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Fire stopping is best defined as the sealing of any openings to prevent fire (including smoke and heat) from passing through multiple building compartments. The spread of a fire is contained by creating fire resisting compartments, which subdivide the building (vertically and horizontally).
Building structures must ensure that any openings and gaps are fire stopped to restrict both lateral and vertical fire spread.
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A firestop is a fire protection system made of various components used to seal openings and joints in fire-resistance rated wall or floor assemblies. For penetrating cables, these can also be called as Multi Cable Transits (MCTs). Firestops are designed to restore the continuous fire-resistance of wall or floor assemblies, impeding the spread of fire by filling the openings in them with fire-resistant materials.
A firestop or fire-stopping is a form of passive fire protection that is used to seal around openings and between joints in a fire-resistance-rated wall or floor assembly. Firestops are designed to maintain the fireproofing of a wall or floor assembly allowing it to impede the spread of fire and smoke.
Firestops prevent unprotected horizontal and vertical penetrations in a fire-resistance-rated wall or floor assembly from creating a route by which fire and smoke can spread that would otherwise have been fire resisting construction, e.g. where a pipe passes through a firewall.
Fire stopping is also to seal around gaps between fire resisting constructions, e.g. the linear gap between a wall and the floor above, in order for construction to form a complete barrier to fire and smoke spread.
Ultimately the selection and correct installation of a fire stop can potentially save people’s lives. It is therefore a decision that should involve qualified parties to ensure effective fire stopping solutions are specified. All buildings are different, and it is important to consider not just the product you require, but also the environment and situation into which it is being installed. Each construction situation can be different, so simply using the same firestop you have used on a previous build may not be the answer.
With the huge range of fire protection products that are now required by building regulations, it can be difficult to understand which ones you need. The simple answer is, all of them. A functional firestop system is only made when a combination of products are all working together. Without the use of one single product, the rest of the fireproofing system could fail.
Every ‘service’ passing through fire resistant building elements will react in a different way during a fire, so there is no single solution or product that will protect all services.
To ensure a wall or partition will provide the required fire performance, specifiers should consider:
Services must be tested in accordance with the test methods set out in appropriate standards. Tests are carried out in accordance with the general principles of BS 476: Part 20: 1987 or BS EN 1366-3: 2004 and BS EN 1366-4: 2006.
We work in partnership with our clients, architects, contractors and building inspectors to ensure that we provide appropriate, cost-effective, fully designed and engineered fire stopping systems, tailored to each building.
We install both vertical and horizontal firestops through floors and walls, and these are primarily used to seal penetrations, formed for the passage of services such as drainage, pipes, cables etc.
Our systems range from simple joint and gap sealing to more complex movement or expansion joints. We also provide systems for the protection of mechanical and electrical services penetrating through walls and floors, with structural and load bearing options available for service risers and shafts.
We actively involve firestopping manufacturers in Quality Assurance procedures and training, to ensure site-specific systems are designed and installed within the scope of relevant fire tests. All fire stopping systems are fully accredited and comply with the specified fire strategy and Part B building regulations.
As part of our commitment to achieving the highest possible safety standards at all our customers’ sites, we have in-house technical compliance auditors, who monitor and report on our installation work. These internal audits are over and above those provided by the certification bodies, giving you greater peace of mind about passive fire protection compliance at your premises.
We not only provide cost effect, price sensitive products and services but we also include our fire safety consultancy department, which has in depth knowledge practical experience in dealing with real building fires and how these readily spread and use their knowledge and experience to determine where fire compartments should be situated and then not carry out an audit to check these fire compartments are imperforate across the whop of their structure.
Below you will find answers to commonly asked questions.
Get expert advice, this is a specialist task and the person determining these compartments will be responsible for the fire strategy. These compartments are fundamental to the correct operation of the building.
These are secure areas to stop fire spreading throughout the building particularly if the building has upper floors.
Yes either your fire risk assessor or a professional can advise on things like whether you have a continuous evacuation or stay put policy as this has a massive impact on where your fire compartments are situated and the size of these compartments.
Yes usually but there are exceptions for single storey buildings and small multi storey buildings where escape travel distances can be met without any further protection, please seek professional advice to be sure.
The named ‘responsible person’ as defined under the fire safety order 2005.
Be smart, be safe and contact us today for free impartial advice from the experts.
Our experts have many years of experience in the industry and have FDIS and GIFireE qualifications.
Email: sales@activefiresafety.com
Phone: 01332 480 247
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Active Fire Safety Solutions operates in an industry built on trust, knowledge and expertise in fire safety.
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