It’s widely known that fire only needs around 30 seconds to build up speed and spread throughout a building. If you’re lucky, it may take several minutes, but there is no mistaking the dangerous potential of fire to devastate a whole property and put lives at risk.
Fire can spread in four main ways, which we’ll break down in this guide to help you understand the types of behaviour for which you might need to be on alert. We’ll also explore how passive fire protection is your secret weapon for limiting fire spread.
How does a fire spread?
Fire can move through a building in a number of ways, and it is crucial that you understand each to appreciate the risks and put in place the right prevention measures.
Conduction fire
Fire conduction is defined as heat transfer through solid materials. This is when a fire provides heat that transfers to nearby objects, raising their temperature and increasing the risk of them also catching alight.
Metal structures in a building often conduct heat and can transfer it into other areas without flames actually needing to make contact. Using fire-resistant materials in the construction of a building helps to limit this.
Convection fire
Convection in fire is defined as heat transfer through a fluid or gas. The hot air for a fire rises, drawing in cool air to replace it, thereby creating a convection current that forces more embers, smoke and gas upwards. This can then build up at the ceilings in a building, igniting any combustible materials.
This is a particular risk in office buildings and high-rise properties where the fire may be able to move through the various floors quickly via convection. Compartmentalisation is a key technique to ensure there are no gaps or easy routes to allow convection to spread fire through.
Radiation
Radiation fire spread is defined as heat transfer through electromagnetic waves. This sends heat out in all directions, which other objects will absorb until they reach their ignition point. Prolonged exposure is what allows fire to move through and between buildings.
It is always recommended that you keep combustible materials away from heat sources, while fire-resistant glazing on windows or doors can help to limit this fire spread.
Direct flame contact
Direct flame contact is defined as when flames come into direct contact with a flammable material. This is the type of fire spread most people think of, but it is only one of four ways fire spreads. Curtains, furniture and any nearby objects can catch fire and spread flames further.
Fire-resistant barriers can help to contain flames within a certain area, and it should go without saying that flammable materials should be kept well away from open flames.
How passive fire protection can reduce the spread of fire
Passive fire protection (PFP) is a specific collection of measures you can put in place in your building to limit fire spread. Using the design and structure of your building, along with fire-resistant materials, helps to contain a fire and slow how quickly it spreads. This gives occupants more time to safely evacuate and provides a greater chance of fire and rescue services reaching the premises to save the building.
At Surrey Tech Services Ltd, we offer a range of passive fire protection services and products, including:
- Fire doors
- Fire stopping
- Fire barriers
- Intumescent paint
- Structural steel fire protection
We offer expert fire safety solutions to help you protect your property, save lives and meet regulatory compliance wherever you are in London and the home counties. Contact us today to discuss fire stopping measures for your building.
