Passive Fire Protection Systems

Overview of Passive Fire Protection (PFP)

Passive fire protection (PFP) refers to the use of various building materials and systems designed to contain or slow the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gases. Unlike active fire protection systems, which rely on human intervention or power sources, passive fire systems work automatically to protect buildings and occupants without any external inputs.

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At Gemini AMPM, our passive fire protection services are an integral part of your fire safety strategy. By implementing effective PFP solutions, we ensure that fire risks are mitigated and escape routes remain clear in the event of a fire.

Our Fire Alarm Services

Security Systems Remedial Works

Fire Doors

Fire Stopping

Compartmentation and Fire Stopping

Fire Safety Signage

Fire Risk Assessments

Fire Barriers

Fire Alarm Remedial Works

What Does Passive Fire Protection Include?

We offer a comprehensive range of passive fire protection services, including:

Fire Doors

High-quality fire doors that meet strict fire resistance standards to prevent the spread of flames and smoke.

Signage & Fire Barriers

Clear signage to guide people to safety and fire barriers that maintain the integrity of fire-resistant compartments.

Regular Inspections & Testing

Fire doors, fire dampers, and other passive systems are regularly inspected to ensure they meet safety standards.

Maintenance & Repairs

We offer expert repairs and maintenance services to ensure that fire protection measures are always operational.

Sectors We Work With

Our passive fire protection services are essential across multiple sectors, including:

IT Data Centres

Restaurants & Hotels

Commercial and Retail Buildings

Healthcare Facilities (including NHS Hospitals)

Industrial & Manufacturing Facilities

Educational Institutions

Residential Developments

We understand the unique requirements of each sector and tailor our fire alarm systems accordingly to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and optimal safety performance.

Why Choose Gemini AMPM for Passive Fire Protection?

We focus on the following key advantages:

Expertise & Experience

Our team has extensive experience in the design and installation of passive fire protection systems across multiple industries.

Compliance with UK Regulations

All our systems meet the latest UK fire safety regulations and standards, such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and the Building Regulations.

Tailored Solutions

We assess each building individually to ensure the right passive fire protection solutions are implemented based on specific fire risks.

Long-Term Safety

Our systems are designed to provide lasting protection and peace of mind, keeping you, your staff, and your assets safe.

Brands and Manufacturers We Work With

We collaborate with leading manufacturers and suppliers of passive fire protection products to ensure the highest quality materials are used in every installation. Some of the brands we work with include:

Accreditations for Fire Alarm Installation

Gemini AMPM holds several industry accreditations that guarantee the quality of our fire alarm installations:

We are fully accredited and committed to upholding the highest standards in fire safety.

At Gemini AMPM, we provide reliable and expert fire protection solutions designed to keep your building safe and compliant with fire safety regulations. Our team of qualified engineers ensures that your passive fire protection systems are installed, maintained, and regularly inspected to guarantee their effectiveness.

Project Case Study Examples

Gemini AMPM holds several industry accreditations that guarantee the quality of our fire alarm installations:

Fire systems in Tower Hamlets, London

First Port is the UK’s leading residential property service provider, caring for 310,000 homes in England, Wales, and Scotland, across 5,600 developments. 

Fire Alarm Wireless System

Tower Hamlets, London

Wireless Fire Alarm System, Unity Liverpool

A wireless fire alarm system to enhance safety and replace a Waking Watch across a landmark building in Liverpool. This case study explores a recent project we delivered for FirstPort.

Wireless System

Unity, Liverpool

The Hunger Games show – theatre Dry Rise, Canary Wharf

Gemini AMPM were engaged to design and install a dry riser system within the Troubadour Theatre, Canary Wharf, at short notice and during the late stages of the building’s construction.

Dry riser installations

Canary Wharf

Fire and Smoke Damper Replacement – Splashpoint Leisure Centre

The project was initiated due to the severe corrosion to legacy dampers, to bring the system in line with current compliance standards and to improve long-term accessibility for future maintenance.

Ventilation & Air Quality

Splashpoint Leisure Centre

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about passive fire systems

1. What is the difference between an active and a passive system?

The primary distinction lies in their function and operation during a fire.

Passive Fire Protection (PFP) Systems: These are built-in components of the structure designed to resist, contain, and slow the spread of fire and smoke. They are inherent to the building fabric (e.g., walls, floors, doors) and do not require any power or human intervention to function. They operate 24/7. ****
Active Fire Protection (AFP) Systems: These are mechanical or electronic systems that require a trigger (like heat, smoke, or a manual alarm) or a power source to operate. They actively work to suppress or detect a fire.

Feature	Passive Fire Protection (PFP)	Active Fire Protection (AFP)
Function	Containment and Protection (e.g., integrity, insulation)	Detection and Suppression (e.g., alarm, water)
Operation	Always working; no moving parts or power required	Requires activation (manual or automatic) and power
Examples	Fire-resistant walls, fire doors, fire stopping, intumescent seals	Sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers

2. Are sprinklers passive or active?

Sprinklers are an Active Fire Protection (AFP) system.

They are designed to actively discharge water or other fire-suppressant materials onto a fire when a heat-sensitive element (like a glass bulb) breaks, triggering their operation. This requires a stored medium (water) and a system of pipes and heads to activate, fitting the definition of an active system.

3. What is the British standard for passive fire protection?

In the United Kingdom, the core standards that govern the design and installation of passive fire protection are:

BS 476 (series): This is a long-standing series of British Standards that defines methods for testing the fire resistance of building materials and components, such as fire doors and structural elements.
BS EN 1364, 1366, and 13501 (series): These are the harmonised European Standards which are increasingly replacing or complementing BS 476.
○ BS EN 1366 specifies fire resistance tests for service installations (like fire-stopping, penetration seals, and ducts).
○ BS EN 13501 defines the fire classification of construction products and building elements (e.g., A1, A2, B, C, etc.).
Building Regulations (Approved Document B): This document sets out the legal requirements for fire safety in and around

4. What best describes passive fire protection systems?

Passive fire protection systems are best described as integral, non-mechanical building measures that provide fire compartmentation and structural protection.

Their primary function is to:

Compartmentalise: Divide a building into smaller, fire-resistant sections (compartments) to restrict the spread of fire and smoke.
Protect Escape Routes: Ensure that evacuation routes (e.g., corridors and stairwells) remain viable for safe egress for a specified period.
Protect Structure: Maintain the load-bearing capacity of the structure to prevent premature collapse.

5. What are the four types of fire protection systems?

While fire protection is broadly categorised as Active (AFP) and Passive (PFP), a more comprehensive understanding often breaks down fire safety measures into four key areas:

Passive Fire Protection (PFP): Structural elements like firewalls, floors, fire doors, and cavity barriers.
Active Fire Protection (AFP): Suppression systems like sprinklers, clean agent systems, and fire extinguishers.
Fire Detection & Alarm Systems (FD&A): Smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide detectors, along with manual call points and sounders.
Operational/Administrative Measures: Procedures, training, fire safety management plans, and regular maintenance/inspection of all systems.

6. What is the best type of passive fire protection?

There is no single ‘best’ type of passive fire protection; rather, the best protection is achieved through a holistic system of interconnected elements that work together, known as the “Fire Safety Strategy.”

Effective PFP relies on the correct combination and installation of:

Compartmentation: Fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings.
Opening Protection: Certified fire doors and shutters.
Penetration Sealing: Fire stopping (mastics, collars, wraps) around service penetrations (cables, pipes).
Cavity Barriers: Used within concealed spaces (e.g., above ceilings, below floors) to prevent fire spread.

All components must be tested and certified to British or European standards and installed precisely according to the manufacturer’s specifications to be effective.

7. What are the three basic types of fire detection systems?

Fire detection systems are a core component of Active Fire Protection (AFP). The three basic types are defined by the primary element they are designed to detect:

Smoke Detectors: The most common type, sensing smoke particles. They are further divided into:
- Ionisation: Best for fast-flaming fires with small combustion particles.
- Optical (Photoelectric): Best for slow, smouldering fires with large combustion particles.
Heat Detectors: Respond to either an abnormal rise in temperature or a fixed temperature threshold being met. Used in environments where smoke detection is impractical (e.g., dusty kitchens, plant rooms).
Flame Detectors: Use optical sensors (Infrared or Ultraviolet) to detect the radiation emitted by a flame. Often used in large, high-ceiling areas, or hazardous environments.

8. What is the difference between passive and non passive alarm systems?

In this context, a passive alarm system is not a recognised term in fire safety. The industry standard is to differentiate between Active Fire Protection (AFP) systems, which include fire alarms, and Passive Fire Protection (PFP) systems.

Therefore, ‘non-passive alarm systems’ are simply Active Fire Protection (AFP) Alarm Systems.

AFP Alarm Systems: These are the standard fire alarms, sounders, and central control panels that detect a fire condition and alert occupants and/or the fire service. They are active because they must be powered and triggered to initiate an alert.

9. Is a fire extinguisher active or passive?

A fire extinguisher is an Active Fire Protection (AFP) system.

It is a portable suppression device that requires manual human intervention to operate, fitting the definition of an active system. It is part of the first-aid fire-fighting equipment intended for immediate use on incipient fires.

10. What are two of the three types of alarm systems?

The three main types of fire alarm systems, as defined by BS 5839 (Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings), are generally classified by their complexity or their signalling method:

Conventional Systems: The building is divided into “zones.” When an alarm is triggered, the panel indicates the zone, but not the specific device.
Addressable Systems: Each individual detector or call point has a unique electronic address, allowing the control panel to pinpoint the precise location of the fire incident.
Analogue Addressable (Intelligent) Systems: A more advanced version of addressable systems where detectors continuously transmit data on ambient conditions (e.g., smoke levels) to the panel, which makes an intelligent decision on whether to raise an alarm, often providing earlier detection.

11. How does a passive system work?

A passive fire system works by containing the fire within its point of origin through the principle of compartmentation.

It functions by:

Inhibiting Spread: Using materials with specified fire resistance ratings (e.g., 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes) to form barriers (fire walls, fire floors).
Resisting Failure: Maintaining structural integrity (load-bearing capacity) and insulation (temperature resistance) to prevent the fire from breaching the barrier.
Sealing Gaps: Utilising fire-stopping products (like intumescent seals, mastics, and collars) to seal any gaps created by building movement or service penetrations, preventing the passage of smoke and flames.

12. What is the difference between active and passive smoke control systems?

The distinction adheres to the AFP/PFP definitions:

Passive Smoke Control: Utilises static barriers to physically stop the spread of smoke. This includes smoke-rated curtains, fixed smoke partitions, and the airtight construction of protected escape stairwells.
Active Smoke Control (Smoke Ventilation): Uses mechanical means to manage smoke. This involves powered fans, vents, and dampers that draw smoke away from escape routes or pressurise areas to keep smoke out. Systems such as Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilation Systems (SHEVS) are examples of active control.

13. What is an example of a passive safety system?

While all passive fire systems are inherently safety systems, a clear example is a fire-rated door assembly.

A fire-rated door:

Integrity: Prevents the passage of flames and hot gases for a specified period (e.g., FD30, FD60).
Insulation: Limits the temperature rise on the unexposed face, preventing secondary ignition.
It is passive because it is always in place and operates by self-closing without needing electrical power or active sensing.

14. What is the main difference between passive and active fall protection systems?

This question applies the fire safety definitions to the field of Working at Height:

Passive Fall Protection: Systems that are permanently installed and do not require any specific user action or equipment for effective protection. Examples include permanent guardrails or parapet walls on rooftops.
Active Fall Protection: Systems that require the user to interact with the system using specialised personal protective equipment (PPE). Examples include harnesses, lanyards, and anchor points, where the worker must correctly connect themselves to the system.

15. What are active and passive safety systems?

In a general safety context, the terms align with the fire safety definitions:

Passive Safety Systems: Measures or components that are always in place and function automatically, often during an incident, without requiring activation.
- Fire Safety Example: A fire wall.
- Automotive Example: A vehicle’s crumple zone or airbag (once deployed, though deployment is triggered).
Active Safety Systems: Measures or components that are designed to actively monitor conditions and intervene to prevent an incident or mitigate its effects.
- Fire Safety Example: A fire alarm system.
- Automotive Example: Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) or Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

16. What are the two types of fall protection systems?

As covered in question 14, the two primary classifications are:

Passive Fall Protection Systems: (e.g., Guardrails)
Active Fall Protection Systems: (e.g., Personal Fall Arrest Systems – harnesses and lanyards)

17. What is an active fire system?

An active fire system is a common term for Active Fire Protection (AFP) systems.

It is a system that is designed to detect, suppress, or alert people to the presence of a fire. It requires some form of power or trigger to function.

Key examples include:

Fire alarms and detection.
Sprinkler systems.
Gas suppression systems.

Get in Touch with Us

If you’re looking for reliable passive fire protection solutions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team at Gemini AMPM is ready to discuss your needs and design a tailored plan to protect your building, assets, and people.

When considering passive fire protection solutions, it’s crucial to partner with a qualified and experienced team to ensure your systems are effective and compliant with current regulations. At Gemini AMPM our fire doors, fire stopping, compartmentation, and fire barriers are carefully selected and designed to safeguard buildings and protect escape routes. Whether for healthcare facilities, data centres, or industrial environments, our passive fire protection services offer long-term safety and peace of mind.

Contact us today for expert guidance and installation of passive fire protection systems that meet UK standards and ensure fire safety in your building.

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