What is Passive Fire Protection?

Passive Fire Protection is one of the three components of fire protection of a building which include –

Active Fire Protection-The Active Fire Protection system includes sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, hose pipes, etc. that are used to stop the fire.

Passive Fire Protection-Passive fire protection includes the design of building and specifications of materials in such a way that in case of fire it can be prevented from spreading giving enough time for evacuation of the occupants.

Fire Prevention – This includes minimizing the ignition sources and educating the occupants about the various fire safety devices that need to be used in case of an emergency.

The Passive fire protection in buildings includes-

• • Structural Fire Protection – The protection of the structure which includes beams, columns, walls, and slabs is called structural fire protection. This is done by cladding with fire-resistant materials like gypsum planks and mineral wool for insulation.
  • Compartmentalization – This includes dividing the areas into compartments like partitions which are made of fire-resistant materials. This prevents the spread of fire and efficient evacuation.
  • Opening Protection- All the openings which include doors, windows, hardware, and glass are fire-resistant.
  • Firestopping materials- Firestopping materials are materials used to close all kinds of openings that may have been created in fire-rated walls for maintenance or any other purpose e.g. holes made for conduit wiring, drilling holes for repair work, etc.