RES provides expert Fire Stopping services and advice as part of our Passive Fire Protection solutions to ensure that building gaps and voids are sealed and fire resistant.
Fire Stopping
Our Fire Stopping Services
- Fire Stopping Installation
- Fire Stopping Repairs & Maintenance
- Fire Stopping Guidance, Advice and Training
Fire Stopping
“Fire Stopping” is the sealing of openings or gaps to prevent fire, smoke and heat from passing through multiple building spaces.
Any openings or gaps should be sealed to restrict the lateral or vertical fire spread.
The selection and installation of the correct fire stopping products is essential to prevent smoke and heat from a fire spreading through a building.
Legislation for Fire Stopping
The Building Regulations 2010, Fire Safety, Approved Document B. Requirement B3 states:
“Where reasonably necessary to inhibit the spread of fire within the building, measures shall be taken, to an extent appropriate to the size and intended use of the building, comprising either or both of the following –
(a) sub-division of the building with fire-resisting construction;
(b) installation of suitable automatic fire suppression systems.
The building shall be designed and constructed so that the unseen spread of fire and smoke within concealed spaces in its structure and fabric is inhibited.”
Requirement 10.2 of the Building Regulations also states that fire stopping, or sealing, is applied to joints and openings between fire-separating elements. This refers to pipes, cables or conduits.
Why does Fire Stopping need to be carried out?
Principle Control of Fire Spread and limitation of damage is principally achieved through compartmentation of a building.
These compartments are bounded by fire resisting elements:-
- Walls
- Floors
- Ceilings
Fire resisting elements are often breached to permit access for services or functional joints such as :-
- Cables
- Pipes
- Ventilation systems
- Gaps between fire resisting elements and around the penetrations must be sealed so that the fire integrity of the fire – resisting element is maintained.
Fire Stopping Products
There are a variety of products that can be used for Fire Stopping such as:
Fire sleeves
A fire sleeve is intended to seal a hole that has been created by electrical cabling or pipes passing through a fire-rated wall, ceiling or floor. If a fire breaks out and heat spreads, the sleeve opens out and expands to fill any gaps. If plastic pipes pass through a wall and a fire sleeve is installed near them, the sleeve will seal off the pipe by crushing it, preventing smoke and fire from passing through.
Fire collars
Fire collars cover pipes with flame retardant compounds that expand to stop the fire from reaching the pipes and potentially spreading to other areas.
Fire Batt
Fire resistant board for sealing large holes and gaps in walls or floors which offers up to 4 hours of fire resistance and can be cut to shape. Edges and joints must be coated with a fire coat or mastic.
Gap fillers and fire sealants
These products seal gaps and prevent the spreading of smoke and flame. Different sealants can be used for different purposes.
Maintenance and Regular Inspection
Fire Protection measures can degrade over time, it is therefore important that all Fire Stopping measures are regularly inspected and maintained. It is the legal responsibility of the “Responsible Person” to ensure that fire protection is adequately maintained and repaired / replaced over the life of the building.
RES can provide regular inspections of fire stopping measures for your premises.
Case Studies
AREAS WE COVER
Our fire stopping services cover the South of England including the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire including London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, Bristol, and the surrounding towns of Aldershot, Basingstoke, Beaconsfield, Bracknell, Cirencester, Egham, Farnham, Guildford, Henley on Thames, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Newbury, Oxford, Poole, Reading, Slough, St Albans, Staines, Swindon, Watford, Windsor, Woking, Wokingham and Worthing.
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