A fire protection wall is an essential part of structural fire protection and serves as a physical barrier to prevent the spread of fire and smoke in buildings. These specially constructed walls are designed to withstand a fire for a defined period of time. This creates valuable time for evacuation and firefighting.
Definition and basic function
At its core, a fire protection wall is a specially constructed, non-combustible wall that is built continuously from the foundation to the roof cladding. It must retain its stability even in the event of the complete collapse of adjacent building components.
The main task is to completely separate a fire compartment from other parts of the building and thus prevent the spread of fire.
Classification of fire protection walls
Fire protection walls are classified according to their fire resistance duration. This is identified by the letter “F”, followed by a number that indicates the minimum time in minutes that the wall must withstand a full fire:
- F30 (fire-retardant): The wall must withstand fire and smoke for at least 30 minutes.
- F60 (highly fire-retardant): Provides a fire resistance period of at least 60 minutes.
- F90 (fire resistant): Ensures fire protection for at least 90 minutes.
- F120 and F180: Special versions for particularly high requirements, offering 120 and 180 minutes of protection respectively.
Areas of application and legal requirements
Fire protection walls are used in various areas, whereby the requirements vary depending on the type of building and use. Typical areas of application are
- Industrial buildings
Fire barriers are used in industrial buildings to divide large hall areas into smaller fire compartments. This is particularly important when storing flammable materials or in production areas with an increased risk of fire. - Apartment buildings and residential buildings
Fire barriers are used here to separate different residential units or parts of buildings. They are particularly important in terraced houses or semi-detached houses, where they act as building partitions. - Public buildings
Fire protection walls are used in schools, hospitals and other public facilities to secure escape routes and separate different areas of use.
Construction and materials
Fire protection walls are typically constructed from non-combustible materials such as masonry, reinforced concrete or special fire protection panels. The construction must meet various requirements:
- Stability even in the event of fire
- Resistance to mechanical impact
- Smoke-tightness
- Continuous design from the foundation to the roof
- Use of tested and approved materials
Regular inspections
Regular inspections are essential to ensure the long-term functionality of fire protection walls. Particular attention must be paid to the following aspects:
- Integrity of the wall surface
- Tightness of penetrations (e.g. for pipes or cables)
- Condition of fire doors and dampers
- Documentation of all changes and maintenance work
Important!
For penetrations in fire protection walls, the installed cables or pipes must be professionally sealed in accordance with the fire resistance class of the wall (e.g. F30 or F90) in order to ensure their stability. Open penetrations in fire protection walls are not permitted, as they reduce or completely eliminate the fire resistance of the wall.
The requirements for penetration seals in fire protection walls are specified in DIN 4102.