Battle of the Flames: Passive VS. Active Fire Protection
Passive Fire Protection and Active Fire Protection? Don’t you just choose one or the other? There’s still confusion over the distinction between them both. ‘Passive’ and ‘Active’ are not measured on quality or effectiveness, you should not choose between them; you would choose the right combination of both. Fire safety legislation identifies that you have a duty to have both in place to be certified as fire safety compliant.
So, what is the difference? And what does passive and active fire protection look like?
First, lets dive into the details on what passive and active fire protection consists of. We’ll start with Passive Fire Protection as this is quite often invisible and most commonly misunderstood.
Passive Fire Protection
Passive fire protection refers to a series of design, construction, and material techniques used in buildings and structures to limit the spread of fire, contain it within certain areas, and protect the structural integrity of the building during a fire event. Unlike active fire protection systems like fire sprinklers or fire extinguishers, which generally require human intervention for activation, passive fire protection measures are inherently built into the structure and function autonomously in the event of a fire. Typical passive fire protection measures include fire-resistant building materials, fire-rated doors, fire-resistant barriers and partitions, fireproof coatings, insulation, and glazing.
The primary goals of passive fire protection are:
- Fire Containment: Passive fire protection systems create fire-resistant compartments and barriers that restrict the fire’s spread within a building or structure. This prevents the fire from rapidly engulfing the entire structure.
- Structural Integrity: These measures help maintain the structural integrity of a building during a fire, ensuring that it can withstand the heat and structural stresses generated by the fire. This is particularly important for tall buildings and critical infrastructure.
By incorporating passive fire protection measures into the building design and final construction, the spread of fires can be slowed or contained, reducing the risk to occupants, and preserving the structure itself.
By contrast, Active Fire Protection is about detecting and eliminating fire rather than containing it. Let’s learn more about what Active Fire Protection encompasses.
Active Fire Protection
Active fire protection refers to a set of systems and measures designed to detect, control, and if applicable extinguish fires in a building or structure, primarily through manual or automated intervention. Unlike passive fire protection, which focuses on building materials and design features to slow the spread of fires, active fire protection relies on devices and systems to respond to a fire event. The primary objectives of active fire protection is to save lives, protect property, and limit the damage caused by fires.
Typical examples of active fire protection measures and systems include:
- Fire Detection and Alarm Systems: Fire alarm systems consist of detectors that response to fire phenomena, i.e. smoke, heat and carbon monoxide, manual call points, together with audible
- Fire Sprinkler Systems: Automatic fire sprinkler systems are designed to detect heat from a fire and release water to extinguish the flames. These systems are typically installed in commercial and residential buildings.
- Fire Extinguishers: Portable fire extinguishers are strategically placed throughout a building, and occupants or trained personnel can use them to suppress small fires. They are typically used as an initial fire response.
- Fire Suppression Systems: These systems use various extinguishing agents, such as foam, gas, or dry chemical, to suppress fires in specific areas or equipment, like server rooms or industrial machinery.
- Smoke Control Systems: Smoke control systems manage the movement of smoke within a building during a fire. This can involve pressurization systems, smoke exhaust systems, or compartmentation techniques to keep escape routes clear of smoke.
- Emergency Lighting: Emergency lighting systems provide illumination during power outages. This helps occupants navigate safely to and along exit routes in an emergency situations.
- Fire Doors and Fire Dampers: Fire doors and dampers are designed to limit the spread of fire and smoke within a building by automatically closing in response to a fire alarm or by manual activation.
- Voice Alarms: A communication system used to provide emergency voice messages. During emergencies, the system can automatically deliver critical instructions, such as evacuation guidance, to ensure the safety of occupants.
- Disabled Refuge System: A communication system designed to assist individuals with disabilities, particularly those who may have difficulty evacuating a building during an emergency, such as a fire.
- Emergency Voice Communication System: A specialized communication system designed to facilitate emergency voice communication during critical situations, such as fires, evacuations, or other emergencies in buildings and public spaces. The system can provide a clear and reliable two-way voice communication to help manage and coordinate emergency responses, as well as to guide occupants to safety.
In summary, passive fire protection focuses on slowing down the spread of fire and preserving a building’s structural integrity using fire-resistant materials and construction features, without requiring human intervention. Active fire protection, on the other hand, involves systems and measures that detect, control, and eliminate fires, as well as provide communication and guidance during emergencies, but they rely on either human intervention or automatic activation.
Both passive and active fire protection are essential components of a comprehensive fire safety strategy in buildings and structures, and work in conjunction together to minimise the risks associated with fires and safeguard occupants and property.
