Prácticas de Compartmentación de Incendios en Edificios

Fire Compartmentation: The Practice of Dividing a Building to Slow Down Fire and Smoke Spread

Fire compartmentation is a crucial aspect of passive fire protection, designed to slow down the spread of fire and smoke within a building. This form of fire protection is integral to the building's construction, working in tandem with active systems that detect and respond to fires.

Understanding Compartmentation

Compartmentation is defined in NFPA 101, Chapter 8, as the practice of dividing a structure into smaller subsections using fire-resistant materials, such as fire barriers and smoke barriers. The goal is to reduce the spread of fire and smoke, ensuring the safety of building occupants and assisting firefighters in containing and stopping a fire.

Types of Compartmentation

Fire compartmentation can be both fire-resistant and smoke-resistant, depending on the specific requirements of the building. For example, a library might compartmentalize its special collections room to protect valuable materials from both fire and smoke damage.

Fire Barriers

Fire barriers are a continuous membrane or a membrane with discontinuities, designed and constructed to limit the spread of fire. They are typically made of materials with a one-hour fire-resistance rating and must comply with the opening protective requirements of NFPA 101. Doors in fire barriers must also be self-closing with positive latching, and any penetrations must be sealed with approved fire-stop materials.

Smoke Barriers and Smoke Partitions

Smoke barriers are a continuous membrane or a membrane with discontinuities, designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke. They are similar in function to smoke partitions, but the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, leading to confusion.

Implementing Fire Compartmentation

Fire compartmentation is most effective when implemented during a building's construction. However, it can also be retrofitted into existing structures. To be considered a compartment, all materials used to construct the room or space must be fire-resistant.

Compartmentation Guidelines

In England, building fire safety regulations concerning fire compartmentation can be found in Approved Document B. These regulations include requirements for every floor of the building to be a compartment, every wall separating two separate businesses to be a compartment wall, and specifications for fire-resistance ratings.

Conclusion

Fire compartmentation is a vital aspect of passive fire protection, designed to slow down and contain the spread of fire and smoke within a building. It saves lives by providing additional time for people to evacuate and protects firefighters by making containing and stopping a fire easier. By incorporating fire barriers, smoke barriers, and other passive fire protection measures, buildings can be designed to resist the spread of fire and smoke, ultimately ensuring the safety of their occupants and protecting valuable assets.