Which statement is true regarding fire walls and SEPARATE buildings?

Fire walls serve a crucial function in terms of building safety and integrity by providing a barrier that can withstand the spread of fire between separate buildings or different occupancies within a structure. They are designed to restrict fire from engulfing the entire area, thereby protecting lives, property, and preventing extensive damage. This is particularly important in commercial buildings where different tenants or uses may be present, as effective fire walls help to manage fire risks and enhance overall building resilience.

In the context of the question, stating that fire walls act as a means of increasing the building's integrity accurately reflects their role within fire safety codes and standards. It underscores the importance of having such structures in place to ensure that if a fire does occur in one area, it does not compromise the safety and integrity of adjacent areas.

The other options do not capture the essential purpose of fire walls accurately. For example, suggesting that fire walls can be ignored with departmental approval undermines their critical role in fire safety regulations. Similarly, the idea that every building type needs different fire walls overlooks the essential requirement for fire walls in appropriate contexts, and the assertion that they are not necessary for small structures fails to recognize the risk of fire spread in any building, regardless of size.