Fire Compartmentation Surveys

 The point of fire compartmentation is to stop the spread of the fire and the deadly smoke to the rest of the building. The idea is the building is subdivided into different compartments so if a fire starts in one compartment it cannot move to the next, or takes longer to do so. It slows it down to give emergency workers to get to you. A fire compartmentation survey is a way to assess whether your building is a safe as it can be and will prevent loss and damage.

Buildings could be so much safer than many currently are

One of the best ways to protect lives and property from fire is fire compartmentation. Despite that fact, it is not always made a priority for property owners and is even sometimes ignore, usually because of the extra costs involved. Thankfully more legislation means more companies and property owners are having to follow codes. This is one of the best ways to keep people safe in a building, prevents the spread of smoke, fire, and gives people a chance to escape. More people suffer deaths from smoke inhalation than actual burning. Slowing that smoke spread and fire down reduces those numbers significantly.

Better understanding fire compartmentation

A professional fire compartmentation survey can carry out intrusive or nonintrusive surveys and then complete thought reports with fire compartmentation drawings, to assess where any weak areas are with your rooms or spaces. In a building separate from others it means room to room or flat to flat, in one that is attached to others it also includes preventing a spread from the other building. It looks at floors, ceilings, walls and assesses each compartment for the risk of fire spreading, such as through holes, ducts and such, and that fire-resistant materials are used. Things taken into account include the fire load, the availability of fire suppression systems like a sprinkler, how tall the building is and what the building is used for.

What is a fire compartmentation survey?

First of all, an inspector will assess whether fire compartmentation is even there. Then they look at how adequate it is, if there are any containment issues and whether it is suitable for the building. Some people think that a fire risk assessment is enough but while a fire risk assessment covers some aspects of it, it is not a comprehensive look. Some surveys might include the need for certain samples to be collected and examined. They will best judge whether the existing measures in place are sufficient. In a detailed report that can include fire compartmentation drawings, they indicate everything you need to know.

Summary

Fire compartmentations are very effective when they are done correctly and maintained. The best way to make sure you are keeping the property and the people safe and are complying with statutory requirements is to have an inspection. Just make sure you choose experts with the right qualifications and licenses.