Passive fire protection
Setting the bar. A new competence regime for building a safer future. The Final Report of the Competence Steering Group for Building a Safer Future, published in October 2020, suggests that: ‘Passive fire protection is built into the structure to provide stability and into walls and floors to separate the building into areas of manageable risk – compartments. These areas are designed to restrict the growth and spread of fire allowing occupants to escape and offering protection for firefighters.’
Firestopping of service penetrations, Best practice in design and installation, published by FIS (Finishes and Interiors Sector) in 2020, defines passive fire protection as: ‘A product or system that provides protection to the building and occupants without further change or requirement for activation or motion, for example fire resistant drylining.’
See also: Active fire protection.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Active fire protection.
- Building a Safer Future.
- Building Safety Bill.
- Ensuring safety through sufficient fire specification.
- Fire protection.
- Fire.
- Fire engineering.
- Fire safety engineering.
- Fire safety regulator.
- Grenfell Tower fire.
- Hackett Review.
- Passive and reactive fire protection to structural steel (IP 6 12).
- Passive fire protection is a vital tool in any fire strategy.
- Raising the Bar Interim Report.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.