When it Comes to Fire Protection, There Should Be Passive Protection As Well
When you think of fire protection, you might only think about active fire protection systems. These types of systems include devices such as fire extinguishers, sprinklers and gas suppression systems, which can reduce or put out an existing fire. An alarm is also part of the active protection system since it alerts you to the existence of a fire. You also need to think about passive protection measures, which contain or slow the spread of fire so the active systems can do its job.
Compartmentalization is an essential part of both active and passive fire protection systems. With this, the different areas of a building are dividing into fire-resistant compartments using fire-rated assemblies to slow the fire’s spread and give the active system a chance to extinguish the fire. The assemblies are usually UL or ETL listed, which means they have been successfully tested to the required test standard and the components of the assembly are under a factory follow-up program to ensure the components installed today are the same as those tested. standard.
The right combination of active and passive fire protection systems will can give you and the other occupants of your facility enough time to escape.
Fire Barriers
A critical part of any passive fire protection system is the fire barrier. The barrier divides a building into compartments to keep the smoke and fire contained in one area. That allows the active system to fight the fire while the occupants of the building are evacuating.
Another advantage of fire barriers is that they can also preserve more of the building since they can potentially reduce the damage. Of course, the main goal behind any type of passive fire protection is to ensure that the building occupants can get out without injury.
What Causes Injuries?
Inhaling smoke is a common cause of injuries when it comes to fires. It can bring about serious respiratory problems and even lead to death. The problem becomes even more serious when the fire produces positive air pressure. That means that the smoke can get through small gaps in barriers. Another reason for ensuring smoke does not spread is visibility. Reduced visibility That can slow the building evacuation preventing the occupants from escaping in time.
The good news is that by installing passive fire protection in the form of fire or smoke barriers, you can mitigate the various fire risks.
Choose the Best Passive Fire Protection Provider
Having a better understanding of the active and passive fire protection systems available to you can help you get more knowledge about your options. That way, you can make a more informed decision about your facility. Feel free to reach out to DuraSystems today to learn more about the benefits of installing a passive fire protection system.
