Fire compartmentation is the process of dividing a building into smaller compartments using fire-resistant walls, floors, and ceilings. This helps to prevent the spread of fire and smoke in the event of a fire. Fire compartmentation surveys are an important part of fire safety management, and they can help to identify and address any potential fire hazards.
What is a fire compartmentation survey?
A fire compartmentation survey is a visual inspection of a building to assess its fire compartmentation measures. The survey will typically involve the following steps:
- Review of the building’s fire strategy or fire plan drawings to gain an understanding of the locations of required compartment lines.
- Inspection of the fire-resisting construction such as roof voids, floors, walls, basements, fire doors, floor and ceiling voids, risers and shafts (where present), and their capability to stop the spread of smoke and fire during the event of an emergency.
- Identification and assessment of any breaches or defects in the fire compartmentation measures.
- Provision of recommendations for remedial action to be taken to address any identified defects.
Why is a fire compartmentation survey important?
Fire compartmentation surveys are important because they can help to ensure that a building’s fire compartmentation measures are effective and that they will meet their intended purpose in the event of a fire. Fire compartmentation surveys can help to identify and address a variety of potential fire hazards, including:
- Breaches in compartmentation: Breaches in compartmentation, such as holes in walls or floors, can allow fire and smoke to spread to other parts of the building. Fire compartmentation surveys can help to identify and repair any breaches in compartmentation.
- Defective fire doors: Fire doors are an important part of fire compartmentation. They help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke by closing automatically when a fire is detected. Fire compartmentation surveys can help to identify and repair any defective fire doors.
- Inadequate fire dampers: Fire dampers are devices that close automatically to block the spread of fire and smoke through ventilation systems. Fire compartmentation surveys can help to ensure that fire dampers are properly installed and maintained.
Benefits of a fire compartmentation survey
There are a number of benefits to having a fire compartmentation survey carried out, including:
- Improved fire safety: Fire compartmentation surveys help to identify and address any potential fire hazards, which can improve the fire safety of a building.
- Reduced risk of injury and death: Fire compartmentation surveys can help to reduce the risk of injury and death in the event of a fire by preventing the spread of fire and smoke.
- Reduced property damage: Fire compartmentation surveys can help to reduce property damage in the event of a fire by preventing the spread of fire and smoke.
- Compliance with regulations: Many fire safety regulations require that fire compartmentation surveys be carried out at regular intervals. Fire compartmentation surveys can help to ensure that a building is compliant with all applicable fire safety regulations.
How often should a fire compartmentation survey be carried out?
The frequency of fire compartmentation surveys will vary depending on a number of factors, including the type of building, the level of risk, and the requirements of any relevant fire safety regulations. However, it is generally recommended that fire compartmentation surveys be carried out at least every five years.
Who should carry out a fire compartmentation survey?
Fire compartmentation surveys should be carried out by a competent person or organization. This could be a fire safety consultant, a fire engineer, or a fire protection company. The person or organization carrying out the survey should be experienced in fire safety and have a good understanding of fire compartmentation requirements.
Conclusion
Fire compartmentation surveys are an important part of fire safety management. They can help to identify and address any potential fire hazards, which can improve the fire safety of a building and reduce the risk of injury, death, and property damage in the event of a fire.