Introduction to Fire Safety Management

In many cases services and the holes in compartments
are ‘stopped’ with cement mortar or other noncombustible
material. However, proprietary fi re stopping
and sealing systems are now widely available and
are often used to seal the area around a breach in the
compartmentation. These proprietary systems, such as
intumescent pillows, offer a relatively inexpensive and
fl exible method to control fi re spread. Other common fi re
stopping materials include:
➤ Gypsum-based plaster
➤ Cement- or gypsum-based vermiculite
➤ Mineral or glass fi bre
➤ Ceramic-based products
➤ Intumescent materials including pillows, mastics, etc.
Figure 9.17 Fire stopping with proprietary intumescent
pillows
2
1
Figure 9.18 Fire dampers in fi re resisting compartmentation
Fire protection in buildings
Those responsible for conducting fi re risk
assessments will need to pay particular attention
to alterations made to buildings which
often result in signifi cant breaches of compartment
walls as a result of the retrofi tting of
services such as communication cabling.
In addition to the stopping around pipes, ducts, etc.,
where there is the potential for fi re to spread within ducting,
fi re dampers should be fi tted to maintain the integrity
and form part of the fi re resisting compartment as
shown in Figure 9.18.
Internal linings
Once the elements of structure are built and (as importantly)
maintained, consideration must be given to the
lining materials used on the walls and ceilings within the
building.
The nature and properties of materials used to line
the interior of a building can have a direct infl uence on
the safety of occupants in a fi re situation, regardless of
how well the building is constructed.
The Building Regulations Part B – Section 2 outlines the
minimum requirements for the surface spread of fl ame
of lining materials, i.e. the speed at which fi re spreads
along the surfaces of walls and ceilings.
Tests have been performed to ascertain if wall
and ceiling linings play a part in the time taken to fail
Key:
1 Service riser
2 Air handling plant room
Fire dampers
Fire resisting construction
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