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What is Passive Fire Protection?
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Posted On :
Jun-29-2010
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Article Word Count :
527
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Although some insurers may have an influence on the design of the fire safety protection to improvethe minimum standards in order to help..
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Firstly let me introduce myself, my name is Trevor Fullwood and I have been working in the Passive fire protection industry since 1984, yes that's 26 years. I have worked on the tools, supervised & managed sites, estimated, surveyed and project managed all aspects of passive fire protection in my time. Let's start with the basics, some of you may ask:
What is passive fire protection?
Passive fire protection is one component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building, active fire protection, passive fire protection and fire prevention
Passive fire protection is designed to protect elements of a structure in the unfortunate event of a fire. There are minimum safety standards laid down within the building regulations to which almost all buildings must adhere, these standards are there to ensure the protection of life, and not to protect the building.
Although some insurers may have an influence on the design of the fire safety protection to improvethe minimum standards in order to help save the building in the event of a fire. The fire safety regulations require defined periods of time and stability in the structure and compartmentation measures to ensure secured escape routes and to restrict the spread of smoke & fire.
Most construction materials have some natural resistance to fire and as such comprise built-in fire protection. This natural fire resistance may be improved by the use of added passive fire protection materials or systems. For example the fire resistance of steel may be improvedby the use of intumescent coatings, and concrete can be improvedby sprayed cementitious coatings. Holes in partitionsaround services may be sealed by proprietary mortars or batts.
Why does steel need fire protection?
Under load steel will start to buckle and move when temperatures reach 550 C and in a steel framed building this will compromise its stability and compartmentation and greatly increase the threat to lives.
Why do service penetrations/openings through fire rated walls need sealing/stopping?
Because hot gases, fire and smoke will pass through the service openings spreading the fire and consequently lessenthe chance of escape
Where can I find information regarding passive fire protection products?
At the Passive Fire Protection Federation website (go to pfpf.org) you will find links to all the trade associations that are involved with the fire protection industry.
What is The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and how does it effect me?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order came into force on 1st October 2006 and brings together the many pieces of fire legislation into one document. The order puts the responsibility for fire safety on the building owner or occupier, or any responsible person and replaced the issue of Fire Certificates by the Fire and Rescue Service. It covers fire safety within all public premises, office and commercial buildings. A lack of adherence to the order can lead to prosecution and either a fine or penal sentence. This has been the biggest change in fire legislation in many years and has driven the need for quality, tested products to new levels.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_What is Passive Fire Protection?_23731.aspx
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Author Resource :
For more information on passive fire protection feel free to get in touch with me at this website: www.alltask.co.uk/index.php?pagecode=p105
passive fire protection
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Keywords :
passive fire protection, fire protection,
Category :
Business
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Business
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