Understanding Passive Fire Protection

Passive fire protection helps contain fire and smoke within buildings, protecting escape routes and slowing the spread of fire between areas.

Unlike active systems such as sprinklers and alarms, passive fire systems are built into the structure of the building itself.

Walls, floors, ceilings, fire doors and fire stopping systems all work together to form the building’s passive fire protection system.

Buildings are divided into fire compartments designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke.

When services such as pipes, cables or ducts pass through fire-rated walls or floors, those openings must be properly protected using tested fire stopping systems.

Fire doors, smoke seals, fire-rated walls and penetration systems all work together to maintain the building’s fire compartmentation.