Passive fire protection (PFP) refers to components and systems integrated into the building's structure that do not require external energy or activation to function. PFP relies on the inherent fire-resistant properties of materials and construction assemblies, such as fire-rated walls, floors, and doors, as well as firestopping. The primary functions are to contain fire and smoke through compartmentalization and to protect structural elements from the effects of fire, thereby providing time for occupant evacuation and emergency response.

A. A prescription code is a regulatory method that dictates specific materials and construction methods, not the physical system itself.

C. A performance-based code is a regulatory approach that specifies a required level of performance, leaving the method to the designer.

D. Building codes are the overarching set of regulations that mandate various safety systems, including PFP; they are not the system itself.

1. NFPA, Fire Protection Handbook, 21st ed., Quincy, MA, 2023, Section 14, Chapter 1, "Passive Fire Protection," pp. 14-4 to 14-5. This chapter defines passive fire protection as systems that are "part of the building’s construction and do not require energy to fulfill their intended purpose."

2. Hurley, M. J., et al., SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 5th ed., Springer, New York, 2016, Chapter 51, "Passive Fire Protection Systems," p. 1781. The text states, "Passive fire protection (PFP) is a component or system that is part of the building fabric and is intended to contain or slow the spread of fire through a building... PFP systems do not require any external energy... to operate." (DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2565-051)

3. University of Maryland, Department of Fire Protection Engineering, ENFP 411: "Fire Dynamics." Course materials distinguish between active fire protection (e.g., sprinklers, which require activation) and passive fire protection (e.g., fire-rated construction), which functions based on its inherent material properties and design without external input.