Fires are devastating catastrophes that can lead to heavy losses and fatalities. Commercial buildings should have a functional fire protection system to detect fire, identify its source, prevent it from spreading, and extinguish it. The fire protection system aims to mitigate the effects of a fire to avoid personal injury and financial consequences.
One type of building fire safety system is passive fire protection. This system is integrated into the building’s design and aims to contain a fire in one place. Components of passive fire protection include fire doors, thermal insulation, non-combustible cable coating, fire-resistant walls, and fireproof cladding. Passive fire protectioncontains or reduces fire intensity by strategically designing floors, ceilings, and walls so that smoke and fire cannot move through these components.
A fire prevention system must be appropriately designed and installed to protect occupants and the property during an emergency. Building laws and standards make sure developers achieve this by requiring a fire assessment. This evaluation considers various aspects related to fire safety.
Conducting a commercial building inspection NJ by a qualified professional can help verify whether the fire-rated assemblies are constructed in compliance with regulations. Acommercial building engineer NJ will closely inspect the building and verify the safety of occupants who will rent and spend their working days in it.
Engineers can also check the construction of fire-rated assemblies. Those buying condominium units or commercial buildings can hire a licensed inspection engineer to identify possible dangerous structures that can hinder the operation of the fire protection system.
Buildings must have a complete protection strategy to protect occupants and the structure from the consequences of fires. Thus stakeholders must hire competent and skilled professional inspectors to review the building’s blueprints and actual construction.
For more details about fire protection design in commercial buildings, here is an infographic by Lockatong Engineering.