What is the Difference Between Fire Prevention and Fire Protection

Posted on 22nd March 2023

When it comes to keeping your building safe from fire, many people wonder if there is a difference between fire prevention and fire protection. While the two terms sound similar to someone unfamiliar with the topic, in reality they are very different.

Fire protection and prevention systems are used in conjunction with one another to help keep a building safe in the event of a fire, however, they are fundamentally different in their function.

In this article we will define the difference between fire prevention and fire protection systems to help you understand how each work one works to safeguard your building.

What is Fire Protection?

A fire protection system aims to protect the occupants of a building and minimise the damage on the property in the event of a fire. Fire protection involves using different materials and structures to ensure there is enough time for evacuation and prevent fire from spreading to different parts of the building.

There are two types of fire protection systems - active and passive. Active fire protection includes components that are designed to detect a fire and activate as a result. Those can be sprinklers, fire alarms, smoke detectors and other similar elements. Passive fire protection, on the other hand, is the term used to describe structural measures that are installed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.

Apart from preventing fire from spreading, passive fire protection also helps protect the building from collapsing during a fire. Some of the elements that make up a passive fire protection system include fire compartmentation, fire boarding, fire doors, intumescent coatings, cavity barriers and more.

What is Fire Prevention?

Fire prevention includes all of the actions taken to prevent a fire from occurring in your building. While fire protection is there to keep you and your building safe during an emergency, fire prevention is required to minimise the risk of an emergency.

Fire prevention deals with all the maintenance and inspections required to ensure fire safety equipment operates effectively during a fire. Both active and passive fire systems need to be periodically inspected for any defects to ensure their efficiency and make sure they are up to date with the latest regulations.

Another big part of fire prevention is putting evacuation plans in place and training the building occupants to make sure everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire.

How GRJ Can Help?

Here at GRJ Contracting, we are leaders in passive fire protection, providing complete solutions to the whole of the UK.

Whether you need fire compartmentation, fire boarding or any other type of fire protection service, our team is happy to assist. We have fire protection contractors located all over the country to provide you with comprehensive fire compartmentation.

For more information or to inquire about our services, please contact our team today.