Fire protection is an important system every commercial establishment must have to protect lives and properties. A commercial building inspection in NJ could help building owners prepare for unexpected instances by proactively installing fire protection systems.
A structural engineer NJ can help secure buildings with the correct planning and installation of fire protection systems. Tools like smoke detectors and fire alarm devices enable early fire detection. This will give the occupants the time to locate an exit and leave the building safely. Moreover, these fire-protection devices must be properly designed, installed, and maintained according to fire and building codes. Structural engineers can help in this regard.
Fire protection systems consist of structural and operational elements to stop and mitigate the destructive effects of fire. The two primary categories of fire-protection systems are passive fire protection and active fire protection.
Passive fire protection uses structural components to control or contain a fire. It includes fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings that can withstand fire exposure for a specific period before collapsing. A passive system creates compartmentalization that contains the fire within an area.
A typical compartmentation system utilizes interconnected fire-resistant doors and walls to contain a fire. Fire-resistant walls are designed to prevent horizontal fire spread. A fire-resistant-rated floor-and-ceiling assembly is another type of compartmentation that prevents fire from spreading from one floor to the next. It could include a fire-resistant ceiling system, a concrete or steel floor surface, or a combination.
In comparison, active fire protection systems take direct physical action to slow or stop the fire progress or smoke migration. These systems include fire suppression and smoke control systems that receive manual and automatic signals to be activated.
A fire protection system is a great investment to prevent a fire disaster. Continue reading the infographic from Lockatong Engineering to learn more about fire protection design in commercial buildings.
