Palosuoja

Palosuoja, in Finnish, refers to fire protection measures designed to prevent ignition, limit the spread of fire and smoke, and safeguard occupants and property. It encompasses both passive and active protections and is applied throughout buildings and other structures to improve safety and reduce damage in case of a fire.

Passive palosuoja includes structural fire protection that divides a building into fire compartments with fire-resistant walls, floors and ceilings. It also covers fire-resistant doors and glazing, as well as fire-stopping and sealing around penetrations for pipes and cables to prevent the spread of flames and smoke between compartments. Active palosuoja consists of detection and alarm systems, automatic fire suppression such as sprinklers, extinguishing equipment, and smoke control measures that help control the environment during a fire and aid evacuation and firefighting operations.

The design and implementation of palosuoja are guided by building codes, standards, and risk assessments. Fire resistance ratings, often expressed in minutes (for example EI 30, EI 60, EI 120), indicate how long a component is expected to resist heat and maintain its integrity and insulation during a fire. In Finland and many European contexts, these requirements align with national building regulations and European standards that specify how fire protection should be integrated into construction and specified products.

Purpose and impact: Palosuoja aims to slow fire growth, preserve safe escape routes, protect essential structures, and limit property damage. It also facilitates safer and more effective firefighting operations by maintaining compartment boundaries and controlling smoke movement.