When we think about fire safety, alarms and sprinklers often steal the spotlight. But behind the scenes, there’s a silent protector that plays a critical role in saving lives and property: fire compartmentation.
What Is Fire Compartmentation?
Imagine a building as a series of watertight boxes. If one box floods, the water stays contained. Fire compartmentation works the same way—except instead of water, it’s fire and smoke. By dividing a building into fire-resistant sections, compartmentation slows down the spread of flames, giving occupants time to escape and firefighters time to act.
Why Does It Matter?
- Life Safety: It protects escape routes so people can evacuate safely.
- Property Protection: Limits damage to specific areas.
- Compliance: It’s a legal requirement under UK Building Regulations and BS standards.
- Business Continuity: Reduces downtime after an incident.
How Is It Achieved?
- Fire-Rated Walls and Floors: These form the backbone of compartments.
- Fire Doors: Self-closing, certified doors that maintain integrity.
- Sealed Penetrations: Pipes, cables, and ducts must be properly fire-stopped.
- Glazed Partitions: Fire-rated glass for visibility without compromising safety.
Common Pitfalls
- Unsealed service penetrations after renovations.
- Non-compliant or damaged fire doors.
- Poor integration of new installations like speed lanes or phone booths.
- Missing documentation (Regulation 38 info, PEEPs).
Best Practice Tips
- Schedule regular compartmentation surveys.
- Use third-party certified products.
- Keep as-built drawings updated.
- Train staff on fire safety basics.
Bottom line: Fire compartmentation isn’t just a box-ticking exercise—it’s a life-saving strategy. Next time you walk through a building, those walls and doors might look ordinary, but they’re working hard to keep you safe.
