brandcompartimenten

Brandcompartimenten are fire compartments within a building, a design concept used to limit the spread of fire and smoke after ignition. They consist of enclosures created by fire-resisting barriers such as walls, floors and ceilings that separate one part of a building from another. Each compartment carries a fire-resistance rating expressed in minutes (for example 60 or 120 minutes) according to local codes. The required rating depends on factors such as occupancy, height, and risk, and is specified by the applicable building regulation.

The main purposes are to slow flame and heat transfer, protect escape routes and stairways, safeguard structural elements, and provide a manageable area for firefighting and search-and-rescue operations. Fire compartments are designed with boundaries that can include doors, penetrations, and openings that also require performance: doors in rated assemblies, self-closing devices, and tested seals around penetrations for cables, pipes and ducts. Penetrations through fire barriers are filled with fire-stopping materials or have dampers to maintain the barrier rating.

In practice, brandcompartimenten divide a building into fire zones based on function and risk. High-risk or critical areas such as stair cores, mechanical rooms, and electrical spaces are often given higher ratings or separated into dedicated compartments. Compliance is maintained through regular inspections, maintenance of fire-resisting assemblies, door hardware, and penetrations.

The concept is widely used in modern fire safety design and is regulated by national and local codes, with further guidance from fire engineering standards.