PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION

BUILDING REGULATIONS
in England, Wales, Scotland,
and Northern Ireland

Fire protection within buildings is one of the key elements that are considered in the design and development process of construction. Fire is one of the biggest risks that cannot only completely destroy a building, but also businesses, public organisations and of course lives.

Most buildings are designed in compartment units; rooms that all have an access to a way out that leads to safety in the case of a fire. In fire safety design terms these ‘rooms’ are called compartments. Each compartment is specified with a rating that signifies how long it should contain a fire. This means that, if the room is sealed, the fire will not spread outside into the escape routes and other areas of the building. The purpose behind this concept is:

1. To hold back fire for the appropriate amount of time for all occupants to escape;

2. To offer enough time for the fire authorities to arrive; and

3. To reduce the spread of fire to make the premises as safe as possible for the fire fighter to enter if necessary.