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Compartmentation principles and effectiveness
4.15NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The degree to which a building or separated part of a building is subdivided into compartments is related to the use of and the fire load in the building, the height to the top storey and the provisio
fire-safetycompartmentationTwo-storey Purpose Group 4 or 6 buildings with ancillary upper storey
4.16NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
In the case of a two storey building of Purpose Group 4 or 6, where the use of the upper storey is ancillary to the main use of the ground storey, the ground storey may be treated as a single storey b
fire-safetycompartmentationnon-domesticProvision of compartment walls and compartment floors - all purpose groups
4.17NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
In buildings of all purpose groups – (a) a compartment wall should be constructed where a wall – (i) is common to two or more buildings; or (ii) is provided to divide a building into separated parts;
fire-safetycompartmentationCompartment walls and floors in Purpose Group 1(b), (c) and 1(a) dwellings
4.18NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The following walls or floors should be constructed as compartment walls or compartment floors – (a) in a building of Purpose Group 1(b) or (c) – (i) a wall which separates semi-detached dwellinghouse
fire-safetycompartmentationdwellingflatsCompartmentation requirements by building purpose group
4.18NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
(c) in a building of Purpose Group 2 – (i) every floor; and (ii) in the case of a health care building – a wall needed to divide a storey into compartments for means of escape purposes; (d) in a build
fire-safetycompartmentationhigh-risenon-domesticConstruction requirements for compartment walls and floors
4.19NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Every compartment wall and compartment floor should – (a) form a complete barrier to fire between the compartments they separate; and (b) have the appropriate fire resistance required by paragraph 4.6
fire-safetycompartmentationstructuralJunctions of compartment walls and compartment floors with other walls
4.20NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Where a compartment wall or compartment floor meets a compartment wall or an external wall the junction should maintain the fire resistance for a period of not less than the period of fire resistance
fire-safetycompartmentationJunction of compartment walls and roofs
4.21NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
If a fire penetrates a roof near a compartment wall there is a risk that it will spread over the roof to the adjoining compartment. Where a compartment wall meets a roof it should – (a) where the roof
fire-safetycompartmentationroofOpenings in compartment walls which separate buildings or occupancies
4.22NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A compartment wall which is common to two or more buildings, or which separates different occupancies in the same building, should have no openings other than those for – (a) means of escape in case o
fire-safetycompartmentationmeans-of-escapeJunction of compartment wall and roof - General requirement
Diagram 4.2 (a)NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
AA, AB or AC roof covering 1.5 m 1.5 m fire substrate/deck stopping a material of limited combustibility (a) Any building
fire-safetycompartmentationJunction of compartment wall and roof - Buildings Purpose Groups 1, 2(b), 3 or 5 up to 15 m
Diagram 4.2 (b)NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
AA, AB or AC roof covering 1.5 m 1.5 m mortar slates/tiles bedding timber battens sarking felt (b) Building of Purpose Group 1, 2(b), 3 or 5 not more than 15 m in height not less than 375 mm not less
fire-safetycompartmentationdwellingnon-domesticOpenings in compartment walls and floors
4.23NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A compartment wall (other than one described in paragraph 4.22) and a compartment floor should have no openings other than those – (a) having a fire-resisting self-closing door (see paragraph 4.29 to
fire-safetycompartmentationCombined width of fire-door openings in compartment walls
4.24NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
The combined width of openings for fire doors in a compartment wall should be not more than 25% of the length of the compartment wall.
fire-safetycompartmentationProtected shafts between compartments
4.25NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
A protected shaft should only be used to accommodate stairs, lifts, escalators, chutes, ducts, pipes, sanitary accommodation and washrooms. Where a protected shaft contains a protected stairway, Secti
fire-safetycompartmentationstairsmeans-of-escapeGlazed screens in protected shafts
4.26NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Glazing may be incorporated in the wall between a protected shaft containing a stairway, and a corridor or lobby which gives access to that stairway provided that – (a) the protected shaft is not a fi
fire-safetycompartmentationglazingstairsCavity barriers at intersections
Diagram 4.4NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Diagram 4.4 Cavity barriers at intersections (a) Section - wall with cavity and compartment floor showing cavity barrier and alternative method to carry wall up to underside of floor with suspended c
fire-safetycavity-barrierscompartmentationstructuralCavity barriers in cavities over undivided rooms exceeding maximum dimensions
4.41NI-wide·Technical Booklet E Fire Safety
Where the cavity is over an undivided room which – (a) exceeds the appropriate maximum dimension for a cavity in Table 4.7, cavity barriers need only be provided on the line of the enclosing walls of
fire-safetycavitiescompartmentation