The Importance of Compartmentation and Fire Stopping in Blocks of Flats

 What is Compartmentation and Fire Stopping?

Compartmentation involves dividing a building into smaller, fire-resistant sections or 'compartments'. Each compartment—such as individual flats, stairwells, and corridors—is designed to resist fire for a specific duration (e.g., 30 or 60 minutes). This vital design feature delays the spread of fire and smoke, safeguarding escape routes and giving emergency services time to respond effectively.

Fire stopping works hand in hand with compartmentation. It involves sealing any openings, joints, or service penetrations—such as pipes, cables, and ducts—that breach fire-resistant walls, ceilings, and floors. Without effective fire stopping, these gaps allow fire and smoke to spread rapidly, rendering compartmentation ineffective.

Together, compartmentation and fire stopping protect lives, reduce property damage, and maintain the structural integrity of buildings.

 Consequences of Poor Compartmentation

 When compartmentation fails, the results can be devastating. The 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of inadequate fire safety measures. In residential blocks, where multiple households live in close proximity, fire can spread quickly, leaving occupants trapped and escape routes compromised.

While the number of incidents where fire breaches compartments may appear low, each breach has a severe impact. For residents, this can mean injury, loss of life, trauma, and displacement. The financial costs are also significant—fire damage remediation often involves extensive repairs, rebuilding, and ongoing disruption for those living nearby.

 The Role of Maintenance and Compliance

 Ensuring proper compartmentation and fire stopping requires more than just effective design and installation. Regular maintenance and inspections are essential to identify and rectify any breaches in fire barriers. Building owners, property managers, and contractors must work together to meet fire safety regulations, including those outlined in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Under this legislation, compartmentation and fire stopping fall under 'general fire precautions', meaning there is a legal obligation to keep these systems intact and functional. Knowing how effective fire safety measures are within a residential block is not just important—it is vital. Therefore, undertaking regular checks and surveys of compartmentation and firestopping are essential tools for any property manager.

Having in place effective contractor management arrangements to ensure that retrofitting of services or essential maintenance work doesn’t degrade compartmentation and fire stopping is also important.

 Expert Insight

 “In my 40 years of fire safety experience, I’ve seen firsthand how effective compartmentation can mean the difference between life and death. Properly designed and maintained fire compartments provide critical time for residents to escape and for emergency services to respond. Conversely, inadequate compartmentation creates a pathway for devastation—risking lives, destroying property, and leaving communities in disarray. The importance of getting this right cannot be overstated—it’s a cornerstone of fire safety that saves lives every day.”

David Hills

Senior Director - Regulatory, Technical & Technology Solutions

Ark Workplace Risk