Firewall (construction)

Firewalls are built between or through buildings, structures, or electrical substation transformers, or within an aircraft or vehicle.

Firewalls can be used to separate-high value transformers at an electrical substation in the event of a mineral oil tank rupture and ignition.

Knowing the potential conditions that may exist during a fire are critical to selecting and installing an effective firewall.

For example, a firewall designed to meet National Fire Protection Agency, (NFPA), 221-09 section A.5.7 which indicates an average temperature of 800 °F (425 °C), is not designed to withstand higher temperatures such as would be present in higher challenge fires, and as a result would fail to function for the expected duration of the listed wall rating.

Laboratory testing is used to simulate fire scenarios and wall loading conditions.

Firewall residential construction , separating the building into two separate residential units, and fire areas
Example of a firewall used to inhibit the spread of a fire at an electrical substation
A building under construction, showing the structurally independent cinderblock firewalls subdividing the building
Building 4 of the Waynesboro Outlet Village , showing a concrete firewall running through the building
Concrete firewalls still standing on Building 7 of the former Waynesboro Outlet Village , following a firefighter training exercise which intentionally burned the building
Firewalls between the old buildings in Ulan-Ude