Passive fire protection is a system of design traits that minimize the risk of the spreading of a serious fire to various parts of a building. In most municipalities, building codes require a certain level of passive fire protection depending on the size, type and use of a building. This type of preventative fireproofing involves structural design components as well as fire resistant building materials. Unlike active fire protection that is employed once a fire has already started, the aim of this type of fire protection is prevention of the spread of fires within a building.
Passive fire protection is more than a set of unrelated design features. Rather, this type of fireproofing represents systematic groupings of design features that work together in a symbiotic way to reduce the spread of fire through a building. Here are some key components of this service:
Structural components : Compartmentalization is one of the leading strategies when it comes to passive fire protection. Compartmentalization is essentially the inclusion of space barriers between the various rooms within a building. These can go a long way in slowing down the spread of a fire, and of course this means that any occupants within the building will have more time to escape the blaze. Also, the slower a fire spreads, the more chance firefighters will have to keep damage at a minimum, and that includes morbidity and mortality rates.
Protective Coatings: There are a number of protective coatings that are applied to building materials. These include cable coatings to protect electrical wiring and other cables and insulate them from fire. Spray fireproofing materials are commonly applied to steel and other structural elements of buildings.
Fire-resistant Rated Walls : The use of fire-resistant building materials is also common in fire protection systems. Fire-resistant rated walls are designed to withstand the high temperatures of fires, and they also serve to segregate buildings so that if a fire collapse occurs, the adjacent building will be protected.
Fire-resistant Glass While there may be a few variations, there are essentially only two types of fire-resistant glass used for windows and in fire-doors. The first type of glass contains wire mesh which serves to reduce heat transfer. The second type of glass, which is known as intumescent glass, consists of multiple layers. When heat is applied to this glass, the glass swells, and in so doing it minimizes heat transfer.
Firestops and closures: Firestops and closures are designed to seal joints and openings in fire-resistant rated walls. In this way, a fire will not have a chance to escape the confines of the wall and spread to other parts of the building.
These are some of the main components of passive fire protection. The goal is primarily to protect the safety of building occupants, as well as to minimize structural damage to a building in case a fire does occur. Passive fire protection does this by maximizing the integrity of a building during a fire should it occur, and limiting the likelihood that the fire will spread and cause serious damage to life and property.
Passive fire protection is more than a set of unrelated design features. Rather, this type of fireproofing represents systematic groupings of design features that work together in a symbiotic way to reduce the spread of fire through a building. Here are some key components of this service:
Structural components : Compartmentalization is one of the leading strategies when it comes to passive fire protection. Compartmentalization is essentially the inclusion of space barriers between the various rooms within a building. These can go a long way in slowing down the spread of a fire, and of course this means that any occupants within the building will have more time to escape the blaze. Also, the slower a fire spreads, the more chance firefighters will have to keep damage at a minimum, and that includes morbidity and mortality rates.
Protective Coatings: There are a number of protective coatings that are applied to building materials. These include cable coatings to protect electrical wiring and other cables and insulate them from fire. Spray fireproofing materials are commonly applied to steel and other structural elements of buildings.
Fire-resistant Rated Walls : The use of fire-resistant building materials is also common in fire protection systems. Fire-resistant rated walls are designed to withstand the high temperatures of fires, and they also serve to segregate buildings so that if a fire collapse occurs, the adjacent building will be protected.
Fire-resistant Glass While there may be a few variations, there are essentially only two types of fire-resistant glass used for windows and in fire-doors. The first type of glass contains wire mesh which serves to reduce heat transfer. The second type of glass, which is known as intumescent glass, consists of multiple layers. When heat is applied to this glass, the glass swells, and in so doing it minimizes heat transfer.
Firestops and closures: Firestops and closures are designed to seal joints and openings in fire-resistant rated walls. In this way, a fire will not have a chance to escape the confines of the wall and spread to other parts of the building.
These are some of the main components of passive fire protection. The goal is primarily to protect the safety of building occupants, as well as to minimize structural damage to a building in case a fire does occur. Passive fire protection does this by maximizing the integrity of a building during a fire should it occur, and limiting the likelihood that the fire will spread and cause serious damage to life and property.
About the Author:
Jim Kerr is Owner of B.I.C.S. Fireproofing, a Passive Fire Protection Company located in Johannesburg, South Africa. They specialize in fire protection and fireproofing of buildings and equipment. For more information, visit Passive Fire Protection
