Passive Fire Protection – Everything You Need to Know About Passive Fire Protection

Passive Fire Protection (PFP) is crucial to saving lives and ensuring building damage is reduced in the event of a fire.

What is Passive Fire Protection?

Built into the structure of a building, PFP is about preventing the spread of fire, containing fire to compartments and reducing the physical effects it may have on a building. Not only does PFP aim to reduce possible physical and financial damage to a building, PFP can safeguard users of the building and provide safe exit routes.

The main aims of PFP are to:

• Limit the spread of fire and smoke by containing it in a single compartment
• Protect escape routes for essential means of escape
• Protect the building structure

PFP manages risk by implementing structural components and elements, such as creating compartments within buildings to isolate fire. These PFP solutions may start right at the beginning of construction or be added to a building once complete to increase fire protection.

Passive Fire Protection Regulations

Any PFP methods implemented in a building must meet Building Regulations that ensure those in the building can escape, and that the building will not collapse. Responsibility lies with building owners, managers and occupiers to have regular fire assessments, whereby protocol, fire prevention methods and PFP provided should be assessed.

Low-quality and poorly installed PFP can be ineffective in the event of a fire, as highlighted by high profile cases in previous years. It is critical to get PFP installation done right, and professionally, the first time.

Here at CPFP we champion our skilled and accredited team of technicians and the quality work we provide. Learn more about our specialised PFP services here.

Active vs Passive Fire Protection

Active and passive forms of fire protection vary according to activation. Active Fire Protection (AFP) requires action in the event of a fire, whereas PFP is a fire protection system whereby no manual or automatic intervention is required. This dichotomy is also seen as the difference between preventing spread/damage of fire (PFP) and the actual reduction/putting out of fire (AFP).

An example of an AFP element is a fire extinguisher, requiring manual use, or sprinklers, an automatic system with action in the form of activation. Other AFP elements include fire/smoke alarms, firefighters and sprinkler systems.

Although one may overlook the need for PFP systems if a building has adequate AFP components, the two systems are most effective when used together. If sprinklers fail, the spread of fire is contained by PFP compartmenting. If a fire starts and is effectively contained by PFP, AFP systems can then put out the fire.

Passive Fire Protection Components

There are a great many components to PFP, from internal fire doors and shutters, to structural fire walls and dampers. Key to the foundations of many PFP solutions are creating compartments, designed to isolate fires and prevent spread.

Many PFP components are ‘fire-resisting’; the ability of construction elements (doors, floors, walls etc.) to withstand and ‘resist’ fire for a period of time. The three main ways of ‘resisting’ include resisting structural collapse, resisting passage of smoke and hot gases (integrity), and resisting heat conduction (insulation). Not all PFP elements will be all three, however this depends on the purpose of the element, for example loading bearing pillars must be resistant to collapse.

At CPFP we are PFP experts, offering professional PFP solutions in Bristol and across the UK on a variety of commercial, residential and industrial projects. As approved providers using only trusted approved suppliers, we work with clients and contractors to install and maintain effective PFP solutions.

Our qualified technicians provide PFP expertise, specialising in our main services:

• Cavity barriers – void spaces within walls, above ceilings or below suspended floors, fitted with fire-stopping materials.
• Penetration sealing – compartmentalising buildings and sealing cavities to prevent the spread of fire.
• Fire compounding – substituting when materials have penetrations passing through, such as wires and pipework.

Find out more about our services. >

Passive Fire Protection UK With CPFP

For expert installation of PFP solutions by approved providers, contact CPFP today. We provide high-quality PFP to prevent the spread of fire, smoke and heat through walls, floors, and ceilings across a variety of projects in many sectors. With a highly skilled team of qualified technicians and advanced supervisors, we deliver superior PFP installation and maintenance.

Contact CPFP today.