What is passive fire protection?

Passive Fire Protection (often referred to as PFP) is an important part of the fire safety strategy of any building. If it is installed correctly, it plays an important role in protecting people and property. 

Passive Fire Protection works by:

• Creating a barrier and, hence, a compartment within a building
• Limiting the spread of fire, heat, and smoke
• Protecting escape routes and hence providing time for occupants to escpe in
• Protecting a building’s critical structural components
• Protecting assets within the premises

Examples of Passive Fire Protection include:

• Fire doors (including glazing, smoke seals and intumescent strips)
• Fire-resisting walls, floors, ceilings, and ducts
• Fire stopping (such as layers within service risers, etc.)
• Fire protection for structural members (such as intumescent paints, etc.)
• Fire-resistant epoxy coatings that can be spray applied
• PFP sheet
• Fire-protective boxes or wardrobes
• Protection for vital equipment such as first-aid boxes, oil or gas tanks, or other volatile sites to prevent the risk of explosion.

Ideally, Passive Fire Protection should form part of the original (or refurbished) fabric of a building. In other cases it is added after the premises have been built.

Passive Fire Protection is not a complete solution, but is intended to work in conjunction with Active Fire Prevention systems, such as fire alarms, smoke detection, sprinkler systems and extinguishers.