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QUALITIES OF PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION PRODUCTS
Fire protection is often thought of as the safety systems found in buildings, from alarms and smoke detectors (active fire protection) to fire collars and coatings (passive fire protection). While each plays a critical role in safeguarding both structures and occupants, they are just one part of a comprehensive fire safety strategy. This article explores different types of passive fire protection and how they help maintain safety and compliance in the event of a fire.
WHAT IS PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION
Passive fire protection (PFP), also known as Built Fire Protection, is an important component of any fire safety strategy. It plays a vital, and increasingly significant, role in safeguarding people, as well as limiting damage to buildings and their contents from fire and smoke. According to Global Market Insights, the passive fire protection market is estimated to be worth USD$31 billion by 2026. The term ‘passive fire protection’ describes structural measures implemented to minimise the risk of fire damage. This level of risk includes occupants’ safety, and the financial and reputational losses stemming from building damage.
Passive fire protection systems work in various ways to reduce fire damage. These include dividing buildings into manageable spaces to limit the passage of flames and smoke (also known as compartmentation) and reinforcing load-bearing structural elements (e.g. columns, partitions and beams) so they can withstand fire damage for an extended period. This then opens up a vital window of time for a building to be safely evacuated.
FIRE RESISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE
A passive fire protection product must be tested and certified to provide reliable fire resistance for a specified duration. Fire ratings, such as EI 30, EI 60, EI 90, or EI 120, indicate the number of minutes a product can withstand fire and maintain integrity. The higher the rating, the longer the protection.
COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
Quality PFP products must comply with national and international fire safety standards, such as:
- EN 1366 (fire resistance testing for service installations)
- EN 13501-2 (classification of fire resistance performance)
- BS 476 (fire testing for building materials and structures)
- ETA (European Technical Assessment) or UL Technical Assessments for certified performance
Ensuring compliance with these standards guarantees that products perform as expected in real-world fire conditions.
DURABILITY, LONGEVITY AND COMPATIBILITY
PFP solutions must withstand environmental factors, aging, and wear over time without losing their effectiveness. High-quality materials are designed to resist moisture, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical impact, ensuring continued fire protection throughout a building’s lifespan.
Passive fire protection products need to integrate seamlessly with different construction elements, including:
- Walls and floors (rigid walls, drywalls, concrete slabs, etc.)
- Mechanical and electrical services (cables, pipes, ductwork, and ventilation systems)
- Existing fire protection measures, ensuring the entire system works together for maximum safety
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
With increasing focus on sustainability, modern PFP products are designed to be low-VOC, emission-free, and environmentally friendly. Certifications such as EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) ensure that fire protection solutions align with green building standards. Each product in the Protecta range has an EPD certificate that can be found on the product pages on our website.
TESTED AND CERTIFIED FOR REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS
Reliable passive fire protection products undergo extensive third-party testing in accredited laboratories, such as Warrington Fire or UL, before receiving official certifications. This ensures they perform as intended in real fire conditions. Protecta completes an average of 30 full-scale tests per year at Warrington’s state-of-the-art test laboratory.
EXAMPLES OF PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION MEASURES
After a fire risk assessment, a passive fire protection strategy is developed to enhance the building’s fire safety. The specific measures will depend on the building’s design, usage, and regulatory requirements. However, effective passive fire protection typically includes one or more of the following solutions:
- Fire-Resistant Walls and Partitions – Constructed with fire-rated materials to contain fire within a compartment and prevent spread.
- Fire-Rated Doors – Designed to withstand fire for a specified duration, allowing safe evacuation and reducing fire spread.
- Fire Dampers – Installed in HVAC ductwork to automatically close when fire or smoke is detected, maintaining compartmentation.
- Fire-Stopping Sealants – Intumescent sealants used to seal gaps around service penetrations (e.g., cables, pipes, ducts) to prevent fire and smoke from spreading.
- Fire Collars – Intumescent devices that expand when exposed to heat, sealing the opening around metal and plastic pipes to prevent fire spread.
- Fire Wraps – Applied around pipes or cable to maintain compartment integrity by expanding and closing openings during a fire.
- Fire-Resistant Coatings and Paints – Intumescent paints applied to structural steel, timber, or cables to insulate and delay fire damage.
- Compartmentation in Raised Access Floors and Ceilings – Fire-resistant materials used to prevent fire from spreading through voids in floors and ceilings.
- Fire-Resistant Boards – High-density mineral wool or calcium silicate boards used to fireproof penetrations, walls, and ceilings.
- Intumescent Expansion Joints – Fire-resistant joint systems that expand under heat to maintain fire compartmentation.
- Penetration Seals – Pre-formed fire protection solutions for cable trays, pipes, and ducts to ensure no gaps remain.
- Fire-Resistant Suspended Ceilings – Fire-rated ceiling tiles and structures that help contain fire in a specific area.
- Fireproof Cladding – Non-combustible external cladding systems that prevent rapid fire spread on building façades.
- Cavity Barriers – Installed within wall and floor cavities to prevent hidden fire spread through voids.
- Fire-Rated Service Transit Systems – Pre-formed fire-stopping solutions that allow multiple services to pass through fire-rated walls and floors while maintaining fire integrity.
- Fire-Resistant Access Panels – Installed in fire-rated walls and ceilings to provide maintenance access while maintaining compartmentation.
These measures work together to slow fire spread, protect occupants, and ensure compliance with building safety regulations.
Selecting the right passive fire protection products is essential for ensuring building safety, regulatory compliance, and long-term performance. At Protecta, we develop and rigorously test industry-leading fire-stopping solutions that meet the highest safety standards.
For more details on our certified PFP products, visit our products page or speak with our technical support team.
