Fire protection is necessary for all forms of construction. A proper fire design consideration help to delay energy transmission and offers the audience time before failure. Passive fire protection is one of the best solutions to reduce the spread of fire, which is the leading cause of harm to people and property.

What is passive fire protection, and why is it an ideal option for any construction?

There are various types of fire protection, and each will have different functions that benefit for protecting either community or quality of projects. Among various solutions, passive fire protection is still considered the ideal way for all levels of construction.

The definition of passive fire protection and how it is used in building construction

Passive fire protection, known as PFP, is an essential part of any fire plan. It is included within the structure of a building to protect people’s lives and reduce the financial impact of damage to structures and possessions.

The primary goals of utilizing PFP are to minimize the spread of fire and smoke by isolating them in a single compartment and protecting escape pathways for critical escape methods. Furthermore, this strategy contributes to the protection of the building structure, assuring its long-term viability.

When there is no PFP, fires or explosions can quickly escalate, leading to a loss of life or severe injury, significant damage to assets, production interruptions, or even total breakdowns. All structures require protection to ensure that they do not collapse unexpectedly and that there is enough time for people to evacuate and crews to put out the fire. There are a few industry requirements for various structures and assets, each of which has a distinct set of problems that PFP coatings can fix.

How does the passive fire protection system work within construction?

Passive fire protection systems are integrated into the structure to offer stability and into the walls and floors to divide the building into manageable danger regions called compartments. The protection is given by the materials aimed to create the structure or added to the building to improve fire resistance.

These methods are referred to as “passive” since they do not require any human action or external energy input when a fire occurs. They intend to enable the evacuation of individuals and the intervention of emergency services while confining the fire in a compartmentalized space for as long as needed.

Two common types of fire prevention solutions following can meet all of the requirements:

• Solutions for structural protection, such as intumescent paints
• Firewall solutions for subdivisions, such as foams, sealants, and other fire-resistance materials.

Each of them will bring specific results, but both have the same purposes in combining: protecting people and construction.

Forms of passive fire protection that VIVABLAST provides for all construction projects

With more than 27 years of experience, VIVABLAST provides consulting and construction services for passive fire protection that meets both domestic and international standards:

• TCVN 9311-1:2012 (ISO 834-1): Fire-resistance test – building components
• US Standard: ASTM E119 – Standard Test Methods for Fire Test of Building Construction and Materials
• British Standard BS 476 Part 20, Part 22; UL 1709. standard

VIVABLAST is confident that we can develop good fireproof goods to match project requirements on time with the most outstanding quality machines, equipment, and a team of highly qualified specialists.

Passive fire protection systems will be built based on industry, structure, building materials, fire scenario, and durability. Usually, a method is defined according to the form of fire as follows:

• Cellulosic fires: this system is used to prevent fires for products made from cellulose materials such as wood, paper, or ordinary furniture. Cellulosic fibers have a relatively slow heat-up rate with a heat flux of typically 100 kW/m2 and are especially non-corrosive to building materials.

• Hydrocarbon fires: This form of fire prevention is designed to prevent the spread of fires when burning hydrocarbon fuels. The heat flux from these fires usually ranges from 150 to 250 kW/m2, similar to Cellulosic fires; hydrocarbon fires also affect building materials.

• Jet fires: Jet fires, also known as jet fires, are one of the most commonly practiced methods today. Buildings applying this fire protection method will be protected when a fire occurs by the impact of sparks from the discharge of combustible materials under pressure. The heat flux depends on the type of fuel, fuel mixture and the extent of the flame spread, ranging from about 250 to 300 kW/m2 and possibly even up to 350 kW/m2. 

In general, passive fire protection would be an ideal solution to learn to apply for construction. And if you are looking for a professional team with a wide range of experience, do not hesitate to contact VIVABLAST. We are willing to support and help conduct the best fire protection systems.