ABSTRACT
Compartmentation is the term given to the dividing of the interior of a building into enclosed spaces that are separated by fire-resisting floors and walls. The requirements for dividing a non-residential building into compartments depend on the occupancy of the building and the size of the enclosed space. Fire-resisting internal walls are required to separate the building into compartments to control the spread of fire. They are required to enclose an escape route corridor, a protected space such as a stairwell, corridors serving any ancillary accommodation in an assembly building and dead-end corridors. For the fire-resisting wall or compartment wall to be effective and to offer a complete barrier to fire, there must be continuity at the junctions with the other fire-resisting elements of the building. There are two dangers that should be considered when internal walls are to be glazed: physical injury arising out of the glass being broken, and fire, particularly radiated heat.
