Passive Fire Protection (PFP) is equipment that can help prevent or minimize the spread of fire. The equipment or items involved in PFP include fire curtains, fire-resistant walls, fire stopping, fire doors, dampers etc. They all work to help to slow the spread of a fire once it has started, as quickly as possible.
PFP also provides a time window in which people can be evacuated if the fire, heat or smoke worsens. This is particularly valuable in the likes of elderly care homes, hospitals and large office blocks or factories as it ties in with the fire evacuation strategy.
Solid Passive Fire Protection (PFP) Systems
The following are some of FireRite’s recommended PFP systems. They’ll also go on to talk about how they work:
- Fire doors are designed to stop a fire in its tracks. They can slow it down, giving those in the building an additional 30 minutes or so to escape. These doors are much heavier than a standard internal door as they are usually solid core. As part of the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005, they must be regularly maintained.
- Fire and smoke dampers are installed inside in heating and air conditioning systems. They stop fire from spreading by closing automatically the minute they detect smoke or heat.
- Firewalls, floors, ceilings and ducts are created to stop a fire from spreading between rooms or areas of a building. These, too, offer precious minutes in which to escape a large fire.
PFP and its part in a larger fire safety strategy
Passive fire protection is only one part of a fire safety strategy for a building
Passive fire protection is only one part of a fire safety strategy for a building. It’s important to bring in a professional fire safety assessor who can advise residents on aspects of the legislation, to which they must adhere regarding fire safety.
They can also provide regular inspections and assessments to ensure fire equipment and systems remain working, along with being able to train the staff by providing regular fire safety drills and instructions.
By bringing in third-party certified professional help, there is an assurance that the building is fire safety compliant.
Get in touch
To ensure the building is fully compliant with regards to fire protection and the premises are as fire safe as possible, get in touch with FireRite and arrange for one of their professional fire safety officers to complete a full assessment.
