Fires can have a devastating effect on all buildings, especially when they are able to spread quickly and easily. By using effective fire protection methods, you can help to slow a fire down. Doing so provides more time to tackle the blaze and can reduce and control the amount of damage that is caused.
There are two modes of fire protection; passive and active. Both have the aim of slowing down a blaze, saving lives and protecting the property from fire.
Methods of active fire protection are used when the fire has started. They include ways of detecting and fighting the flames, such as smoke alarms and fire curtains. These will all need some way of being activated, either automatically or manually, which is why they are termed active methods.
The initial form of active fire protection is when the fire is first detected via flames, smoke or heat. This is most commonly achieved through a smoke alarm, which can then trigger the other elements, such as the sprinkler system or fire curtains.
These methods of fire protection are especially beneficial in larger premises that have a lack of natural openings such as windows and extraction systems. They enable the occupants to exit the building safely and limit the spread of the fire to prevent other areas from becoming damaged.
There are ways you can reduce the incidence and spread of fires before they’ve even started. These methods are known as passive fire protection. Included here is the building design that can ensure that any fire can be contained within a small area until the emergency services arrive.
This form of protection can be created by installing fire-resistant doors, walls and floors, which stop fires from spreading to different parts of the building too quickly. When buildings are designed, they should have separate sections which in a fire can act as barriers to slow the speed of the fire down. These can drastically reduce the extent of the damage and be crucial in maintaining the overall structure of the building and stopping it from collapsing.
When a fire breaks out, every additional second can count, so it’s essential that buildings have the right levels of both active and passive fire protection. This can have a big part to play in containing the fire, limiting damage and saving lives.
Fire curtains provide both active and passive fire protection. Whether it is fire curtains that have been tested to UL or BS EN standards, here at Coopers Fire we help designers to replace non-loadbearing fire walls and doors, fire doors, fire rated glazing, and sprinklers to achieve modern, open plan environments in line with stringent fire regulations. They not only are discreet and sleek but too offer very reliable protection between you and a fire. If you want to discuss your options further, please visit our fire curtains page or contact us directly.
