Passive Fire Protection

What is Passive Fire Protection?

Passive fire protection from Element PFP. Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of potentially destructive fires. It is putting proactive fire protection measures in place to prevent or limit the spread of fire.

The term ‘Fire Protection’ is generally broken down into two classifications; ‘Passive’ and 'Active’.

Passive Fire Protection: Defined

To put it simply, are essentially fire safety elements that are built into the fabric of a given building. From the materials of which a building is made from (walls, floors, beams, columns et al.), to the additional fixtures that are added to it to enhance its fire protection;

  • Fire doors
  • Fire shutters
  • Compartment walls and floors
  • Partitions
  • Suspended ceilings
  • Fire-resistant glazing
  • Fire fighting shafts and stairwells
  • And much more.
element pfp staff putting together a fire compartmentation plan
hospital corridor with suitable fire extinguishers throughout from element pfp

Active Fire Protection: Defined

Active fire protection measures are tools and solutions that are used in direct response to an active fire. From fire alarms, sprinklers, smoke ventilation, dry and wet risers, and much more.

Implementing Passive Fire Protection

Passive Fire Protection is sometimes defined as ‘built in’ fire protection and is a generalisation that covers a wide range of generically different systems, such as Fire Protection to structural components of the building as well as:

Building Services

Fire resisting Ductwork, Dampers, Shafts

Penetration Seals (Pipes, Cables, Conduits etc.)

Linear Joint Seals

Cavity Barriers

Building Envelope

Fire resisting external walls

Curtain Walling System

Internal Compartmentation

Walls (Partitions) and floors

Suspended Ceilings

Fire-resisting Glazing

Fire doors

Firefighting shafts and stairwells

The Function Of Passive Fire Protection

The primary function of passive fire protection is to prevent the passage of fire and smoke within a fire compartment of a building that has been divided up into manageable areas of risk for a defined period of time (Fire Strategy), which typically ranges from 30 minutes up to 4 hours, this to allow for occupants to escape and to provide a safe means of access for fire fighters.

Fire Safety building blocks

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As one of the UK's leading expert fire protection consultants, we believe that you should be able to know that you are working with a creditable and respectable company. As such, we are proud to display our various 3rd-party Fire Safety accreditations and certifications. If you would like to know more about our certifications and memberships, then please feel free to contact us today.

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