Why is Fire Stopping Important?

If you are in the process of getting your business’ fire safety equipment and procedures in place, it is likely that you will be a little confused as to what systems are a ‘priority’.

The majority will be cleared up in the results of your professional fire risk assessment. However, one thing you may not have considered is the need for fire stopping; a fire safety precaution that is now a legal obligation for many.

What is Fire Stopping?

The term ‘Fire Stopping’ covers a variety of services and products, all of which are regarded as ‘passive fire protection’. Fire Stopping is a technique of protecting openings created during construction for installation of pipes, cables etc. The aim of such measures is to limit the spread of flames, smoke and other toxic gases within the infrastructure of a building.

Popular Fire Stopping products we can install include:

Fire Sleeves

Fire Sleeves are insulated sleeves designed to protect wires, cables and hoses from high temperatures. They prevent the spreading of fire and smoke through said pipework and materials.

Fire Collars

Fire Collars are fire safety items that are a sort of ring which are fitted around popes. The ring expands when smoke/heat is detected, crushing the plastic and PVC pipes in which they are fixed to. This in turn plugs a hole and ensures fire and smoke cannot pass through.

Fire Sealants and Gap Fillers

As their name suggests, fire sealants create a seal that retains fire from spreading through a building’s materials. The sealants and gap fillers seal joints, seams and other openings to ensure optimal fire safety.

What the law says about 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.”