The essential elements of fire protection can be classified as either passive or active fire protection.
Used in conjunction with one another to provide a balanced fire protection strategy in modern construction, both active and passive fire protection systems are analogous to safety belts and air bags in automobiles.
Active fire protection elements are designed to activate once a fire starts to control growth or extinguish it.
Examples include fire sprinklers or gaseous extinguishing systems, fire alarms also fall into this category as they provide notification to building occupants and emergency responders.
Passive fire protection elements are designed to control fire growth and spread through the erection of barriers that minimize the spread of fire, smoke and hot gases. Such systems are said to compartmentalize or contain fire to the point or origin thereby allowing occupants time for safe egress and firefighting personnel time for safe ingress to perform search and rescue.
Passive fire protection systems may also enhance structural integrity.
Examples of passive fire protection include fire-resistive rated floors and walls, fire proofing materials for structural elements, fire doors and fire dampers.
Cementitious Fireproofing:
Cementitious or wet mix fireproofing is mixed with water and pumped under pressure through hoses to a nozzle where air I introduced. The wet slurry is then broadcast of products onto structural steel surfaces. The inherent fire resistive mechanism of products in the release of water in the form of steam when exposed to elevated temperatures. These products are available in standard, medium and high density to use indoors and on building exteriors.
Intumescent Fireproofing:
Intumescent fireproofing differs from cementitious and mineral fiber fireproofing in that its paint like appearance allows it to be left permanently exposed creating a dramatic architectural affect. Applied like paints and coatings with airless spray equipment, intumescent fireproofing actually burns when exposed to fire, forming a layer of char that ultimately insulates the structural steel from further temperature rise. Vendors of intumescent fireproofing who we have partnered whith include Jotun Manufacturing, Isolatke and Carboline co.