Before suffering the consequences of a fire, there are several things that allow us to prevent this point from occurring. Although it is true that fire can occur for various reasons, some of them beyond our control, if we follow some guidelines, we will be well protected in case it happens. We can even minimize the damage if we consider some key passive safety measures.
The first factor of fire safety is to adequately protect the structure of buildings. Wood is highly combustible, while metal loses strength when subjected to high temperatures and direct fire. Therefore, materials need to be protected with products and systems such as fireproof paints, silicate insulation, or special cements. These fireproof protections serve a dual purpose: they prevent a fire from spreading and minimize the consequences or even allow us to prevent the fire.
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Sealing of cracks as passive fire safety
Another key aspect is the proper sealing of any cracks that could fuel or spread the fire. This sealing can be permanent or only occur in case of fire, as is the case with compartments in office buildings and other constructions that share ventilation systems and other areas through which a fire can spread from one side to the other.
In the first case, cracks are sealed with resistant materials that prevent the entry of air that could fuel the fire or transfer it to another location. In the case of compartments, usually airlocks are installed that remain open when nothing happens and seal tightly to prevent the fire from spreading.
Something that must be paid close attention to is the quality of the materials used. These materials must have the appropriate certification seals to ensure that they have passed sufficient critical tests to withstand heat or direct fire for a specific number of minutes, which varies depending on the level of protection.
This certification can be found in glass, putty, cement, and other types of construction materials, and its use is mandatory in certain buildings and constructions, such as public gathering areas or chimneys, which must be well insulated and protected with materials for passive fire safety, such as refractory bricks, fire-resistant putty, and fireproof paints.
Active Fire Safety Guidelines
Another key to fire protection is that passive safety is not effective if active safety guidelines are not also implemented. For example, it is useless to have isolated a chimney or a room against fire with highly resistant materials if the door is left open or if the fire is allowed to get out of control. Passive safety is developed within the framework of responsible fire-related activities. That is why, from HotFireDoor, we recommend that you pay attention to safety and protection in everything you do. Only in this way will you prevent fire from causing serious damage.