Balancing Active and Passive Fire Protection for Building Safety
24 August 2022Building owners turn to various systems to make their properties safe from damaging elements. For one, they go for durable and reliable roofing systems to protect their interiors and structural components from heat, moisture, and other outdoor elements. They likewise opt for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to effectively regulate air quality and temperature.
Another system that these building owners utilise is fire protection. For many decades, fire has been one of the most common causes of property damage and casualties around the world. And one reason behind the existence of fire incidents is the lack of ample fire protection.
Fire protection, therefore, should always be prioritised when designing buildings. Two parts of this system that must be integrated are active and passive fire protection.
Comparing Active and Passive Fire Protection
The fire protection of property relies on two parts.
One of these parts is active fire protection. Active fire protection relies on measures and systems that require a human action or initiation of a system before they can be activated. Most tools and devices that are part of active fire protection are meant to suppress or manage a fire. Some examples of active fire protection components are fire extinguishers, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, standpipes, and fire compression systems.
Another part of fire protection that plays a pivotal role in building safety is passive fire protection. Passive fire protection is comprised of materials, components, and devices that can compartmentalise the fire and smoke inside a building. These things can provide buffer time for the escape of occupants, safe entry of firefighters, and proper safeguarding of vital assets. Passive fire protection materials like fire doors, cavity barriers, and insulation do not need to be activated or triggered during fire emergencies.
How to Balance Active and Passive Systems
Many property owners believe that relying on active fire protection devices and materials can already save their buildings from fire emergencies. While they can be right in some cases, it is still recommended for buildings to be equipped with both active and passive fire protection. It would even be better if these fire protection systems will be balanced effectively.
As mentioned earlier, passive fire protection provides the needed buffer time for the safe escape of occupants and proper entry of firefighters by preventing fire escalation. Active fire protection, alternatively, mitigates the fires. Once these fire protection systems are combined optimally, property owners can have a higher chance of saving their buildings from fires and keeping their occupants safe from fire-related injuries.
Now, to balance active and passive fire protection systems, building owners should place them strategically so they can function effectively once a fire occurs. For example, spaces integrated with active smoke management fans should be paired with passive fire-resistive and smoke-tight construction materials. The fans can effectively pressurise the air in an affected area while the materials can restrict the smoke from reaching other property spaces.
Combining fire-resistance-rated walls, a clean agent suppression system, and fire-rated AC brackets can also be done to provide ample fire protection to a building. To gain access to quality brackets for split AC installation, you can contact us at Split Ezy Pro.
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