“A building or part of a building comprising one or more rooms, spaces or storeys...
Volume 2 of Approved Document B defines a fire compartment as “A building or part of a building comprising one or more rooms, spaces or storeys constructed to prevent the spread of fire to or from another part of the same building or an adjoining building”.
As such, compartmentation is a crucial element of fire safety for buildings. It refers to the use of fire-resistant barriers that divides into smaller compartments to limit the spread of fire and smoke. These barriers can be walls, floors, ceilings, or doors that are designed to resist the passage of flames and smoke for a specified period. The importance of compartmentation in fire safety lies in its ability to contain a fire and prevent it from spreading rapidly throughout a building.
Compartmentation also plays an essential role in being able to allow Stay Put policies to be implemented safely and effectively. for instance a block of flats where each flat is its own compartment, this means that a full evacuation of the building is not always necessary as the fire is contained to that single compartment. You can find out additional information in this blog on compartmentation and approved document B.
Due to the importance of compartmentation, Compartmentation Surveys are an essential part of fire safety management for buildings. These surveys involve a thorough inspection of a building's fire-resistant barriers, such as walls, doors, floors, and ceilings, to ensure that they are effective in containing a fire and preventing its spread.
The importance of compartmentation surveys lies in their ability to identify any deficiencies in a building's fire-resistant barriers. Over time, these barriers can become damaged or compromised, reducing their effectiveness in containing a fire. For example, doors may not close properly, walls may have penetrations that allow smoke and flames to spread, or fire dampers may not be working correctly.
By conducting compartmentation surveys, building owners and managers can identify these issues and take corrective action to ensure that the fire-resistant barriers are working as intended. This can include repairing or replacing damaged barriers, installing new barriers in areas where they are missing, or upgrading existing barriers to meet current fire safety standards.
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The importance of compartmentation in fire safety cannot be overstated. It is a critical element of building design and construction, and building owners and managers should ensure that all necessary fire-resistant barriers are in place and properly maintained to protect the safety of occupants and limit the damage caused by fires.
For all of your compartmentation surveys and needs then please contact Ventro Group on the form below and one of our Fire Safety Consultants will be in touch
