Compartmentation is a type of passive fire protection. It works by dividing your building into fire-resistant compartments, which delay the spread of smoke, flames and toxic fumes long enough for occupants to evacuate, and emergency services to respond.
Most people know that keeping your building safe from fire involves active fire protection – such as smoke alarms and sprinklers. But you may not know that, when it comes to the law, passive fire protection – such as compartmentation – is equally important.
Let’s explore what compartmentation means, and how it can minimise the risk to your business, property and people.
What is compartmentation?
Fire stopping compartmentation is where you subdivide a building into smaller sections in order to reduce the potential spread of fire and smoke. Compartmentation means that if a fire breaks out in your building, the damage can be contained to one area, slowing the spread of fire, smoke and noxious gases, and providing critical time for evacuation
Examples of fire stopping compartmentation
- Fire door sets – Properly installed commercial fire door sets can slow down the spread of fire and smoke. This is thanks to cold smoke seals and the intumescent strips between the door and frame, which expand in high temperatures and seal the gap.
- Breach fixes – Electrical, DATA and even cosmetic work can unknowingly lead to breaches in your compartmentation, leaving both you and your people at risk. By regularly identifying and rectifying those breaches, you ensure your building stays compliant and safe.
- Fire dampers – These compartmentation systems (sometimes known as ‘fire shutters’) can be found in heating, ventilation and air conditioning ducts. Fire and smoke dampers are designed to close, preventing smoke and fire from passing between rooms.
- Cavity barriers – A partition within a wall cavity or roof space that expands when exposed to high temperatures, sealing off gaps in the cavity to prevent flames and smoke from spreading through compartment floors, walls and ceilings.
Passive fire protection explained
Passive fire protection refers to the various ways you can enhance your building’s fire safety credentials through preventative means.
It is a form of fire and smoke stopping curtain or partition found mainly in floor and ceiling voids, that seals the gaps between building compartments.
While passive fire protection is ‘inactive’ in normal circumstances, it becomes ‘active’ when a fire breaks out and the compartmentation takes effect.
Why compartmentation matters
Safety comes first, and ensuring your building is divided in the correct manner will give you and your people extra peace of mind. Here are three reasons why proper fire compartmentation is important to consider.
- Comply with the law – Taking it seriously can help you meet your legal requirements, namely the Fire Safety Order. Failure to do so could result in hefty fines, invalid insurance and – in severe cases – imprisonment.
- A secure exit – Appropriately designed fire compartmentation means your personnel will have a suitable means of escape in the event of a fire.
- Limit the damage – In the event that a fire broke out at your premises, well-designed compartmentation means that any harm or damage to your property and possessions can be restricted to one area.
Maintaining your fire compartmentation
Before a building is constructed, your fire compartmentation needs to be designed in order to meet Building Regulations. And if you already occupy a premises, it’s essential to carry out regular fire risk assessment, including the inspection of your compartmentation measures.
CFP’s fire safety experts are BM Trada Q-Mark certified and fully-trained members of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and the Institute of Fire Engineers. We can help keep your compartmentation measures in good working order – ensuring your building is compliant, and your people protected. Check out our website for more information on our compartmentation and services, or get in touch with our team. We’re always happy to help.
