Fire Protection Concepts Explained

Fire protection is the system of structural, technical and organizational measures to prevent the outbreak and spread of fires in order to save people, minimize property damage and ensure the rescue of victims. It consists of passive and active measures and includes both the structural implementation of firewalls and fire-rated floor assemblies as well as fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, and fire suppression systems.

Fire is one of the most devastating and disruptive events that can befall a business or other organization. It not only destroys buildings and equipment, but it can also devastate a company’s revenue stream by closing down operations for days or weeks. In the case of a manufacturing plant, that could cost millions in lost production and sales.

Even seemingly minor events, like human error or faulty electrical installations can quickly cause millions of euros in damage and drive companies into bankruptcy. This makes a well-developed and implemented fire protection concept all the more important. This article explains what the term “fire protection concept” means, when it is legally required and what exactly it entails.

Passive fire protection includes the installation of firewalls and fire rated floor assemblies intended to limit the spread of high temperatures and smoke. It also encompasses fire-resistant materials, good housekeeping (including the removal of potential ignition sources and proper waste disposal), and training for occupants and emergency personnel on how to respond to and mitigate the effects of a fire.

The purpose of fire detection systems is to automatically call the fire brigade if a fire occurs, thus minimizing the extent of the damage and risk to occupants and property. They are typically classified into categories 1, 2, and 3 based on the level of risk they are designed to detect. Category 2 systems are often used for higher risk areas, such as stairwells and elevator hoistways (including associated control rooms).

The main components of a fire alarm system are the initiating devices and notification appliances. The latter are responsible for signaling the fire alarm control unit via a notification appliance circuit (NAC). They then use energy supplied by the NAC to emit visual or audible notifications to alert occupants and, in some cases, on site emergency forces. Visual notifications can include pulsing incandescent lights, flashing strobe lights and horns, while audible notifications can be voice signals or speakers that play different tones or music.

It is important to note that the fire protection concept should be integrated into the building approval planning. This will help ensure that the design of the structural assembly meets fire safety standards and test requirements, including those set out in ASTM E119 and ASTM E814. In order to avoid gaps in the fire resistance rating of a structure due to penetrations by pipes or cables, fire stopping must be installed. This includes the use of special materials that maintain a fire resistance rating after penetrations have been made, such as gypsum boards, concrete, intumescent paint and water-filled structures.