Minimise Fire Risks in High-Risk Industrial Spaces

Industrial spaces are often high-risk environments due to the presence of flammable materials, heavy machinery, and intricate infrastructures. These factors significantly increase the likelihood of fire incidents, which can lead to devastating consequences, including severe damage to property, loss of productivity, and risk to human life.

Minimising fire risks in these spaces requires specialised measures that go beyond basic fire safety solutions. Here at TBL Fire Protection, we understand the unique fire risks that industrial spaces face. With FIRAS accreditation and over 30 years of experience, we specialise in providing certified fire safety solutions that mitigate these risks while ensuring compliance with UK fire safety regulations. Let’s explore some of our key solutions designed to minimise fire risks in high-risk industrial spaces.

1. Fire Stopping

Containing fire and smoke within specific compartments is critical in industrial spaces where large openings for cables, ducts, and pipes create pathways for fire to spread. These openings create potential pathways for fire and smoke to spread rapidly, threatening both safety and equipment. That’s where fire stopping comes in.

How it works:

Our fire stopping contractors here at TBL seal these opening using fire-resistant materials, such as intumescent mastics, fire collars, and wraps. These materials expand or harden under heat, filling gaps and maintaining the integrity of fire-related compartments. Properly applied, these seals ensure that fire and smoke are contained within specific areas, preventing them from spreading unchecked.

Key benefits:

• Prevents fire and smoke from spreading through service penetrations
• Protects critical machinery and reduces potential damage
• Maintains safer evacuation routes for personnel
• Ensures compliance with fire compartmentation standards

2. Intumescent Paint

Steel frameworks are commonly used in buildings due to their exceptional strength, but they lose load-bearing capacity when exposed to high temperatures during a fire. Protecting the structural integrity of steel is essential to prevent catastrophic collapse, and our intumescent coatings services offer a simple yet highly effective solution.

How it works:

Intumescent paint is a specially formulated coating that expands when exposed to extreme heat. As the paint reacts to high temperatures, it swells into a thick, charred layer that insulates the steel from heat. This insulation delays the weakening of steel, maintaining its structural capacity and buying valuable time during a fire.

Benefits:

• Fire resistance ratings of 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes
• Provides critical time for evacuation and firefighting
• Protects vital structural components from collapse
• Ensures compliance with fire safety standards for industrial buildings

3. Fire Boarding and Fire Barriers

Certain areas within industrial spaces, such as storage rooms for hazardous materials or heavy machinery zones, present higher fire risks. Fire boarding and fire barrier installation enhances fire resistance in these vulnerable areas, containing fire and smoke to reduce damage and protect adjacent spaces.

How they work:

Fire boards are fire-resistant panels installed on walls and ceilings to shield structural elements from heat. Fire barriers are installed in voids, cavities, and other concealed spaces to block the spread of fire and smoke. These systems work together to compartmentalise fire and limit its impact within the facility.

Benefits:

• Adds robust fire resistance in high-risk zones
• Blocks fire and smoke in concealed spaces, preventing undetected spread
• Protects adjacent areas and essential equipment
• Ensures compliance with stringent fire safety standards

4. Passive Fire Protection Surveys

Many industrial facilities unknowingly have gaps in their fire protection systems, which can only be identified through thorough inspections. Our fire protection and fire compartmentation survey services help to proactively address these weaknesses, reducing fire risks and ensuring regulatory compliance.

How it works:

At TBL, we conduct detailed passive fire protection surveys, inspecting compartment walls, plant rooms, risers, and other critical areas. Our surveys assess the condition and performance of existing fire protection measures. Post-survey, we provide a detailed report that includes photographs, deficiencies, and recommendations for remedial actions.

Benefits:

• Identifies gaps and vulnerabilities in fire protection systems
• Ensures compliance with evolving fire safety regulations
• Provides actionable recommendations for improving fire safety
• Conducted by FIRAS-accredited professionals for reliability and accuracy

Don’t Leave Fire Safety to Chance – Choose TBL

Protecting high-risk industrial spaces from fire hazards requires advanced, certified solutions that address structural vulnerabilities, contain fire spread, and proactively identify risks. At TBL Fire Protection, we deliver a wide range of tailored services designed to ensure your facility is safeguarded against fire risks. With over 30 years of experience and FIRAS accreditation, we’re the trusted choice for industrial clients in the West Midlands and nationwide.

Get in touch with TBL today to learn more about how we can help protect your industrial space with reliable, compliant fire safety solutions.