Firewalls

Firewalls control the spread of fire within a building by sub-dividing it into compartments separated from one another by walls and/or floors of fire-resisting construction. A building without compartmentation is as unthinkable as a body without its skeleton, and it is natural to see it used in conjunction with other active and passive fire design

From a life safety perspective firewalls prevent rapid fire spread which could trap occupants of the building; and reduce the chance of fires becoming large, on the basis that large fires are more dangerous, not only to occupants and fire and rescue service personnel, but also to people and environment in the vicinity of the building.