How long do fire doors protect you for?

There are different grades of fire door, and each one provides a different level of protection. The grades are separated by how long they can withstand fire. The main ones are FD30 (30 minutes), FD60 (60 minutes) FD90 (90 minutes) and FD120 (120 minutes).

Where are fire doors required?

All regulations pertaining to the use of fire doors are contained in Fire Safety: Approved Document B and following incorporations. According to the legislation, fire doors are required in domestic buildings over 2 storeys high; each door leading to a stairwell (at every level) from a habitable room (not a bathroom, for instance) must be a fire door. For commercial or non-domestic buildings, fire door requirements vary according to whether escape routes are vertical or horizontal (down stairs or through corridors).

Who enforces the Regulatory Fire and Safety Order?

The Regulatory Fire Safety Order is enforced primarily by the area’s local Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA). However, other organisations may enforce fire safety regulations in special circumstances, such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the Secretary of State for Defence’s fire service. If you are unsure as to where your FRA is based, you can either contact your nearest fire service or consult the National Fire Chief’s Council website.

What is fire protection?

The aim of a fire protection system is to safeguard a building’s occupants and minimise the damage associated with fire. Overall, the goal is to provide the widest possible window for a safe evacuation, whilst also reducing potential repair costs.\n\nFire protection systems can be categorised as either active or passive. While active systems are designed to detect and fight fires (such as fire alarms and sprinklers), passive fire protection describes the structural measures which prevent the passage of flames and smoke.

What is fire prevention?

Fire prevention systems are put in place so a building’s fire load is as low as it can possibly be. ‘Fire load’ is a term used by fire protection professionals to gage the potential severity of a fire in a building, based on the presence of certain hazards. Essentially, fire prevention reduces the likelihood of a serious fire. By safely storing combustible materials, and taking care of points of ignition (such as heating systems and plug sockets), we are reducing the risks associated with fire.

What is fire suppression?

The sole objective of a fire suppression system is to extinguish a fire as quickly as possible. \nOnce occupants are alerted to the presence of a fire, the system will begin to emit a concentrated substance to suppress the flames. The exact nature of this substance can vary, based on the environment the system is designed to protect. Common examples include carbon dioxide and inert gas, as well as a range of both liquid and dry chemical agents.

What is active fire protection?

Fire protection measures categorised as ‘active fire protection’ all react to action or motion. Fire alarms, for instance, must be activated to bring attention to a fire. Similarly, a fire extinguisher must be actively used in order to put out a fire. Fire sprinklers are also an example of active fire protection. This is because they are automatically activated in order to suppress a fire.

What is passive fire protection?

The term ‘passive fire protection’ describes structural measures implemented to prevent a fire from spreading within a building. Specialist contractors will be brought on as part of the building process to advise on passive fire protection measures, which can include compartmentation, firestopping and fireproofing using intumescent paint. According to Global Market Insights, the passive fire protection market is estimated to be worth $31 billion by 2026.

Why is concrete resistant to fire?

There are three main reasons why concrete has been categorised as one of the most fire-resistant materials; concrete is non-combustible, it’s non-toxic and it has low thermal conductivity. This means that it does not easily transfer thermal energy, and does not react easily with other substances (meaning that in the event of a fire there are no noxious gases released). This makes concrete one of the safest and most effective materials for structural fire protection.

What were the changes to building regulations after Grenfell?

The biggest change to building regulations post-Grenfell was a proposed ban on the use of combustible materials in the external walls of residential buildings over 18 metres in height.

Can a building collapse from fire?

A comprehensive enquiry into Grenfell Tower unearthed a chain of structural and maintenance failures leading up to the fire. A number of structural elements in a building can be damaged from fire, across a variety of temperatures and speeds. Therefore, a collapse can occur across multiple stages of severity. The most common cause of building collapse is damage to non-structural elements, which then increases the risk of structural exposure to fire. These elements include false chimneys, roof coverings, and windows.

What is the main objective of compartmentation?

One of the biggest risks in a fire is the spread of smoke and toxic gases. If not handled correctly, any attempt to evacuate a building will be hindered by the spread of smoke. Airflow between doors and rooms can push flames and smoke throughout a building. This is called the ‘chimney effect’. Compartmentation aims to mitigate this effect, controlling the spread for a prescribed period of time.

How does intumescent paint work?

The word ‘intumescent’ is derived from the Latin word “tumesco”, meaning expand or swell. Intumescent paints or sealants undergo an endothermic process, meaning the materials within the paints expand when exposed to high temperatures. Intumescent coatings are applied to steel frameworks in buildings, offering enhanced fire protection without affecting the steel’s mechanical properties. There are several ways to apply intumescent paint, the most common being spray-application as a film coating. Intumescent paint can be applied to steel, timber and an array of composite materials. Some varieties of intumescent paint can be given a decorative finish. In this instance, we would engage with the manufacturer to ensure that all the solutions we use are compatible with specific materials.

How much does intumescent paint expand?

The rate of expansion for intumescent paint depends on its thickness. Thin-film coatings will expand at a rate of 50:1, as a general rule of thumb. This means that a 1mm coating will reach an estimated density of 50mm in the event of a fire. Thick film coatings expand at an approximate rate of 5:1. It is worth mentioning that if a project intends to apply intumescent paint, then several aspects of the building should be designed to accommodate the rate of expansion.

How does a fire suppression system work?

A fire suppression system will have built-in components to detect fires as early as possible. These components will first identify the presence of flames and smoke. The suppression system will then initiate an alarm, so the blaze can be subdued before it has the chance to spread.

When is a fire suppression system required?

Fire suppression systems should be installed in buildings where a sprinkler system may not be the most effective method of fire protection. These can include rooms which contain a large amount of electrical equipment, or perishable items that could be susceptible to water damage. Although a fire suppression system is not legally required in the UK, property owners, be they commercial or residential, are responsible for carrying out fire risk assessments. This assessment, whether conducted internally or externally, may reveal the need for a fire suppression system. Further information can be found in our article on who exactly is responsible for fire safety legislation.

How does a fire suppression system work?

A fire suppression system will have built-in components to detect fires as early as possible. These components will first identify the presence of flames and smoke. The suppression system will then initiate an alarm, so the blaze can be subdued before it has the chance to spread. A fire suppression system can be considered an ‘active’ fire protection method because the system is triggered in response to the presence of fire. As will be explored further in this article, a fire suppression system also contains a range of components that ‘actively’ work to extinguish flames and smoke.

What is the difference between a fire sprinkler and a fire suppression system?

Both fire suppression systems and sprinkler systems can control or extinguish fires and are activated when detecting heat or smoke. A fire suppression system, however, doesn’t use water as it can be ineffective in certain types of fires. For example, a facility that uses combustible gas or oil, for instance, would not benefit from using water as a fire suppressing agent. For this reason, fire suppression systems are more common in industrial environments than traditional water sprinkler systems.

Why use an automatic suppression system?

Just like a traditional system, an automatic fire suppression system will consist of an element that detects heat and smoke and a suppression agent container. There will also often be a manual activation system that acts as a failsafe in the case that the automatic system isn’t triggered. The main benefit of an automatic fire suppression system is that they eliminate the need for human activation or intervention. Not only does this reduce the risk to occupants’ safety, but it is also ideal for extinguishing fires in remote or less accessible areas of a building or estate. Furthermore, automatic fire suppression systems are a particularly worthy investment for industries and companies containing flammable materials or high-value goods. This type of preventative measure could be looked upon favourably by insurance providers, who may reward business owners and landlords with lower premium rates for taking this type of precaution.

What are the risks of unsealed cavities?

A cavity is an enclosed space created by the design and positioning of a building’s structural elements. Common examples include gaps between walls, floors and ceiling voids. However, they do not include ducts, conduits, chutes, pipes, and other cavities that serve a distinct purpose. These cavities are often hidden, but they must be adequately sealed as part of a structural fire protection strategy. In the event of a fire, gaps between walls and floors can create ‘air buoyancy’, a push-and-pull effect caused by differences in air temperature. That can enable flames and smoke to quickly move between different areas of a building, otherwise known as the ‘chimney effect.’ Simply, these gaps allow heat, flames, gas, and smoke to travel unhindered from one building area to another. The upward flow of air, heat and flames creates significant challenges for fire safety in tall buildings. A fire that starts on the ground floor and moves up through empty cavities can accumulate on higher levels, with no place for hot air and smoke to escape. Therefore, cavities in a building must be appropriately sealed.

What is a cavity barrier?

Cavity barriers, also known as stop socks, work by blocking the passage of fire between cavities. They are made from either fire-resistant or intumescent materials (which expand in high temperatures to create a protective seal). By containing the spread of fire to a single area, they can reduce large-scale damage and create a window of time for a building to be safely evacuated and for firefighters to arrive.

What is the difference between a cavity barrier and a firestop?

The terms “cavity barrier” and “firestop” are often used interchangeably. While both are passive fire protection methods, there are a few key differences. As mentioned, a cavity barrier is a piece of fire-resistant material placed in enclosed, typically unused spaces within buildings. They are designed to prevent the spread of fire and hot gasses. In comparison, while firestops are also used to prevent the spread of flames and smoke, they typically come in the form of putty or intumescent clamps and are used to seal joints or gaps between pipes, conduits, or sockets and the walls through which they pass. It can also be used around fire doors, windows, and ceiling voids. That helps to maintain the fireproofing of a wall or floor by closing small yet still problematic gaps. In short, firestops seal any imperfections between building elements that should be fire-resistant.

Fire Protection Between Floors Explained

What are the requirements for fire protection between floors?

What distinguishes fire protection for floors from walls and cavity barriers is the need for sufficient load-bearing capabilities. This is not the only requirement, but it is vital that a floor is not only protected from fire but can also accommodate people standing, walking and working.

The ASFP guide to ‘Ensuring Best Practice for Fire Protection in Buildings’ defines the function of floors by their ‘structural load carrying capabilities’, as well as the ‘stiffening of the general structure of the building’. A firestopping strategy must incorporate the need for load-bearing capabilities, as this excludes certain passive fire protection products (e.g. coated fire boards) being used on floors.

The material of the floor is also an important factor in identifying an appropriate firestopping solution. Concrete, for instance, offers a superior level of fire resistance and often does not need additional protection, whereas certain types of composite and steel flooring will require an intumescent coating – subject to a specialist review carried out by a designer.

Safety guidelines for fire protection between floors

Safety is paramount when implementing fire stopping systems. A contractor will often work to achieve a specified load-bearing pressure. This will usually be measured in Kilo newton per meter squared (Kn/m2).

Wet-applied fire stopping systems need time to cure and harden before they can expect to carry any weight. During this process, floors must be cordoned off and marked with appropriate warning signs. Any additional weight on the floor runs the risk of injury, as well as potentially compromising the floor’s firestopping capabilities. If the applied firestopping seal cannot withstand an acceptable load, access must be blocked with a permanent guard rail until this is rectified.

What products are used for fire protection between floors?

A variety of fire-resistant compounds and mortars can be used on floors. Materials traditionally used on walls (e.g. intumescent sealants, pipe collars and wraps) can often be used on floors, providing that they have been wear-tested.

These compounds undergo an exothermic process – when exposed to high temperatures they form a carbonaceous layer to provide additional support. While this is the main benefit of these compounds, they can also be installed at various depths. This means that they can be applied to multiple floors within a tall building. As well as this, they improve the floors’ waterproofing and soundproofing capabilities. Here are a few examples of products commonly used for fire protection between floors:

FSi Silverseal® HS Compound

FSi Silverseal®HS (High Strength) Compound is a gypsum-based mortar material used in both walls and floors. It has a working time of approximately 90 minutes (setting in around 45 minutes) and is easy to both mix on site and pour.

FSi Silverseal®HS can be used to reinforce large span openings, offering superior strength, load-bearing, and smoke sealing capabilities. This makes the compound suitable for risers and areas of foot traffic. It is also easy to apply to appropriate areas, due to its versatile workability. FSi Silverseal®HS also has multiple secondary benefits through both thermal and acoustic insulation

Polyseam/Protector® EX Mortar

Protecta® EX Mortar is a dry white powder, made using perlite and a range of inorganic compounds. When mixed with water, the powder expands to form a tight seal, protecting the floor against heat and smoke. It also sets incredibly quickly, and following the curing process, it can be easily sanded or drilled.

Over the last 30 years, CLM Fireproofing has established themselves as market-leading experts in passive fire protection. We employ a team of FIRAS-certified specialist installers, who work to ensure construction projects are in full compliance with the latest industry regulations. To find out more about our compartmentation and firestopping services, contact the CLM Fireproofing team today.

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Understanding firestopping regulations in buildings

In the event of a fire, the spread of flames and smoke must be stopped as quickly as possible. This can be achieved through compartmentation - the application of firestopping materials to walls,...

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