As its name suggests, passive fire protection (PFP) is a form of fire safety provision that remains dormant, or inert, during normal conditions but becomes active in a fire situation. It is an integral component of structural fire protection in a building, which is designed to contain fires or slow their spread. The purpose of PFP is to contain the spread of fire for sufficient time to permit i) the safe evacuation of all occupants of the premises and ii) the arrival of the fire brigade. The person responsible for fire safety also has a duty of care towards any members of the emergency services, e.g. fire fighters, who may have to enter the premises during the course of a fire; in slowing the spread of flames, smoke and hot gases, PFP also serves to ensure the building remains as safe as possible for entry in this situation.

PFP: what and where?

PFP provision is required in all buildings, whether domestic or non-domestic, with the purpose of containing / compartmentalising / retarding the spread of fire.

There are several methods and products available that will achieve the required standard of fire resistance in existing buildings, some of which may be more appropriate than others. If you have any doubts about the best way to ensure PFP provision in your premises, you should seek the advice of a competent person. Any new build / modernisation / extension works must be carried out in accordance with The Building Regulations 2010, Fire Safety, Approved Document B.

In respect of internal fire spread (structure) and the relevance of PFP in particular The Building Regulations 2010 (Volume 2, p 67) stipulate the following (Requirement B3):

• Where reasonably necessary to inhibit the spread of fire within the building, measures shall be taken, to an extent appropriate to the size and intended use of the building, comprising either or both of the following –

(a)    sub-division of the building with fire-resisting construction;

(b)   installation of suitable automatic fire suppression systems.

• The building shall be designed and constructed so that the unseen spread of fire and smoke within concealed spaces in its structure and fabric is inhibited.

In respect of the protection of openings and fire-stopping in order to inhibit the spread of fire, 10.2 of the Regulations states (p 85):

If a fire-separating element is to be effective, every joint or imperfection of fit, or opening to allow services to pass through the element, should be adequately protected by sealing or fire-stopping so that the fire resistance of the element is not impaired.

There are two main types of opening that could compromise the integrity of a fire resistant structure: openings for pipes (10.5); and ventilation ducts, flues, etc. (10.9). At 10.17, additional provisions in respect of fire-stopping are detailed as follows:

1. joints between fire-separating elements should be fire-stopped;
2. all openings for pipes, ducts, conduits or cables to pass through any part of a fire-separating element should be:

1. a) kept as few in number as possible; and
2. b) kept as small as practicable; and
3. c) fire-stopped (which, in the case of a pipe or duct, should allow thermal  movement).

Every service that is installed in a building, such as water pipes, electrical sockets, cable trunking and lighting units, can compromise the fire resistance of a room by creating openings in its walls, floor and ceiling. The role of PFP is to seal the gaps these penetrations create should the worst happen and fire break out. All products designed to fulfil this criteria are fire rated, i.e. certified to resist fire for a specified length of time, which can be anything from 30 minutes to 4 hours. They all include an intumescent material, which remains dormant, or passive, during normal conditions but swells to many times its original size when exposed to the heat of a blaze.

Examples of PFP

Fire doors, whose purpose is to contain a fire / protect a designated fire escape route, should be fitted with intumescent fire and smoke seals, either around the edges of the door leaf or the frame. These seals are an integral part of a fire door structure and ensure that, not only is the spread of fire prevented, but also and more importantly the ingress of cold smoke in the early stages of a fire. Smoke is known as the silent killer as it can overwhelm the occupants of an enclosed area long before the heat and flames of a fire are sensed.

The hot gases of a blaze can also move swiftly around a building, undetected at first, for example through air conditioning ducts. Intumescent air transfer grilles, which are typically 30 or 60 minute fire rated, allow air to circulate freely around a building under normal conditions, but the intumescent material swells and creates a barrier to restrict the passage of hot gases in a fire situation. They are suitable for use with both fire rated doors and compartment walls.

Intumescent pipe wraps and collars are designed for use on plastic pipes that pass through masonry floors and walls; the intumescent material expands inwards in a fire situation to squeeze the collapsing pipe until the opening is completely sealed.

Intumescent downlighter covers and fire hoods / canopies for recessed light fittings prevent fire from penetrating the ceiling void and thus preserve the fire resistant integrity of the ceiling; they are typically 30 or 60 minutes fire rated.

Electrical sockets in walls and skirting boards are another vulnerable point in a fire rated compartment; intumescent socket box inserts / covers expand to fill the electrical box in a fire, preventing the spread of flames, smoke and hot gases.