Prevent HVAC Systems from Spreading Fire through Passive Fire Protection from Split Ezy Fire
11 August 2023Stop fire spread in HVAC with Split Ezy Fire’s passive fire protection. Safeguarding systems from potential hazards. Call us today at 0499 002 771.
Passive fire protection refers to the use of building materials, design features, and systems in preventing the spread of fire, smoke, and heat within a building or structure.
Unlike active fire protection, which relies on active measures to extinguish a fire, passive fire protection focuses on implementing features that can resist or contain a fire. Passive fire protection elements are generally designed to limit the spread of fire and its elements, allowing occupants to safely evacuate the premises and provide enough time for firefighters to come. Some notable features of this type of protection are fire-rated assemblies, fire-resistant materials, and structural designs that can delay the spread of fire and its elements.
Basic Passive Fire Protection Measures
In the event of a fire, one of the key concerns is the rapid spread of flames and smoke throughout a building. Therefore, passive fire protection measures should be present. Some examples of passive fire protection measures are as follows.
• Fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings: Fire-rated assemblies are constructed using materials that have been tested and certified to resist the spread of fire for a specified period. They provide a barrier that slows down the progression of the fire, protecting adjacent areas and allowing occupants to evacuate.
• Fire doors: Fire doors are designed to resist fire and prevent its spread from one area to another. They are equipped with fire-resistant materials, intumescent seals, and self-closing mechanisms to ensure they remain closed during a fire.
• Fire-resistant coatings and sprays: Fire-resistant coatings and sprays are applied to structural elements such as steel columns, beams, and trusses to enhance their fire resistance. They form an insulating layer that delays the heating of the underlying structure, which provides additional time for evacuation and firefighting.
• Firestop systems: Firestop systems seal penetrations in walls, floors, and ceilings caused by pipes, conduits, cables, and other services. They are comprised of fire-resistant materials like sealants, putties, and collars that can prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
Prevent Fire Spread on HVAC Systems
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or HVAC systems intend to maintain the air quality and temperature of buildings. However, they can generate fire once their components pose some issues. To prevent these systems from spreading fire and smoke, they should be integrated with the right passive fire protection measures.
Compartmentalisation measures like fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings can be installed to help contain a fire within the compartments of a building, preventing its elements from spreading through the HVAC system. Moreover, fire dampers can also be paired with the HVAC system to prevent the migration of fire and smoke through ductwork. These components automatically close when exposed to high temperatures, blocking the passage of fire and smoke.
Firestop systems can then be utilised to seal penetrations in walls, floors, and ceilings. These systems, which include fire-rated sealants, collars, and wraps, can be installed around penetrations to maintain the fire-resistance rating of the assembly. One specific fire prevention measure that can be integrated with HVAC systems is the Split Ezy Fire. It is an innovative split system air conditioner unit wall mount bracket that is integrated with a fire-rated intumescent penetration seal. It can work by separating the air within the building into two zones. The system will then inject a non-toxic gas mixture into the upper zone to reduce the oxygen concentration and prevent the fire on a property from spreading.
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