A fire compartment is a fire-resistant area in a building that can slow down the spread of fire and protect valuable materials. They can be integrated into new construction or retrofitted into existing buildings. They are not fireproof but can be invaluable in reducing fire damage and increasing evacuation time. They are usually installed with other safety systems like alarms and sprinklers.
A fire compartment is an area within a building that is completely surrounded by fire resistant construction, usually with features such as automated fire doors that close when a fire is detected. Fire compartments are required by law in some building types and strongly recommended in others as a basic safety measure. Some insurance companies may also require fire compartments to be installed before taking out policies for certain types of businesses, in the interest of reducing their liability.
In new construction, a fire compartment can be integrated directly into the building structure. In addition to compartments, barriers designed to slow a fire if it starts can also be installed. Fire compartments can consist of rooms or groups of rooms. When a fire starts within a compartment, the sealed nature of the area can compartmentalize the fire, preventing it from spreading to other areas. When a fire occurs outside the compartment, it can remain sealed and could potentially protect the items inside from the fire.
Fire compartments are not fireproof. Fire can enter or exit a fire compartment if it is intense enough, poorly managed, or not dealt with quickly enough. However, fire compartments can still be invaluable tools. Anything that slows down the rate of fire spread can contribute to fire safety, creating more time for people to evacuate and potentially reducing fire damage. Valuable or important materials can be stored inside a compartment so that, in the event of a fire, they can pass through the fire.
Existing buildings can be retrofitted to create fire compartments. Mobile barriers can be installed, or people can remodel parts of a building to create a fire compartment. Also known as a fire zone, a fire compartment can also sometimes face potential flood damage, as the same materials that keep fire out can also sometimes keep water at bay.
The installation of fire compartments is usually done in tandem with the installation of other safety systems such as alarms and sprinklers. These systems work together so that if a fire breaks out, it can be dealt with quickly and the damage caused by the fire can be minimized. As a general rule, a fire compartment is not a safe place to evacuate; people are expected to leave a building when a fire breaks out unless they absolutely have to take shelter in place.
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