Fires can be devastating. They can destroy homes, businesses, and lives. But there are ways to protect yourself, your family, and your property from the ravages of fire. One of these ways is passive fire protection.
Passive fire protection is a set of measures designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within a building. It is typically used in conjunction with active fire protection measures, such as sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers. Passive fire protection can be achieved using firewall construction, fire-resistant materials, and smoke-control systems.
Carry out a Fire Compartmentation Survey
In order to achieve passive fire protection, you first need to have a fire compartmentation survey carried out by a qualified company like Prestige Fire Safety to identify and gaps or penetrations that compromise the buildings compartmentalisation. A fire compartmentation survey looks at fire doors, holes in walls, openings in service risers and gaps above suspended ceilings and in loft spaces. Once you have the findings of the survey, you can then seek to carry out any remedial work required.
Construct Fire Walls
Fire walls are an effective way to compartmentalise a building and prevent the spread of fire. Fire walls are typically constructed using concrete or masonry materials. They can also be lined with fire-resistant materials, such as gypsum board or sheet metal.
Fire walls are typically required in commercial and industrial buildings, but they can also be used in smaller structures, such as homes. Fire walls can help prevent fires from spreading from one room to another or from one side of the wall to the other.
Fire walls can provide an important layer of protection against fires. When designing or constructing a fire wall, it is important to consider the height of the wall, the thickness of the wall, and the type of materials that will be used. By doing so, you can help ensure that the fire wall is effective in preventing the spread of fire. The height of the wall should be at least twice the height of the tallest object in the room or area that is being protected. The thickness of the wall should be at least 4 inches (10 cm). The type of materials used to construct the fire wall will depend on the type of building and the level of protection that is required. For example, a fire wall in a school might be made of different materials than a fire wall in a hospital.
It is also vital that any gaps or holes in the fire wall, for example gaps around cable trays/service penetrations are correctly sealed using appropriate firestopping materials by a certified company such as Prestige Fire Safety. This prevents any smoke or fire travelling from one compartment to another.
Install Fire Doors
Fire doors are another important element of passive fire protection. Fire doors help to contain fires by preventing the spread of smoke and heat. Fire doors should be installed in all areas of a building where there is a risk of fire. This includes corridors, stairwells, and any other areas that may act as a barrier to the spread of fire.
In the event of a fire, fire doors can help to prevent the spread of smoke and heat. This can buy valuable time for occupants to evacuate the building and for the fire service to arrive on the scene. Fire doors can also help to contain fires to a specific area, which can make them easier to extinguish.
If you are planning to install fire doors in your building, it is important to remember that they must be properly maintained. This includes keeping the doors in good condition and free of debris, as well as testing the self-closing mechanisms on a regular basis. By properly maintaining your fire doors, you can ensure that they will be ready to use in the event of a fire. Feel free to call our team to learn more about our fire door assessment surveys and fire door installation.
Use a Certified Fire Safety company
It is important that you employ the services of a third party certified fire safety company such as Prestige Fire Safety to assess and install your passive fire protection measures. Prestige hold IFC certification as an installer of passive fire protection systems and use Onetrace technology to pinpoint any work carried out accurately on your floor plans. From this technology, we can then produce a report of all work carried out including descriptions, photos and exact locations. Prestige Fire Safety can help you protect your property or business from fire.
Get in touch with us for your passive fire protection
Passive fire protection is an important part of protecting your home or business from the destruction a fire can cause. By carrying out fire compartmentation surveys, constructing and firestopping fire walls and installing and maintaining fire doors, you can help to create a safe environment for yourself and your business. At Prestige Fire Safety, we are able to use our knowledge and expertise to help ensure your property or place of work is properly protected against fires.