Passive fire protection is an integral part of a fire safety in a building. They assist in slowing the spread of fire or smoke throughout a building and help ensure that people are able to escape from a building.
AESG provide annual or three monthly inspections and reports of all passive fire items. These include, but are not limited to:
Exit doors
Designated doors that provide safe egress from a building with minimum effort and delay. Inspections check that exit doors are intact, operational and fitted with compliant hardware (Exit doors have specific requirements in regards to hardware, as set out in The Building Code of Australia).
Fire doors
Fire doors are installed across an opening in a fire wall, to maintain the fire resistance of the wall. All fire doors must be tagged by an accredited fire door company to ensure they have been built to Australian Standards 1905.1. Inspections check that fire doors are self-closing, intact, operational and fitted with compliant hardware.
Paths of travel to exits
These are paths that provide a pathway for occupants travelling to an exit. Inspections check that paths are at least 1 meter wide, free from obstruction and that no unauthorized alteration has been carried out.
Discharge from exits to public road
These are paths that provide a pathway for occupants travelling from an exit to a public road. Inspections check that paths are at least 1 meter wide (installation of bollards may be required), free from obstruction and that no unauthorized alteration has been carried out.
Fire resisting structures
Certain elements and structures within a building have a fire resistance level, to maintain structural stability of a building during a fire, as well as restricting the spread of fire. Visual inspections check that no damage or unauthorized penetration/attachment has occured to the fire resisting structures.
Penetrations in fire rated structures
Many fire rated structures (walls, ceilings, falls) require penetrations to allow pipes or serviced to run throughout the building. These holes must be stopped with a material that will maintain fire resistance of the relevant structure. Inspections include a visual check of fire rated structures. Any suspect penetrations are noted, and recommended that further investigations be carried out.
Fire isolated passageways and stairs
These provide occupants with safe egress from a building by a fire rated compartment. They are surrounded by fire resisting structures, and fire doors must be provided at entrance points. Visual inspections check that to combustible goods or equipment is stored in these areas and that no unauthorized alterations have been made.
Fire indices for materials
Indices indicate the suitability of building materials, assemblies, linings and surface finishes in the ability to resist the spread of flame, or generation of smoke. Visual inspections check that any material that does not conform to fire hazard indices has not been introduced to a building.
Smoke doors
Smoke doors are constructed in smoke walls to restrict the passage of smoke through a building. Visual inspections of smoke doors check that doors and associated equipment are in working order, automatic closing facilities work, and no unauthorized items have been introduced to retain doors.
Fire rated control joints/ Fire protective coverings
These materials assist in maintaining fire separation between fire compartments in a building, and provide protection to structural elements in a fire. Visual inspections check that this facility is intact. Any suspect areas would require further investigation.
Fire rated access panels
These are provided where access to shafts (containing ventilation equipment, pipes or garbage shutes) is required. The panels and frame installed must be of a certain fire resistance level. Visual inspections check that the integrity of fire rated access panels have been preserved.
