Compartmentalization (fire protection)
A fire zone is an area of intended burns in case of damage ( fire) and thus may not allow a flashover to other fire areas.
The fire spread to adjacent sections is prevented by fire- resistant components.
In general, a fire section includes all storeys of a building and is directly from the top to the pulled down (in the example image, the separation between BA I and BA II). Under certain conditions, fire zones may be formed offset (in the example image, the separation between BA II and BA III ), but then the ceiling between the offset fire walls shall be fire resistant to prevent a fire spreading. For the same reason windows must be carried out fire retardant near the fire area separations.
Difference between the fire wall and fire section
Fire walls must not be mixed, as not only a rollover of fire and smoke, but also a static transfer must be made impossible by the fire wall. Thus, a fire compartment border make several u-turns within a building, which would be unusual in the fire wall. In breaking out of a fire so it should not roll over to the other side, a structural collapse on one side of the fire wall. In comparison, the conventional fire section not guarantee this structural effect. For example, a wall made of gypsum or calcium silicate boards are made with thin sheet metal stud frame, which possibly may have up to four hours fire resistance. A fire wall must, however, in accordance with DIN 4102 and can withstand mechanical shock test, which the normal fire compartment is not able to withstand.
Legal requirements
In Canada, for example, the National Model Building Code (NBC = National Building Code of Canada) requires that a fire wall must include concrete, while the conventional fire compartment shall consist only the normal CAN4 - S101 - examination. Legally, the difference between the fire wall and fire section of the zuzüglichen requirements of fire resistance class. The requirements for fire walls are higher. While Germany makes a special examination to the procedure, consult other countries before it prescribe the design.
The exact requirements are available in the relevant building regulations, for example in the German model building code or state building codes, which are based on the MBO. Apart from the requirements of the fire resistance classes, there are also international differences in building codes with respect to the surfaces, or how many square meters can be built up to without a division into fire zones. In most larger buildings fire zones are necessary, but not necessarily fire walls. The architect is responsible for this division generally. International is also a growing trend to upgrade the building codes in passive versus active fire protection. For example, a building can sprinklergeschütztes may permit larger areas before a division into sections is necessary. Conversely, partly also eliminates the sprinkler if smaller fire compartment surfaces are used. Such a set-off of the value of passive fire protection ( compartmentalization by components with high fire resistance classes ) compared to the active fire protection (fire and reporting measures) is currently an international debate in the fire protection industry. Both sides (active to passive) are constantly striving international the building regulations for its own benefit to influence.