What is compartmentation and how does it help prevent the spread of smoke and fire?
The compartmentalization of a building plays a vital role in preventing the spread of a fire and/or smoke. The technique involves sub-dividing rooms in a building to minimise the effects that fire or smoke has on a property and the people in it. The aim of a compartment is to isolate the fire in a particular area, reducing the devastation that a fire could cause.
Fire can travel rapidly through high-risk areas such as ductwork or above suspended ceilings. To prevent irreparable damage, products, and techniques such as fire dampers and fire doors are used to seal potential gaps which ultimately will reduce the opportunity for a fire to pass from one from to another.
Not only is it in your best interest, it is also a legal requirement for building owners and landlords under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, to meet the requirements. To check if you are up to scratch with the requirements, a full intrusive survey should be carried out by a fully qualified professional to ensure the building is 100% compliant.
What is a compartment survey?
Compartmentation surveys assess a buildings passive fire protection and how or if it would survive in the event of a fire. These surveys include assessing key escape routes and high value areas. Surveyors use detailed plans of the building to help them produce a report on the locations & issues discovered form the survey.
Compartmentalisation surveys should include:
- An assessment of the current compartmentation strategy for a building.
- Comprehensive inspections of existing fire compartmentation facilities in – floors, walls, roof voids, basements, floor and ceiling voids, risers and shafts.
- An assessment of the condition of compartmentation and any defects. This is in accordance with British Standards, Approved Document B and any site-specific Fire Strategy information.
- A detailed inspection of fire doors.
- A clear and thorough action plan to implement going forward.
- Detailed mark-ups of existing floor plans, indicating the locations of compartment walls and floors.
Compartment Walls – Fire resistance and construction
Throughout the period of fire resistance specified, the wall:
- should not permit the spread of flame and smoke through, over or around it
- should maintain its integrity, insulation and, if appropriate, loadbearing capacity requirements (as specified in BS 476-20 to 23: 1987)
- should not deflect in such a way as to compromise the level of separation.
- should be constructed of materials which have longevity and are certified fire rated products
- should be capable of being replaced, following a fire, with minimum disturbance to surrounding properties
What about compartment floors?
A compartment floor is a horizontal, fire-resisting floor designed to contain fire within an area for a determined duration in order to minimise the risk of vertical fire spread. It will be bordered by fire-resisting elements of construction, such as compartment walls or external walls.
The fire resistance of compartment floors can be at risk if the enclosure of any shaft such as a lift or communal stairwell is inadequately protected or if penetrations of compartment floors made for the passage of services are not fire protected to the same standard as the floor.
All floors must have a degree of fire resistance because of the need to carry the load imposed by the contents, but this may be compromised if any penetration or duct is not sealed to resist fire and smoke.
What material is used to compartmentalize a building?
Materials such as Fire Barrier, Ablative Coated Batt and Acoustic Intumescent Sealant is used to compartmentalise a building.
Rockwool Fire Barrier
ROCKWOOL Fire Barrier has a 25mm galvanised wire mesh stitched with wire, to one face, to produce a flexible Fire Barrier with optional aluminium foil faces.
ROCKWOOL Fire Barrier solutions can be applied as a hanging curtain or as a friction fitted slab. The barrier is continuously supported and secured to the soffit by its head. At the base, it is preferable in a cavity barrier situation to wire the barrier to the ceiling grid although it is acceptable to let it drape freely, turned back across the ceiling.
Ablative Coated Batt
The ROCKWOOL Ablative Coated Batt comprises a high-density stone wool core, pre-coated on both sides with our high-performance ablative coating. Ablative Coated Batt has been comprehensively tested as part of the ROCKWOOL FIREPRO® range of fire protection products, specifically for use in service penetrations, head of wall and other void seals.
Acoustic Intumescent Sealant
ROCKWOOL FIREPRO® High Expansion Intumescent Sealant is water based acrylic sealant containing graphite. In the event of a fire, the active components provide a high-volume expansion and pressure seal, closing off the void left by combustible materials.
Wrapping it up
Compartmentalisation is a vital part of the fire safety strategy in a building. The exercise seeks to divide the building up into more manageable sections, should a fire occur. Fire Compartmentation is also used to help create a safe and protected means for escape for the occupants as they evacuate the premises.
If you need any help or information regarding the current passive fire protection and fire safety of your building, please get in touch today to see how we can help you make your business safer in the event of a fire. One phone call could help save you an invaluable amounts of time and money, potentially saving lives and your business.
