There is an old saying that it is much easier to prevent a problem from occurring than it is trying to fix/remediate it after the fact. This statement is especially true in the world of fire protection and fire safety, especially if passive fire protection integrations were not built into the structure design or done correctly. For instance, the Grenfell Tower fire is a perfect example of where passive fire protection could have saved 72 lives.
To review the current UK fire safety legislation, you can do that here.
Now, lessons were certainly learned from the Grenfell Tower fire, resulting in the Fire Safety Bill (introduced on March 19, 2020) becoming the revamped Fire Safety Act Law as of April 29, 2021. But as great as this may be, putting those fire protection best practices into place is a whole other ballgame and one that DTX is exceptionally vetted, equipped, and prepared to support.
Passive Fire Protection and Why It Matters
First and foremost, there have been several mentions of passive fire protection, but what exactly does it entail, and why does it matter? In short, passive fire protection involves several “behind the scenes” fire safety precautions that position buildings and the people inside them to be safeguarded against fire breakouts. Unlike active fire protection that includes things like extinguishers and sprinkler systems to stop a fire from spreading, passive fire protection involves the more unnoticed elements that prevent a fire from starting in the first place or spreading once there is one.
The best part? When passive fire protection measures are set in place, no action is needed on you or others in the building if a fire does happen to break out. That is because the strategic fire protection protocols are designed to reduce collateral damage and centralise fires to minimise structural damage while maximising occupant safety. For some more insight, some of those said services include:
● Structural fire protection using fireproofing components (like fireproof cladding, endothermic materials and cementitious products) that set a building up to withstand the effects of a fire.
● Compartmentation such as integrating fire/smoke barrier walls, ceilings, and floors to limit the spread of a fire to enable safe exiting and reduced damage.
● Opening protection including implementing fire doors and windows that are able to act as an effective fire and smoke barrier to maintain ideal fire resistance.
● Other fire-stopping materials to fill in any fireproofing gaps like fire resistance cable coating, altering the direction of the joint systems for better fire separating outcomes, and other perimeter fire barriers in the exterior curtain walls and floor.
Obtain Invulnerable Fire Protection With DTX
In summary, passive fire protection and prioritising fire safety is something that everyone should invest in for those ‘just in case’ scenarios. After all, you never know when a fire could form, and having the right precautions set in place to combat it could be the very thing that could save your build and potentially your life. With that being said, if you want to get started on fireproofing your building down to the structural level, then the DTX team is ready when you are to make that happen.
Designing their business on a foundation of knowledge, dependability, and trust, DTX is a well-renowned brand with qualified, dynamic professionals who are specialised in delivering you the right fire protection services you need to be and feel safe. In the end, everything DTX offers is updated with the current fire legislation, in an effort to help you achieve advanced fire-stopping success.
*Don’t overpay for your passive fire protection! Work with DTX today and obtain a cost survey based on your square meterage.
info@dtx-solutions.com | 020 3972 9212
(Photo by Gary Butterfield on Unsplash)
