Among the many essential features when building for residential, commercial or industrial segments, fire safety is one of the most critical aspects as it has implications on both life and property. A small fire can go out of control in seconds and spread to other areas of a building where people may be working, relaxing or asleep. This can have disastrous consequences including damage to property, injury and loss of life.
Buildings equipped with fire protection systems can reduce damage to the structure and its contents in the event of a fire. Fire protection systems also increase the likelihood that occupants will make it to safety during a fire incident without suffering harm. Fire suppression systems, smoke detectors and flame retardants are all considered fire protection systems for buildings.
The purpose of fire protection systems
While the elements of a fire protection system can vary in purpose, they all have a common goal: to detect fire and protect a building, its occupants and contents from fire damage. Smoke detectors and sprinklers are the most common fire protection mechanisms in commercial buildings. In the event of a fire, the ensuing smoke will trigger the smoke detector, which will, in turn, set off the sprinkler system. Water attempts to put out fires and prevent the spread of fires by soaking other areas of the building.
Benefits of fire safety systems
In the long run, a fire safety system saves lives. Fire protection systems also offer financial savings as fire damage can be very expensive. This is especially true when confidential documents and assets are lost in a blaze or when structural damage to a building results in significant downtime for an organisation. Fire protection systems may also send automatic alerts to emergency services, which can assist in putting out the fire before people are hurt or more valuable possessions are lost to the flames.
What fire protection do I need?
When assessing the fire protection needed by your organisation or family, it helps to consider the future use of the building. Fires can erupt at any time, so plan ahead by asking yourself what the function of the building will be in future. Be sure to consider Australian building codes when installing fire protection systems because they are often permanent and may be expensive to modify if the purpose of the building changes subsequently.
There are two types of fire protection: passive and active.
Passive Fire Protection
Passive fire protection refers to building components that are installed to reduce the flammability of the building as a whole. Passive fire protection includes fire doors, fire escapes, fire shutters and fireproof windows, such as those supplied by Smoke Control.
Active Fire Protection
Active fire protection, on the other hand, refers to components of a system that react to the presence of fire. These may include sprinkler systems and fire suppression systems such as smoke containment curtains and smoke vents. Products like these are used to ensure building fires cause the least damage possible.
Contact Smoke Control for fire protection systems in Sydney
Smoke Control supplies and installs passive and active fire protection systems in buildings across Sydney. Contact our sales team if you have any questions about how to protect your property from fire hazards. We’ll recommend products based on your situation and will install everything for an affordable fee.
