Firewalls

Q: How thick does a firewall need to be?

Most firewalls are at least 50 millimetres wide, although they can be as thick as 300 millimetres, depending on the exact specifications and intended fire rating. The minimum thickness for firewalls in New Zealand is 40 millimetres.

Q: What are firewalls made out of?

A construction firewall in New Zealand is usually made of concrete slabs. However, concrete blocks and reinforced concrete fire-resistant walls are becoming increasingly popular options for newer buildings. You can also find building firewalls made of other materials, such as plasterboard, although they’re mostly used for interior walls.

Passive fire protection helps minimise fire damage, preventing flames and smoke from spreading throughout commercial and residential buildings. One of the key aspects of a fire protection system is a firewall – a type of wall that resists fire and keeps it from spreading. ArchiPro features only the best firewalls and other fire protection products available in New Zealand.

Hebel PowerShield

CSR Hebel

Inter-tenancy Walls

Juken New Zealand Ltd

Bradford Fireseal

CSR Bradford Insulation

Featuring the best firewalls in New Zealand

The goal of a firewall is to slow the propagation of fire and smoke, giving people more time to escape to safety. Thanks to its special design, a building firewall acts as an independent structure that also prevents buildings from collapsing. They’re made with different types of concrete, such as concrete blocks or reinforced concrete. ArchiPro features only the best firewalls from reputable suppliers in New Zealand which are an important part of a wider range of high-quality structural and framing products.

Types of firewalls

Building and construction firewalls in New Zealand come in three main types – double, cantilevered, or tied.

Double firewall

A doulbe firewall is characterised by two walls with flashing in between. The walls are supported on their sides by the frame and act independently from each other. This type of firewall is commonly used when building next to existing structures.

Cantilevered firewall

Unlike double firewalls, which have side support, a cantilevered firewall is connected at the foundations. However, it can be reinforced laterally using pilasters. Cantilevered firewalls often have height limits.

Tied firewall

Tied firewalls are incorporated into the building frame, granting them higher resistance to structural damage. They’re commonly used to build inner walls to increase their strength and prevent them from collapsing.

The advantages of high-quality firewalls

Choosing high-quality firewalls in New Zealand helps improve a structure’s resistance to fire, preventing them from collapsing and keeping building occupants safe. Since it acts independently, a building firewall also contributes to higher stability. Given the importance of a firewall to a building’s overall safety during a fire emergency, it’s important to choose a solution from a reputable supplier with a proven track record in the industry. In doing so, you’ll have peace of mind that your building has a robust and reliable firewall to help protect it and its occupants in the unlikely event of a fire.

How to choose a firewall that’s right for you

Construction firewalls are required to follow exact specifications in New Zealand in terms of their structural integrity, length, and height to boost their efficiency. Additionally, they must be paired with fire doors and other protection systems. Given the technicalities of the product and the way in which it works within a wider fire protection system, it is always best to seek professional advice when choosing these products. They can guide you through the different elements like what’s appropriate in terms of fire rating for your building and any other firestopping mechanics that you should be considering.

Where are firewalls required?

Technically, construction firewalls can be installed anywhere in your home or commercial building in New Zealand. However, this fire protection system is only mandatory between the garages and the living areas of residential buildings or between different structures. Their main goal is to prevent fire from spreading, lowering the damage, and preventing buildings from collapsing.