One universal truth is that fire can quickly destroy buildings and lives if left unopposed. Small amounts of smoke or flame can escalate dramatically into life-threatening situations in the right conditions. Therefore, consistent vigilance in fire safety is essential as they can be started accidentally and will rage our control without effective fire protection systems in place. Ensuring your business has the vital fire protection it needs is commonly the highest priority for any manager. Each company must have specific fire safety measures in place in the workplace, including fire protection systems.
What are Fire Protection Systems?
What are Fire Protection Systems?Fire prevention, suppression and protection systems are fundamental parts of any building’s protection against disaster. Unfortunately, many people feel that these three terms are interchangeable, but it’s essential to know that each plays a vital role in limiting the damage caused by rogue fires.
A fire protection system’s role is essential to protect the people inside the building. An adequate system will minimise the damage caused by the fire, maintaining the structure’s integrity and giving more time for evacuation and fire fighting efforts to succeed. The desired result of any fire protection system is that it provides the largest possible window for evacuation and reduces the inevitable costs of repairing the building.
The Uk gathers all fire legislation under ‘the regulatory reform (fire safety) order 2005.’ Summarised, it requires that all premises used for non-domestic purposes must have a fire risk alarm system (amongst other safety measures) to provide vital health and safety protections.
Are there Different Types of Fire Protection systems?
Whilst all non-domestic buildings are required to have fire protection, the extent of that protection will vary depending on the purpose of the building. Not all institutions are the same, and some have an increased risk of an accidental fire that should be accounted for.
Warehouses need a fire protection system that focuses heavily on stock protection. The density of potentially flammable materials means choosing solutions that will quickly combat any fires and will help protect your stock from being destroyed. On the other hand, schools will prioritise a fire protection system for efficient, safe evacuation. Ensuring that effective smoke control is in place will help keep the required visibility clear for the evacuation of all the staff and students.
If you feel unsure about what system would best suit your specific situation, feel free to contact us, and one of our experts will happily answer any questions you may have.
There are two main categories that all fire protection systems fall under, Passive and active
Passive Fire Protection
Passive Fire ProtectionPassive fire protection systems are integral to the internal design of the structure; examples of these are fire-resistant walls, floors and doors. The role of a passive fire protection system is to slow or prevent the passage of flames or smoke, thereby limiting the damage the fire is causing and providing more time for evacuation.
Active Fire Protection
Active fire protection systems are more about combating the emerged fire; examples of these are fire alarms and sprinklers, both practical, proactive tools to help combat the start of fires and limit their damage.
Smoke Protection Systems
One excellent addition to any building’s fire protection system is the addition of smoke resistant curtains. These curtains have a specific focus on slowing the spread of smoke and channelling it down a pre-designed route. The idea is that you can control the spread of smoke, removing it from the building as quickly as possible. Smoke resistant curtains don’t reach the ground; as smoke rises, the first line of defence will be high up. These curtains only drop to roughly head height which is ideal for businesses that want to stop the spread of smoke without blocking their evacuation routes.
Depending on your business’s unique requirements, a fire-resistant curtain will be helpful too. A fire-resistant curtain will improve your building’s compartmentalisation required to limit the spread of flames and smoke, as these curtains will cover the entire space they are installed in for maximum control of the fire. But this curtain is better suited to areas not involved with your staff evacuation plan, as the curtains may slow its progress.
Expert Fire Protection From Abacus Shutters
Choosing the best fire protection for your premises will be a high priority, and choosing the right company to trust with this responsibility is a huge decision. For over 40 years, we at Abacus Shutters have prided ourselves in providing the highest quality fire shutters and other fire protection solutions in London and the home counties.
We believe in going the extra mile for our customers to ensure that either their fire or security shutters are dependable, providing the essential peace of mind you need when dealing with these emergency measures.
To learn more about how we can upgrade your emergency measures, please visit our services pages, such as our bespoke installation, maintenance and 24/7 emergency repair. You can also find out more about our fire protection solutions here and how we can improve your setup today.
