What Is Fire Compartmentation?

What is compartmentation in fire protection?

It is the process of dividing a building into smaller, fire protected rooms – almost like turning the building into multiple, self-contained ‘boxes’.

What is the main objective of fire compartmentation?

To slow the spread of fire and smoke down, essentially by containing the elements within the room of origin.

When is fire compartmentation required?

Building regulations say your building needs to be safe in the event of a fire, which includes having compartmentation built into the structure. However, according to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO), it’s not required in domestic premises unless there is a loft.

What is a fire compartmentation survey?

A defined process whereby you identify defects in existing compartmentation against a set agreed protocol. Visit our Compartmentation section to find out more.