What type of protection is best described by a fire wall?

A fire wall is best described as a type of passive protection. Passive fire protection involves structural features that are built into a building to prevent the spread of fire and to protect life and property without the need for active intervention. Fire walls are designed to withstand the effects of fire, including heat and flames, for a specified period, thus creating a barrier that limits fire spread between different sections of a building.

These walls help compartmentalize a structure, allowing for safer evacuation and minimizing property damage. Unlike active fire protection systems (such as sprinklers or fire suppression systems), which require mechanical or automated action to combat a fire, passive systems like fire walls function continuously without any activation. This characteristic makes them crucial in overall fire safety strategies within buildings.