You create fire compartments in a large production hall by dividing the floor area into enclosed zones using fire-resistant walls, floors, and closures \u2014 including certified fire-rated doors \u2014 that contain a fire long enough to protect escape routes, limit structural damage, and prevent fire spread to adjacent compartments. The required compartment size and fire resistance classification depend on your project-specific fire safety calculation, not a fixed rule. The sections below address the key decisions an architect faces when specifying fire compartmentation for an industrial building.<\/p>\n
The required fire resistance classification for a production hall is determined by a project-specific fire safety calculation, not by a single rule in the building code. In the Netherlands, the Besluit Bouwwerken Leefomgeving (BBL) sets the absolute minimum requirement only, but the actual classification applied to any given opening typically reflects additional requirements arising from sector regulations, insurer conditions, or the fire safety plan drawn up for that specific project.<\/p>\n
Several factors feed into that calculation:<\/p>\n
For architects, the practical consequence is that the classification cannot be assumed from building type alone. The fire safety engineer’s report is the binding reference, and the door specification must match that report exactly. Metacon-Next’s fire-rated industrial doors<\/a> are available across a wide range of classifications \u2014 including EW60, EW90, EW120, EI1 60, EI1 120, EI2 60, EI2 90, and EI2 120 \u2014 covering the range most commonly prescribed in industrial fire safety calculations. Which classification is appropriate for a specific project depends on that project’s fire safety calculation; consult a qualified fire safety engineer or contact Metacon-Next directly for guidance.<\/p>\n Contact us<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n You divide a large production hall into fire compartments by constructing fire-resistant separation walls that run from floor to the underside of the roof structure, with all penetrations \u2014 including door openings, cable ducts, and ventilation passages \u2014 sealed or closed with elements that match the required resistance period. Every opening in a compartment wall must be fitted with a certified closure; an unprotected gap, however small, breaks the compartment.<\/p>\n In practice, the layout of compartment walls in a production hall is a coordination exercise between the architect, the structural engineer, and the fire safety consultant. Key considerations include:<\/p>\n Getting the wall layout right at the drawing stage avoids costly corrections during permitting or construction. Architects who need to visualise how Metacon-Next<\/a> door openings integrate into a compartment wall can access technical drawings and BIM files directly through the MetaConfigurator portal.<\/p>\n Industrial compartment walls use fire-rated roller doors, overhead sectional doors, sliding doors, and fire curtains \u2014 chosen based on the opening size, the required fire resistance classification, and the operational demands of the production environment. Standard hinged fire doors are rarely sufficient for industrial openings, which are typically wider and taller than in commercial construction.<\/p>\n Fire-rated roller doors are the most common solution for large industrial openings, including forklift passages and internal transport routes. They close automatically on an alarm signal and can be held open by magnetic hold-open devices during normal operations. Overhead sectional fire doors serve similar applications where headroom is limited or where the door must integrate with a loading bay.<\/p>\n Fire curtains are used where a conventional door leaf would not fit \u2014 for example, in very wide conveyor openings or where architectural constraints prevent a standard frame installation. Fire-rated sliding doors are preferred where the door must remain accessible during normal operations without occupying swing space on either side of the opening.<\/p>\n All of these door types must carry a CE declaration of performance and an independently verified classification report. The classification \u2014 whether EW, EI1, or EI2, and for how many minutes \u2014 must match the requirement stated in the fire safety plan. Metacon-Next manufactures all of these door types<\/a> in-house, tested in accordance with EN 1634-1 and classified under EN 13501-2, with full documentation available at specification stage. CE marking for fire-resistant industrial doors is governed by both EN 16034 (fire- and smoke-resisting closing elements) and EN 13241 (industrial doors generally) \u2014 both apply simultaneously and neither replaces the other.<\/p>\n To specify a fire-rated industrial door, an architect needs the CE declaration of performance, the classification report from an accredited test institute, and \u2014 increasingly for sustainability-rated projects \u2014 an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). These three documents together allow the architect to justify the product choice during permitting, fire safety review, and BREEAM or LEED assessment.<\/p>\n Each document serves a distinct purpose in the specification file:<\/p>\n A common source of delay during permitting is requesting this documentation after the order has been placed. Architects working with Metacon-Next<\/a> can access all classification reports and EPDs before specifying \u2014 they are published openly on the website, which is not standard practice in this industry. This allows the specification file to be closed with confidence before a contractor is even selected.<\/p>\n The most common mistakes when designing fire compartments in production halls are specifying the wrong fire resistance classification, leaving openings unprotected or under-specified, and failing to account for operational requirements such as internal transport when positioning compartment walls. These errors typically surface during permitting or the fire safety inspection \u2014 at a point when corrections are expensive.<\/p>\n Contact us<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n The following mistakes appear most frequently in practice:<\/p>\n Avoiding these mistakes requires close coordination between the architect, the fire safety consultant, and the door manufacturer from the early design stage. If you are preparing a specification and want to confirm that a product meets your project’s requirements before committing, contact Metacon-Next directly<\/a> or request a quotation<\/a> with your opening dimensions and required classification.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Divide your production hall safely: key decisions on fire compartments, door types, and compliance documentation explained.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":27698,"template":"","categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27372","knowledge-base","type-knowledge-base","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nHow do you divide a large production hall into fire compartments?<\/h2>\n
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What types of fire-rated doors are used in industrial compartment walls?<\/h2>\n
Fire-rated roller doors and overhead doors<\/h3>\n
Fire curtains and sliding doors<\/h3>\n
What documentation does an architect need to specify a fire-rated industrial door?<\/h2>\n
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What are common mistakes when designing fire compartments in production halls?<\/h2>\n
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