Compartmentation is an architectural design process in providing any part of a building which is separated from all other parts by one or more compartment walls or compartment floors or by both such walls and floors. The purpose of this Building regulation requirement is to divide large spaces into smaller sustainable areas to contain a fire incident.
Compartment walls or floors serve to prevent fire and smoke propagation, so occupants can evacuate buildings within allowable time duration. Compartmentation also serve to protect firefighters in search and rescue operation. Traditional compartment wall and floors consist of reinforced concrete, masonry brickwork or blockwork. Many modern compartment walls has be replaced with fire-rated dry wall construction, fire resistant insulated glass, etc. Components of compartment walls may include fire-rated dry wall partition, fire resistant doorsets, fire stopping barriers, fire dampers, etc
