Fire Compartmentation-Building a Safer Future

Published: 04/06/2024

Fire safety is a crucial part of building design, playing a key role in the well-being of occupants and the structural integrity of buildings. An essential strategy used to improve fire safety is fire compartmentation.

In this article, we’ll address key questions, including:

What fire compartmentation is
Why it’s important
Its technical components
Important regulations to consider
Future innovations

What is Fire Compartmentation?

Fire compartmentation is a protection strategy used to mitigate the risk of a fire spreading. It involves dividing a building into smaller compartments using fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors and aims to:

Enclose a fire to its point of origin
Restrict the spread of flames, smoke, and heat
Provide occupants with more time to evacuate the building
Maintain the structural integrity of the building and minimise damage

Why is Fire Compartmentation important in Building Safety and Fire Management?

Fire compartmentation is a key component of fire safety in buildings. It provides several essential benefits:

Improved safety for occupants: By containing the fire and smoke, occupants are given more time to safely evacuate through designated escape routes.
Reduced property damage: Confining the fire minimises damage to unaffected areas of the building.
Improved fire brigade response: Fire compartmentalisation allows firefighters to focus on extinguishing the contained fire.
Insurance requirements: Usually, insurance coverage won’t be valid if regular fire compartmentation surveys haven’t been completed.
Fire Safety Compliance: It’s important to ensure that fire compartmentation is maintained and up to code to meet legal requirements and building regulations.

How Does Fire Compartmentation Work?

Fire compartmentation works by creating physical barriers that restrict the spread of fire. These barriers include:

Fire-resistant walls and floors: Constructed with specific materials to withstand fire for a designated period.
Fire doors: Self-closing doors with fire-resistant properties such as intumescent strip and smoke seals to maintain compartment integrity
The role of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors

These components play an important role to play in fire compartmentation:

Firewalls and fire barriers: Differences exist. Firewalls separate entire buildings, while fire barriers subdivide compartments within a building.
Fire-rated doors: These doors feature specific fire resistance ratings, indicating the amount of time they can withstand a fire. They must be self-closing and have proper closing mechanisms. Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure proper functionality.
Dampers in HVAC systems: These automatic shutters close in case of fire, preventing flames and smoke from spreading through ventilation ducts. They come in various types, each serving a specific purpose.

Fire-Stopping Materials: Common Types and Their Applications

Fire-stopping materials seal gaps and penetrations in fire-resistant walls and floors. Common types include:

Mineral wool ablative batt: A cost-effective option for fire-stopping the service penetrations
Intumescent materials: Expand in a fire to fill gaps and prevent fire spread.
Fire collars: Wrap around pipes and cables passing through fire barriers to maintain compartment integrity.

Sealants and coatings used in fire compartmentation. These products play a supporting role:

Sealants: Applied around openings in fire-resistant walls and floors to maintain smoke and fire resistance.
Fire-resistant coatings: Applied to specific building elements for additional fire protection.

Learn More About Our Fire Compartmentation Surveys
Discover how our comprehensive fire compartmentation surveys can enhance your building's safety.

Design and Installation Considerations

Effective fire compartmentation requires careful planning and execution:

Key design considerations: Compartment size, fire resistance ratings of materials, and integration with escape routes are all crucial factors.

Installation challenges and solutions: Proper installation of fire-resistant materials and maintaining compartment integrity during construction are essential.

Legal and Compliance Issues

Fire compartmentation is heavily regulated to ensure building safety. Here's an overview of some relevant regulations (regulations may vary depending on location):

Building Codes and Fire Safety Regulations

British Standards (BS) like BS 9999 (Fire safety in buildings - Code of practice) and BS 476 (Fire tests on building materials and structures)
The Building Safety Act 2022 (UK)

Who Should Undertake A Fire Compartmentation Survey?

A Fire Compartmentation Survey should only be undertaken by a “Competent Person”, i.e. someone who has the necessary qualifications, skills and experience, not only in terms of fire safety but also has a sound knowledge of building construction and building materials.

Advancements and Innovations in Fire Compartmentation

The field of fire compartmentation is constantly evolving:

New materials and technologies: Advanced materials with improved fire resistance and lighter weight are being developed.
Future trends and research areas: Focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly fire compartmentation solutions.

Get Support With Fire Compartmentation Support With Guidance From Harris Associates

Fire compartmentation is a critical element of building safety. By understanding its principles, components, and regulations, we can create safer living and working environments.

As building designs and technologies evolve, so too must our approaches to fire compartmentation.

You need to be aware of the latest regulations and adopting best practices are essential for building owners, designers, and safety officials to ensure that safety is never compromised.

Here at Harris Associates, our specialists have the expertise you need to support you with fire compartmentation.

Get in touch today, and improve the safety of your buildings, and protect their occupants.

Harris Associates can offer a bespoke solution to enable you to comply with the latest legislation. We are experts in statutory compliance and fire safety-related matters with experienced and qualified technicians, surveyors, engineers, and project managers. We have national coverage and can help with all aspects of compliance including Building Safety Case Reports or façade remediation from FRAEWs through to the coordination and delivery of complex façade remediation contracts.

For more information on our services, assistance, or advice on these latest developments or any related fire safety or regulatory matter please contact Shaun Harris, Tamer Duman, or Nicola Goule via phone or email shaun@harrisassociatesuk.com, tamer@harrisassociatesuk.com or nicola@harrisassociatesuk.com call 0203 195 0857, 0161 615 3679 or 0121 213 6307.