based on project constraints.

The code requires a curtain at each elevator hoistway door opening. Projects with multiple elevators must evaluate each opening. A single protected lobby covering a group of elevators can satisfy the requirement for that group.

The 2020 BCNYS § 3006.3 Item 3 addressed smoke control at hoistways but did not explicitly name the smoke protective curtain assembly as a required element. The 2025 update adds Item 5, which explicitly requires it at each hoistway door opening — eliminating interpretive ambiguity that existed under the previous code.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, based on the Notable 2025 Code Changes List issued by the NYSED Office of Facilities Planning on December 15, 2025. Fire PDF Pro is not a legal or engineering firm. All design decisions and permit filings must be reviewed by a Registered Design Professional (RDP) and verified against official publications from the NYS Department of State, NYSED, NYC DOB, and FDNY.