Summary — best passive fire protection (PFP) systems for industrial facilities, and when to use them:

1. Compartmentation (fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions)

• What: Constructing rated walls/floors to limit fire spread and protect egress routes and critical equipment.
• Why it’s “best”: Fundamental PFP strategy — limits fire growth and provides time for suppression/evacuation.
• Standards/tests: ASTM E119 / UL 263 for assemblies; follow local code, NFPA 221 and NFPA 101 guidance for fire walls/barriers. (wconline.com)

2. Structural-steel protection (intumescent coatings, cementitious SFRM, fireproof boards)

• Intumescent (thin-film) coatings: thin, shop- or field-applied paints that swell/char in fire to insulate steel. Good where aesthetics, weight, or shop application matter; lower build thickness for equivalent fire rating versus cementitious.
• Spray-applied cementitious (SFRM): thicker, robust in concealed areas, lower material cost but heavier, can crack/dust and may risk moisture-induced corrosion in damp industrial settings.
• Fire-resistant boards / encasement: used where very high ratings or mechanical protection needed (e.g., process pipe racks).
• Choice guidance: use intumescent for exposed steel, corrosive/humidity environments, or when shop application is beneficial; cementitious or boards for hidden heavy‑duty protection where impact and weight aren’t issues. (industrial.Sherwin-Williams.com)

3. Penetration firestopping and joint systems (sealants, collars, wraps, pillows, mineral wool + sealant)

• What: Materials/systems that restore the fire-resistance rating at penetrations (pipes, conduits, ducts) and expansion/control joints.
• Why: Most fire-compartment failures start at improperly protected penetrations or joints. Proper, listed systems maintain F‑ and T‑ratings and limit smoke/gas spread.
• Standards/tests: UL 1479 / ASTM E814 for through-penetration firestops; ASTM E1966 / UL 2079 for joint systems; follow inspection practices from the International Firestop Council. Use UL/FM-listed systems matched to the assembly rating. (Firestop.org)

4. Fire doors, shutters and opening protectives

• What: Rated doors, rolling fire shutters, and dampers that close automatically to preserve compartmentation around openings and ventilation paths.
• Why: Doors and openings are critical weak points; rated units (with proper hardware and gasketing) reliably maintain the rated separation. Use fire doors rated to match the wall/floor assembly and smoke-rated where needed. (wconline.com)

5. Fire- and smoke-rated HVAC dampers, ductwork compartmentation and smoke seals

• What: Fire dampers, ceiling radiation dampers and combination fire/smoke dampers at duct penetrations; smoke seals for shafts and doors.
• Why: HVAC can rapidly move smoke and hot gases; dampers and seals maintain compartment integrity and limit life-safety hazards. Use UL-listed dampers and follow manufacturer installation / inspection intervals. (wconline.com)

6. Passive cable protection and mineral wool insulation

• What: Fire-resistant cable coatings, mineral wool (rock/mineral fibre) insulation and tile systems used around cable trays, process piping and equipment to preserve services during fire.
• Why: Protects critical instrumentation/power circuits and helps maintain plant control and shutdown capabilities during a fire. Use tested/listed systems for required ratings. (thomasindcoatings.com)

7. Fire‑resistant glazing and vision panels

• What: Rated glass and framing systems for windows and internal glazing that maintain compartmentation while allowing visibility.
• Why: Useful in control rooms and lobbies where line-of-sight is needed without sacrificing rated separation. Ensure glazing and framing are part of an assembly tested to ASTM E119 / UL 263. (wconline.com)

8. Passive coatings for structural concrete and process equipment

• What: Cementitious or other passive coatings applied to concrete or equipment to reduce spalling or delay heat penetration.
• Why: In high‑hazard plants (refineries, petrochemical), concrete spalling and equipment failure can be catastrophic — appropriate coatings/encasements prolong structural integrity. (thomasindcoatings.com)

Selection criteria and practical recommendations

• Use tested, listed systems: select products/systems that are UL- or FM-listed and whose listings directly match the wall/floor/damper/penetration assembly in your facility. (UL 1479, UL 2079, ASTM E119 are commonly referenced tests.) (standards.GlobalSpec.com)
• Match protection level to risk: critical process areas, high-occupancy spaces and places that would cause major business interruption deserve higher fire-resistance ratings and redundancy (e.g., two-hour+ barriers, intumescent + enclosure).
• Consider environment and durability: for high humidity, chemical exposure, vibration, or abrasive environments use intumescents rated for those conditions, mineral‑wool encasements, or metal cladding rather than cementitious SFRM that can crack or trap moisture. (industrial.Sherwin-Williams.com)
• Combine PFP and active systems: PFP “buys time” — integrate with automatic suppression (sprinklers), detection, and safe shutdown procedures to actually control and extinguish fires.
• Inspection, maintenance, and quality assurance: PFP must be inspected and maintained. Follow ICC/International Firestop Council guidance and ASTM E2174 on on-site inspection for firestops; maintain records, as insurers (e.g., FM Global) and AHJs will expect documented inspection/repairs. Typical problems: patched or missing firestop, damaged sprayed fireproofing, modified penetrations. (Firestop.org)

Special considerations for industrial facilities

• Petrochemical/oil & gas/offshore: use thick-film intumescents, high-temperature board systems, or cementitious systems rated for hydrocarbon/fuel‑package fire exposures; follow FM Global petrochemical guidance and industry-specific standards.
• Corrosive/wet environments: prefer shop-applied intumescent coatings with corrosion inhibitors or board enclosures with protective cladding; avoid unprotected cementitious SFRMs where moisture is expected. (industrial.Sherwin-Williams.com)

Who to involve / specification best practice

• Involve a fire protection engineer (FPE) early to define required fire‑resistance ratings, failure consequences, and to specify assemblies and listings.
• Use performance-based design where prescriptive codes do not address unique processes; document equivalence with engineering analysis and tests.
• Require UL/FM listings and third-party QA, and include inspection/maintenance schedules in specifications.

Top “must-follow” standards and test methods (reference)

• ASTM E119 / UL 263 — fire tests of building construction and materials.
• ASTM E814 / UL 1479 — fire tests of through-penetration firestops.
• ASTM E1966 / UL 2079 — fire-resistive joint systems.
• ASTM E2174 — on-site inspection of installed firestops.
• NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), NFPA 221 (fire walls/partitions) and IBC code requirements for fire‑resistance and openings. (wconline.com)

Quick implementation checklist (practical)

1. Identify critical assets, egress routes and high‑hazard areas.
2. Specify compartmentation ratings and opening protectives to match code and risk.
3. Select tested UL/FM-listed PFP products (intumescent, SFRM, firestops, doors, dampers).
4. Include installation QA (manufacturer-trained installers, shop application where possible).
5. Establish routine inspection/repair program and keep labeling/listings on file.
6. Coordinate PFP with suppression, detection, and process shut-down systems.

If you’d like, I can:

• Recommend specific system types for a particular industrial sector (petrochemical, food processing, pharmaceutical, heavy manufacturing) or building layout; or
• Provide a short spec template of PFP measures (recommended ratings, test standards and product classes) you can insert into procurement docs.

Sources / further reading (selected):

• International Firestop Council — inspection guidelines and firestop standards guidance. (Firestop.org)
• UL/ASTM standards referenced above (UL 1479 / ASTM E814, ASTM E119 / UL 263). (standards.GlobalSpec.com)
• Manufacturer/industry comparisons of intumescent vs cementitious fireproofing and guidance on appropriate applications. (industrial.Sherwin-Williams.com)

Would you like a prioritized list specific to your facility type (e.g., chemical plant vs. food plant) or help drafting a PFP specification?