compartmentation

American  

[kuhm-pahrt-muhn-tey-shuhn] / kəmˌpɑrt mənˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

Nautical.

1. subdivision of a hull into spaces enclosed by watertight bulkheads and sometimes by watertight decks.

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Etymology

Origin of compartmentation

First recorded in 1955–60; compartment + -ation

Example Sentences

We now know that at Grenfell compartmentation failed 30 minutes after the first 999 call.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2019

Grenfell was built on the principle of compartmentation - if there was a fire in one flat, it shouldn't have been able to break out and spread to another for an hour.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2019

Kate Grange QC, counsel for the inquiry, asked: "Would you agree that once compartmentation is breached, evacuation is necessary to secure the fire safety of those in the building?"

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2018

One of his firm beliefs was the necessity of multiple compartmentation and automatic sliding doors in bulkheads to make ships as unsinkable as was humanly possible.

From Time Magazine Archive

The craft seemed to have been circular, with compartmentation in spiral form, like a chambered nautilus. his complete divergence from things we knew sent frost imps racing up and down my spine.

From Stamped Caution by Gallun, Raymond Z.