Fire prevention and fire protection in buildings
Smoke alarms, escape routes and material fire classes
Basic fire fighting is about extinguishing a fire that has already started. Fire prevention and fire protection is about avoiding the fire — and ensuring people get out if it starts anyway. These are two different things: extinguishing fire and building and using a building so fire starts less often, spreads more slowly and is discovered earlier.
§Active and passive fire protection
Fire protection is divided into two. Active fire protection is what comes into play in a fire: smoke alarms, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers and fire blankets. Passive fire protection is what is built into the building itself and works without having to be 'activated': fire compartments, fire doors, fire walls and the choice of materials that resist or do not contribute to fire. The two types complement each other.
| Type | Examples | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Smoke alarm, sprinkler, extinguisher, fire blanket, alarm system | Discover, warn and extinguish the fire |
| Passive | Fire compartments, fire doors, fire walls, material choice | Limit spread and allow time for evacuation |
§Smoke alarms save lives
Most people who die in fires die of smoke inhalation — often in their sleep before the fire reaches them. A smoke alarm wakes and warns while there is still time to get out. Smoke alarms should be placed where smoke from a developing fire will collect and they must be maintained: tested regularly and have their batteries changed so they work when it matters. A dead smoke alarm protects no one.
§Escape routes and fire compartments
An escape route is the safe way out of the building. It must be free and passable — never blocked by furniture goods or storage — and easy to find often marked with escape route signs and emergency lighting. Fire doors in escape routes must be able to close and must not be wedged open as they are part of the passive protection that keeps smoke and fire out of the escape route. Buildings are also divided into fire compartments: fire-separating constructions that for a time keep fire and smoke confined to one area so the fire does not immediately spread to the entire building and people have time to get out.
- 01Keep escape routes free — no storage, no blocking furniture
- 02Fire doors must close; never wedge them open
- 03Know escape route signs, emergency lighting and emergency exits in advance
- 04Fire compartments limit spread and buy time for evacuation
§The materials' fire classes (EN 13501-1)
Building materials are classified by how they react to fire. The European standard EN 13501-1 divides materials into classes from non-flammable to easily flammable. The classes are supplemented with additional classes for how much smoke the material produces (s) and whether it forms burning drips (d) — both are dangerous in a fire. Knowing the system helps you understand why certain materials are required in certain places e.g. in escape routes.
| Class | Reaction to fire (main features) |
|---|---|
| A1 | No contribution to fire (non-combustible) |
| A2 | Almost no contribution to fire. |
| B / C / D | Increasing contribution — from very limited to moderate |
| E | Large contribution to fire |
| F | Not classified / easily flammable |
§Your responsibility in daily life
You don't need to be a fire adviser to contribute to fire safety. Keep escape routes free, never prop open fire doors, don't overload electrical installations and extension cords, and report faulty smoke alarms, blocked exits or missing fire extinguishing materials. Know the building's escape routes, alarms and assembly point before it matters. Good fire safety is the sum of many small, correct habits.
“Active protection detects and extinguishes; passive protection holds back fire and smoke. Together they give people the time that saves lives.”
— Fire safety basic rule