NAME : AFOKE UMAR FARUQ AYOMIDE

MATRIC NO: LCU/UG/19/14547

DEPT: ARCHITECTURE
LEVEL : 400

BUILDING SERVICES FOR ARCHITECTS

ARC 404

22nd OCTOBER , 2022

QUESTION :

Write on any 10 means of passive fire protection systems.

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OVERVIEW: Passive fire protection (PFP) is components or systems of

a building or structure that slows or impedes the spread of the effects of fire or smoke
without system activation, and usually without movement.[1] Examples of passive
systems include floor-ceilings and roofs, fire doors, windows, and wall assemblies, fire-
resistant coatings, and other fire and smoke control assemblies. Passive fire protection
systems can include active components such as fire dampers.

Main characteristics
Passive fire protection systems are intended to:
 Contain a fire to the compartment of fire origin
 Slow a fire from spreading from the compartment of fire origin
 Slow the heating of structural members
 Prevent the spread of fire through intentional openings (e.g., doors, HVAC ducts) in
fire rated assemblies by the use of a fire rated closure (e.g., fire door, fire damper)
 Prevent the spread of fire through penetrations (e.g., holes in fire walls through which
building systems such as plumbing pipes or electrical cables pass) in fire rated
assemblies by the use of fire stops.

Passive fire protection systems include :

 Fire Doors
 Fire walls
 Fire resistant glass
 Compartmentation
 Closures (Fire Dampers)
 Fire stops
 Grease Ducts
 Cable coatings
 Intumescent Fireproofing
 Enclosures

Fire doors
For many, the main purpose of a fire door is to provide a clear means of escape. However,
they are also a key element of a building’s compartmentation strategy. Fire doors are
usually reinforced with either intumescent strips or a cold smoke seal, which offer
additional fire resistance by preventing the passage of smoke. Therefore, we can consider
fire doors to be a passive fire protection measure.

Fire walls
Fire walls not only have a rating, they are also designed to sub-divide buildings such that
if collapse occurs on one side, this will not affect the other side. They can also be used to
eliminate the need for sprinklers, as a trade-off.

Fire resistant glass

Fire resistant glass is a specially laminated glass that helps the product withstand high
amounts of heat. As a result, they can prevent fire from spreading from one side of the
glass to another. This type of glass can also help prevent the spread of smoke. As you may
know, smoke caused by fire is quite dangerous, as excessive smoke inhalation can be
fatal. Thus, installing fire resistant glass can be viewed as a measure that can help save
lives.
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Compartmentation
Compartmentation aims to contain fire and smoke to a specific area of a building. This
helps to protect the building’s structural integrity and provide a clear path of escape. A
compartmentation system can take on a variety of forms. For instance, contractors will
erect specially designed barriers and partitions to contain fire and smoke. These barriers
and partitions will often be made using specific fire-resistant materials.

Closure (Fire Dampers)

Sometimes firestops are treated in building codes identically to closures. Canada de-rates
closures, where, for instance a 2-hour closure is acceptable for use in a 3-hour fire
separation, so long as the fire separation is not an occupancy separation or firewall. The
lowered rating is then referred to as a fire protection rating, both for firestops, unless they
contain plastic pipes and regular closures.

Fire stops
Firestops are physical barriers designed to prevent the spread of flames, deadly gases and
toxic smoke through openings created during building upgrades and the installation of
electrical, communications, plumbing, and ventilation systems, as well as grease ducts.
Barriers also can fill breaches in fire-resistant walls and floor assemblies.

Grease Ducts:
A grease duct is a duct that vents grease-laden flammable vapors from commercial
cooking equipment such as stoves, deep fryers, and works to the outside of a building or
mobile food preparation trailer. Grease ducts are part of the building’s passive fire
protection system. The cleaning schedule is typically dictated by fire code or related safety
regulations.

Cable Coatings:
Cable coatings provide an electrical cable with electrical or mechanical protection. The
most important ones are insulation, semiconductor, metal screen, filling, seating, armour
and outer sheath. Wire coating means the process of applying a coating of electrically
insulating varnish or enamel to aluminum or copper wire for use in electrical machinery.

Intumescent Fireproofing:
Intumescent fireproofing involves adding a protective coating for structural steel, which is
usually either spray applied (as an intumescent paint) or added as a thin film layer. This
coating contains chemical properties which expand when exposed to high temperatures,
forming an additional layer around steel beams, columns and other structural elements.
This layer extends the length of time in which the steel can withstand high temperatures,
without compromising its basic functionality. To find out more about CLM Fire proofing’s
work in intumescent fireproofing, visit our dedicated page to structural fire protection.

Enclosures:
Enclosures (boxes or wraps made of fireproofing materials, including fire-resistive wraps
and tapes to protect speciality valves and other items deemed to require protection against
fire and heat—an analogy for this would be a safe) or the provision of circuit
integrity measures to keep electrical cables operational during an accidental fire.
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REFERENCES:

 https://clmfireproofing.com/what-are-active-and-passive-fire-protection-
systems/

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_fire_protection#Examples

 https://www.aisglass.com/fire-resistant-glass-improve-safety-building/
#:~:text=Fire%20resistant%20glass%20is%20a,of%20the%20glass%20to
%20another.

 https://www.csemag.com/articles/designing-passive-and-active-fire-
protection-systems/

 https://www.facilitiesnet.com/firesafety/article/What-is-a-Firestop--10387

 https://www.topcable.com/blog-electric-cable/en/electrical-cable-coating/