fire safety

The Importance of Fire Compartmentation

Whatever the building, compartmentation is fundamental to its safety, creating a series of protected fire zones to ensure that the fire is contained.

First, some statistics.

There were 140 fire deaths in England between April and September last year, a 33 percent reduction on the same period ten years ago.

In the same six months, fire and rescue services attended 102,000 fires, 55percent lower than 2002.  They also attended 115,000 false alarms.

In total, there was a UK reduction in reported fires of 69.5 percent between 1979 and 2007, although the cost of fire remains high.  The Association of British Insurers estimated that in the first half of 2009, insurers paid out £639 million for fire damage - £3.6 million a day.

On a worldwide scale, international fire statistics are collated by the World Fire Statistics Centre (WFSC), which estimates that costs due to fire add up to approximately 1 percent of global GDP – that’s €126 billion in Europe alone.

In the industrialized world, fire deaths per 100,000 of population range from 0.02 in Singapore to 2.03 in Finland.  The UK stands at 0.75.

Across the EU, fire killed over 4,000 people in 2010.  In 2011, in India, fire killed over 26,000 people.

 In other words, fire remains a potent threat, despite advances in building design and construction and the enforcement of strict building regulations

Essentially, fire safety in commercial buildings is down to three things: an alarm system to detect and warn of the danger; a sprinkler system to damp down the fire; and fireproof compartments to contain the fire at source and prevent it spreading.

Taken together, those active and passive elements are designed to allow occupants to escape from the building, and provide safe access for the fire and rescue services.  How those elements are applied depends on the size of the building, its complexity and its function.

For example, an evacuation plan for a hospital or care home will be different to that of an office block, and require a different building safety approach.  In other words, building safety addresses the mobility, or otherwise, of its likely occupants.

Whatever the building, compartmentation is fundamental to its safety, creating a series of protected fire zones to ensure that the fire is contained.  For the glazed elements, the UK’s Glass and Glazing Federation has a specific guide on fire-resistant glazing.

Fire is spread through three methods: convection, conduction and radiation, of which convection is the most dangerous.  This is when smoke from the fire becomes trapped by the roof, spreading in all directions to form a deepening layer.  Smoke, rather than fire, is often the real danger.  Materials such as metal can absorb heat and transmit it to other rooms by conduction, where it can cause new fires to break out.  Radiation transfers heat in the air, until it too sets off secondary fires, spreading the danger away from its original location.

Modern glazing systems can provide complete protection against convection, conduction and radiation – whether as curtain walling, or internal doors or fire screens – for up to two hours, giving more than enough time for a safe evacuation.

But building designers and specifiers must ensure that the glass and its framing systems have proven compatibility.  That means insisting on comprehensive fire test certification that covers both elements.

In a fire, the glass and its frame have to function together to prevent the spread of fire, smoke or toxic gases.  If one fails, both fail, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

london orbital fire doorsAt Wrightstyle, we’ve invested in fire certification in the UK, USA and Far East – a reflection of our global business, and our confidence in our systems’ performance. 

We can also handle each step – from designing bespoke solutions, to fabrication and installation: an end-to-end service with comprehensive guarantees at each stage.

We can’t prevent fire from happening.  But we can prevent it from spreading, and that’s just as important.

About the Author

Jane Embury has been with Wrightstyle since the company’s formation in 1996. She is now a director of the company responsible for both the marketing and finance departments. She has some 17 years of experience in all aspects of the steel glazing sector and has overseen Wrightstyle’s growth as an international supplier of specialist glazing systems to mitigate against fire, high wind loading, and ballistic or explosive attack. Prior to joining Wrightstyle, Jane worked in the City of London in export finance.

Featured

  • 12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    Understanding crime statistics in your industry and area is crucial for making important decisions about your security budget. With so much information out there, how can you know which statistics to trust? Read Now

  • Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    In alignment with the state of Mississippi’s mission of “Empowering Mississippi citizens to stay connected and engaged with their government,” Salient's CompleteView VMS is being installed throughout more than 150 state boards, commissions and agencies in order to ensure safety for thousands of constituents who access state services daily. Read Now

  • Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    This year’s Live From GSX program was a rousing success! Again, we’d like to thank our partners, and IPVideo, for working with us and letting us broadcast their solutions to the industry. You can follow our Live From GSX 2023 page to keep up with post-show developments and announcements. And if you’re interested in working with us in 2024, please don’t hesitate to ask about our Live From programs for ISC West in March or next year’s GSX. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • People Say the Funniest Things

    People Say the Funniest Things

    By all accounts, GSX version 2023 was completely successful. Apparently, there were plenty of mix-ups with the airlines and getting aircraft from the East Coast into Big D. I am all ears when I am in a gathering of people. You never know when a nugget of information might flip out. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols. 3

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings. 3