Which statement best describes a smoke barrier?

• A. A fire-resistance-rated partition designed to limit smoke spread.
• B. An ordinary partition without fire rating.
• C. An exterior wall with no fire protection.
• D. A floor finish.

Answer: (A)

Smoke barriers are fire-resistance-rated walls designed to stop or greatly slow the spread of smoke between parts of a building, helping to protect occupants and keep egress routes tenable during a fire. The statement that best describes this is a fire-resistance-rated partition specifically built to limit smoke movement, often extending from floor to floor with rated doors and properly sealed penetrations. That’s why it’s the correct choice: an ordinary partition has no fire rating, an exterior wall with no fire protection isn’t meant to confine smoke, and a floor finish isn’t a barrier at all.