Perimeter Fire Containment

Passive fire protection is a building safety strategy that uses fire-resistant materials and construction methods to help slow the spread of flames, smoke, and heat during a building fire. It plays a critical role in a building’s overall fire safety strategy and is a key part of effective fire-stopping systems. Buildings should contain a layered set of fire protection systems that work together, known as the balanced approach to life safety, which includes the following there elements:

1. Detection - includes alarm systems, such as smoke and heat detectors in the building
2. Suppression - encompasses active systems like the installation of automatic sprinklers
3. Compartmentation - contains the fire to the room of origin, allowing occupants time to evacuate the building and allowing fire personnel time to enter the building to extinguish the fire.

What is the difference between active & passive fire protection?

Passive systems (like perimeter containment) are built into the structure to resist fire spread without human or mechanical action. Passive systems do not require activation for operation, when installed properly. Active systems, such as sprinklers, must be triggered with some type of activation to switch the system to an “on” position. Although active systems are essential to firestopping and life safety during a catastrophic event such as fire, all three detective, active, and passive systems should be incorporated into the building's fire safety design.

what is Thermafiber Insolutions® and why do they matter?

Thermafiber Insolutions® delivers tested performance for perimeter fire containment, helping to meet fire codes, providing fire barriers solutions that contribute to property protection, and supporting overall system resilience. Trust our experienced team of insulation consultants to provide guidance on perimeter fire containment system integration, helping incorporate essential passive fire containment systems into buildings that can be designed into the exterior wall without jeopardizing the building aesthetics. 

Mineral wool insulation products, such as Thermafiber® FireSpan® and Thermafiber® Safing, play a vital role in perimeter fire containment systems due to their physical fire resistive characteristics and proven performance in PFC systems, fire resistance, and tested system.

• High-temperature performance: Certified E2307 mineral wool is the only fire-resistive insulation material that has been tested and proven to protect spandrel wall components for up to 3 hours of fire exposure to the test method ASTM E2307. 
• Reliable Joint Barrier: Certified E2307 mineral wool compressed into joints to help resist fire, smoke, and gas movement between floors
• Structural integrity during fire test: This fire-resistant Certified E2307 mineral wool insulation board helps maintain the integrity of the curtain wall systems and protects framing elements, such as vertical mullions from erosion during a fire event.
• Tested assemblies: Certified E2307 mineral wool products are included in UL® and Intertek® perimeter fire containment systems compliant with ASTM E2307.

For a perimeter fire containment assembly to work properly and meet building code requirements, certain critical design elements must be included: