Buildings are often designed so that a fire stays in the area where it starts for a period of time. This is called compartmentation. It buys people time to escape and gives firefighters a better chance of controlling the fire. But compartments only work if they stay intact.
What is compartmentation?
Compartmentation means dividing a building into sections using fire-resisting walls, floors and doors. Each section is designed to hold back fire and smoke for a set period, depending on the building and how it is used.
What is fire stopping?
Fire stopping is the sealing of gaps and openings in those walls and floors, such as around pipes, cables, ducts and service risers, using suitable tested materials. A hole the size of a coin can let smoke through.
Where problems usually start
- New cabling or pipework: contractors drill through a fire-resisting wall and leave the hole open.
- Ceiling voids and risers: gaps above suspended ceilings or in service cupboards go unnoticed.
- Damaged or missing seals around fire doors and frames.
- Wrong materials: ordinary foam or filler used where a tested fire-stopping product is needed.
Good practice
- Know where your fire lines are. Your fire risk assessment will look at how your building is divided.
- Control building and maintenance work. Ask contractors to tell you before they cut through walls or ceilings, and to repair openings properly.
- Use competent people. Fire stopping should be carried out with suitable products by someone who knows what they are doing.
- Keep records. Note repairs and changes in your fire safety register.
- Inspect regularly. Look in risers, plant rooms and above ceilings where it is safe to do so.
Your duties
Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, a person in control of premises has a duty to take reasonable measures to guard against fire and to protect people if one occurs. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 sets wider duties on employers. Keeping your building’s fire protection intact is part of that.
Let us take a look
A fire risk assessment from Safer Solutions will review how your building is divided and where problems may lie. Call 086 275 9728 or email info@safersolutions.ie for a friendly chat. Read about fire risk assessments in Ireland and see how fire doors fit in.