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Passive Fire Precautions (iii)

Posted: 29/10/2012 17:04


  • Fire-resisting Construction
  • Compartmentation
  • Fire Stopping
Many of the structural elements of a building are designed to provide, or benefit from, a particular standard of fire resistance. This will usually be specified at the planning stage, or at the time of subsequent alterations.

To protect means of escape, the normal specification is 30 minutes (for example in walls, doors and glazing forming a protected corridor or stairway) though in some cases this is increased to 60 minutes or even higher, depending on the location and use.

The comparatively safe areas created by this method are known as 'compartments', being separated from all other parts of the building in a way that will limit the spread of fire and smoke throughout the building. This will allow time for the occupants to escape and assist the fire brigade in fighting the fire safely and effectively.

For day to day fire safety, the important thing is to ensure that the fire resisting construction is not neglected, rendered useless by unauthorized alterations, or breached by new pipe work, ducting or other services without being properly 'fire-stopped'.

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