Fire protection is serious business. Fire, smoke, and toxic
fumes take a terrible toll in lives and property every year.
Every major building code is meant to reduce the threat of fire.
Fire protection encompasses three broad areas: prevention,
containment, and suppression. The distinction between
containment and suppression is that between passive and active
protection systems. Passive systems protect by virtue of their
inherent properties, while active systems rely on external
energy sources such as electricity, water pressure, or human
intervention. Firestops are an integral part of any fully
implemented containment system. Containment is the principal
strategy embodied in all building codes. In building codes,
safety and environmental issues have been handled as overlays or
amendments, while fire safety is the fabric that binds the code
requirements together. Important sections of the codes deal with
safe and acceptable methods of using energy sources or handling
and storing dangerous materials. These sec