What are partitions provided for the purpose of protecting life by furnishing an area of refuge or egress called?

Fire-partitions are specifically constructed barriers that help to protect lives during an emergency by providing designated areas of refuge or safe egress routes. These partitions are designed to resist the passage of fire and smoke for a certain period, giving occupants safe spaces to gather while they wait for evacuation or assistance. They serve a crucial role in ensuring that people have safe alternatives to escape dangerous situations, particularly in larger buildings where smoke and heat can rapidly spread.

In contrast, firewalls are structural components intended to prevent the spread of fire between different structures or sections of a building but are not specifically designed for providing areas of refuge. Emergency exits are the physical exits in a building that lead outside or to safety but do not inherently include the protective features of partitions. Safety zones are more general terms that may refer to any area deemed safe from danger, without the specific construction standards and fire-resistance requirements that fire-partitions possess.