Fire Barriers For Effective Fire Protection

Fire barriers are temporary structures designed and built to achieve certain specified fire retardant ratings, to limit the spread of fire and heat and restrict the entry of smoke into the building. Fire barriers can be structural (built-up steel walls, ceilings, floors), non-structural or radiant (iris, embers, heat conductors). Materials used to construct fire barriers can be solid or fire retardant polystyrene foam, non-flammable paint, fireproof sheeting, sheet metal, or plastic. Common materials for fire barrier construction are polystyrene foam, rigid non-metallic fire barriers, fiberglass, aluminum, and steel. Checkout construction service for more info.

With the increasing complexities of modern life, fire protection has become a critical concern of public safety. Fire prevention through fire protection is achieved by making buildings more fire resistant and more secure, and reducing the risk of spreading fire through use of effective building design and construction techniques. Fire prevention also refers to the reduction of the risk of fire spreading to other structures by use of escape routes, active fire control, and fire protection equipment. Buildings are protected from fire by use of fire barriers, which physically join building boundaries to each other and provide a protected space for perishable materials, hazardous goods, and flammable liquids.

Fire barriers come in various forms, such as fittings or fixtures, wall plates, sheet metal, or radiant barriers with or without a liner. A flexible lining is most often used because it can be installed at different positions along a wall and positioned in an area where there are multiple penetrations or gaps. Multiple penetrations are a major concern in fire protection, because multiple holes in a wall can allow hot gases, smoke, and embers to spread into the adjoining spaces if not kept closed. Fire barriers with a rigid lining are designed to withstand pressures from penetration and contain heat, flame, and smoke within a two-inch area of its interior surface. Radiant barriers with a reflective surface are usually installed outside of rooms and other spaces where people may have a direct line of sight to the fire barriers.