What Is Active Fire Protection?

Whether the nature of your property is commercial, domestic or residential, there is nothing more important than fire safety. However, it can sometimes be overlooked.

It goes without saying that the effects of fire are long-lasting and devastating, so ensuring that you have the right fire protection is vital.

In fact, as a landlord, property owner, or business owner, failure to comply with UK fire safety regulations can result in significant penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment for the responsible person.

Therefore, knowing where you stand and the measures you must put into place is important. This article takes you through what active fire protection is, examples of these measures and how to find the right ones for you.

Here at Hydro Protect, our team are dedicated to providing the best service and support to our clients. Whatever the specifications and requirements, we’ll be able to answer questions and help you to improve your fire safety, all with exceptional workmanship.

What Are Active Fire Protection Measures?

Active fire protection consists of systems and devices that react to signs of a fire. Their main role is to detect, alert, contain or aid people within the building to escape in the event of a fire. Active fire protection can be activated both automatically and manually.

Examples of Active Fire Protection

Examples of active fire protection include automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarms, portable fire extinguishers, fire blankets and emergency lighting systems.

Fire sprinkler systems work by discharging water when fire or high temperatures are detected. They will suppress the fire by extinguishing the flames at the source.

Automatic fire alarms will raise the alarm in the event of a fire. When a fire is detected, those within the premises will be alerted so that they can evacuate quickly.

Emergency lighting systems ensure that people can see their escape route in the event of an emergency. It will provide sufficient light during power failures, where conventional lighting can no longer operate. Typically installed along escape routes, it will show the way out and indicate the direction of travel.

These active fire protection methods are not for fighting large fires. However, they allow occupants to deal with small fires where it is safe to do so, stopping the flames from spreading.

Essentially, active fire protection is firefighting and fire prevention, with human involvement. They use a fire protection device that isn’t part of the structure, and often businesses are required by law to implement active solutions as part of their fire safety operations.

What Is Passive Fire Protection?

When looking into ‘active fire protection’, you’ll likely also hear about ‘passive fire protection’.

Passive fire protection refers to structural measures taken to minimise the risk of fire damage.

Examples of Passive Fire Protection

Examples of passive fire protection include fire doors, as well as fire-resistant walls and floors. They work to create compartmentation and are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke without needing to be activated.

Active & Passive: The All-Important Combination

Do Active And Passive Fire Protection Work Together?

Absolutely. Both active and passive systems protect lives and buildings from fire. Whilst the passive systems slow and contain the fire, active systems detect the fire and suppress it or alert occupants. Together, this creates a comprehensive strategy that gives those inside a building time to evacuate, whilst minimising fire damage until emergency services arrive.

Finding The Right Active Fire Protection Measure For You

Active fire protection is an important aspect of fire safety. It’s effective and helps save lives, and investing in a system ensures that your property is future-proofed against both fire risks and changing legal requirements.

A key step in fire safety is the right active fire protection measure for your requirements, and this is where a fire safety expert comes in.

Here at Hydro Protect, we have extensive experience in designing and installing fire sprinkler systems. From simple installations to complex projects, our highly-trained team will be on hand to ensure compliance and uphold excellent standards, managing the project fully from initial assessment through to commission.