“Fire safety in any building relies on a combination of different measures that work in harmony. You Shouldn't rely on just one,”
Explains Kevin Blake MIFSM TIfireE Technical Support Manager for Acoustic & Insulation Manufacturing (AIM) at his latest training seminar at Certifix’s Plymouth HQ.
AIM are one of our trusted partners, and they have been designing, testing and manufacturing fire protection products for 30+ years with Kevin being there from the start so he knows his stuff.
AIM believe that a truly safe building is one where all elements are considered and properly implemented. It’s a three-part system: passive protection, active protection, and fire safety management.
Here he breaks down the core questions about fire protection.
Table of Contents
- What is Passive Fire Protection?
- What are some examples of Passive Fire Protection?
- What is Active Fire Protection?
- What are some examples of Active Fire Protection?
- Fire Safety Management
What is Passive Fire Protection?
“Passive Fire Protection (PFP) is a type of fire safety that is built directly into the fabric of a building. It's "passive" because it works without any human intervention or a command signal. Its purpose is to compartmentalise a building, breaking down areas of high fire risk into smaller, more manageable sections. This helps to slow the spread of fire and smoke.”
The goal of PFP is to:
- Provide escape time for a building's occupants.
- Create safe access routes for firefighters.
- Protect the structural integrity of the building itself.
What are some examples of Passive Fire Protection?
"Passive fire protection includes a wide range of measures that are integrated into the building's design. These are things you can't see working, but they are always on duty."
Examples include:
- Fire doors and compartment walls: These are specially designed to resist fire for a specified period of time.
- Cavity barriers: These are installed in hidden voids within walls, floors, and roofs to prevent the unseen spread of fire and smoke.
- Linear fire stops and pipe collars: These seal gaps and openings around services (like pipes and cables) to maintain the fire resistance of a compartment.
- Intumescent paints and coatings: These are applied to materials like steel beams or timber to provide them with a higher level of fire protection, slowing down structural collapse.
What is Active Fire Protection?
“Active Fire Protection (AFP) systems are fire safety measures that require a signal, an action, or a command to operate. They are "active" because they are designed to detect, suppress, or extinguish a fire in real-time."
These systems rely on sensors or human intervention to initiate their response.
What are some examples of Active Fire Protection?
"Active fire protection systems are the ones that typically respond directly to a fire event."
Examples include:
- Fire detection systems (fire alarms): These use heat and smoke sensors to automatically detect a fire and alert occupants.
- Sprinkler systems: These are triggered by a heat sensor to automatically spray water onto the fire.
- Smoke control and ventilation systems: These activate to remove smoke and hot gases from a building, helping to keep escape routes clear.
- Fire extinguishers: These require manual activation by a person to put out a fire.
Fire Safety Management
“Fire Safety Management (FSM) is the critical third part of the system. It brings together all the passive and active measures and adds the essential element of human oversight and procedure. Its purpose is to ensure that the entire fire safety system works correctly throughout the building's life.”
Examples of FSM Measures:
· Fire drills to practice evacuation procedures.
· Regular maintenance of both active (e.g., fire alarm testing) and passive (e.g., checking fire doors) fire protection systems.
· Safety signage to indicate escape routes and fire equipment.
· Monitoring the building to ensure fire exits and escape routes are kept clear.
The responsible person for the building also considers how the building is used and accounts for any changes in use throughout its life.
Kevin closes this topic by reinforcing the message,
“A building is only truly fire-safe when all three measures—active, passive, and management—are combined and work together. The fire barriers, sprinklers, and fire drills each play a part in a layered defence. This is why proper installation of every element, particularly the unseen components like passive fire protection, is so critical; every small part contributes to the overall safety of a building.”
We couldn’t agree more, Kevin.
If you are looking for information on Fire Barriers or want to discuss your upcoming project, feel free to get in touch with our Sales Team at Certifix.
