- 1Compartment floor (passive)
- 2Compartment wall (passive)
- 3Fire stopping around a service (passive)
- 4Fire door (passive)
- 5Cavity barrier above the ceiling (passive)
- 6Protected steel column (passive)
- ASmoke detector (active)
- BSprinkler head (active)
- CFire alarm call point (active)
- DSmoke vent (active)
Veritas inspects passive fire protection, with a written report of every defect. Passive Fire Protection Inspections
What is passive fire protection?
Passive fire protection, often shortened to PFP, is everything in the fabric of a building that resists fire for a tested time. It does not need power, detection or a person to operate it. Because it is built in and mostly hidden, it is easily damaged by later works and rarely noticed until it is inspected.
What is the difference between passive and active fire protection?
| Passive fire protection | Active fire protection | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Resists fire through the building's construction | Detects or acts on a fire once triggered |
| Examples | Compartment walls, fire stopping, fire doors, cavity barriers | Fire alarms, sprinklers, smoke ventilation |
| Needs to be triggered | No (fire doors need to be closed) | Yes |
| Where it is | Mostly hidden above ceilings and in risers | Mostly visible |
The two work together: active systems warn people and control the fire, passive protection keeps it contained while they do.
What are the elements of passive fire protection?
- Fire Compartmentation: compartment walls and floors that divide the building.
- Fire Stopping: seals around services that pass through those walls and floors.
- Cavity Barriers: closures inside hidden cavities.
- Fire doors: fire-resisting openings in compartment walls and escape routes. See Fire Door Ratings: FD30 and FD60.
- Structural fire protection: boards, sprays and intumescent coatings that protect steel and other structure.
Which laws cover passive fire protection?
The Building Regulations govern how it is designed and installed in new and altered buildings. Once the building is in use, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires it to be maintained in efficient working order.
How is passive fire protection inspected?
Each element is checked against the Building Regulations, the manufacturer installation specification and its fire test evidence. Walls, floors and fire stopping are inspected in a fire compartmentation survey, and fire doors in a fire door inspection.