3 Ways to Make a Building More Fire Resistant

It’s nearly impossible to make a building fireproof, but there are a number of ways to reduce the spread of flames and keep the occupants safer. Over the years, quite a few new methods have been developed to make this possible.

1. Fire Doors

A fire door isn’t just a door that won’t burn quickly. It has other safety features, too, including auto-closing devices and intumescent seals. These work with the material to keep fire trapped for up to several hours.



The door material is ideal for preventing fire from passing through it. Once the heat reaches a certain point, the seals will swell up, preventing the doors from letting any of the smoke or flames through. They can be used between rooms or leading off of hallways to keep fire contained.

2. Fire Barriers

Fire barriers are walls that divide the building and prevent fire from moving easily throughout the building. They may be hidden inside your regular walls, or they can be set up as the main wall. The covering may burn, but the fire barrier will give people more time to get out of the building. They can hold back the fire for up to 3 hours, depending on the rating.

Fire barriers are important to include in your building, whether it is commercial or residential. With the right construction, you can keep everyone in the building safer and provide them with the chance to evacuate before the building completely burns.

3. Fire Pillows

Throughout most buildings, there are gaps and spaces where tubes and pipes may go through walls and ceilings. These provide an escape for fire and can end up being very dangerous if there’s a fire in the structure. Even with the best fire doors and barriers, you can end up with the fire spreading rapidly through these gaps.

One way to prevent this problem is through the use of fire pillows. They can be placed around these areas and they will expand and block the gaps to prevent smoke and fire from entering the area.

All of these methods of preventing fire from spreading are considered passive. They don’t require any further setup or activation once you’ve put them into place, so you can install and rest assured that everything is secure. Your building will be protected from fire and smoke and if a fire does start, it will be contained in one area to allow time to get to safety.

If you’re interested in learning more about passive fire safety, Thameside Fire Protection offers a range of products and services for your needs.