Fire stopping helps prevent the spread of fire and smoke through gaps and openings in a building’s structure. Whether in commercial or residential properties, effective fire stopping protecs lives, limits property damage and ensures compliance with UK fire safety regulations.
In this guide, we’ll explore what fire stopping is, why it matters, which materials are used, fire stopping regulations in the uk and the most common mistakes to avoid. We’ll also highlight how professional fire stopping surveys help you stay compliant and improve the overall safety of your building.
What Is Fire Stopping?
Fire stopping is a method of passive fire protection that involves sealing gaps, joints and openings in walls and floors with fire-resistant materials. This helps prevent fire and smoke from spreading between compartments of a building.
When installed properly, fireproofing measures can contain fire for up to four hours. Keeping it contained in one area for a longer period makes it easier for firefighters to control the situation.
Why Is Fire Stopping Important?
Fire stopping is important to maintain the structural integrity of buildings in the event of a fire. If fire stopping is missing or not properly installed, then fire can move from one compartment to another. This allows the fire to grow faster, making it harder for fire services to attend and people to evacuate safely. Ultimately, this can lead to a total loss of the building, causing severe internal and structural damage. Fire-stopping materials and measures are important to:
-Prevent fire and smoke from spreading rapidly.
-Protect occupants by allowing more time for evacuation.
-Maintain the integrity of existing fire compartments.
-Limit fire damage and reduce property loss.
-Meet compliance with fire safety laws and insurance requirements.
Fire Stopping Materials
Various fire-stopping materials are used to seal penetrations and joints in fire-rated assemblies. These materials, along with other fire protection methods, improve safety.
Intumescent Sealants
Intumescent sealants are used to fill small gaps and joints. When exposed to heat, they expand and effectively seal off gaps to prevent the passage of fire and smoke. Intumescent strips are most commonly used around the edges and base of fire doors.
Fire-Resistant Boards
Fire boards and batts are rigid panels designed to seal larger openings and service penetrations. They are made from materials such as gypsum or mineral wool. Fire-rated boards are often used alongside other fire-resistant materials, such as sealants or wraps, to strengthen overall fire protection in a building.
Fire Collars and Wraps
Fire Collars protect plastic pipes that pass through fire-rated walls and floors. Collars are placed around the pipes. When a fire occurs, the collar expands, crushing the melting pipe and sealing the opening. Fire wraps and high expansion sealants are applied around combustible pipes, cables or ducts to prevent the fire from spreading.
Is Fire Stopping a Legal Requirement in the UK?
Yes, fire stopping is mandated by various building codes and fire stopping regulations in the uk to uphold structural safety and occupant protection. These include:
These regulations set out the requirements for fire safety in building design and construction. This includes provisions for fire stopping to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through walls and floors.
This order makes the building owner or responsible person accountable for fire safety. It stresses the need for fire stopping to seal any gaps or penetrations, ensuring fire and smoke cannot spread between compartments.
This act introduces new regulations to improve building safety, particularly in high-rise residential buildings. This includes stricter requirements for fire safety measures such as fire stopping.
Where Fire Stopping Is Required
Fire stopping should be installed in both domestic and commercial building locations where fire could potentially spread:
-Wall and Floor Penetrations: Sealing around pipes, ducts and cables.
-Expansion Joints: Preventing fire movement through structural gaps.
-HVAC and Electrical Systems: Stopping fire from travelling through ducts and conduits.
-Service Voids and Shafts: Preventing fire spread in hidden areas.
Proper fire stopping installation in these areas is essential for comprehensive fire protection.
Benefits of Proper Fire Stopping
-Fire and smoke containment: Limits fire spread, increasing evacuation time.
-Building code compliance: Avoids fines and legal issues.
-Insurance and Cost Savings: Reduces fire damage costs and lowers insurance risks.
-Improved Structural Integrity: Protects load-bearing components from fire damage.
Common Fire Stopping Mistakes
Even with the right materials available, fire stopping can fail if common mistakes are made during installation or over the building’s life cycle. Regular inspections and professional installation help mitigate these issues. Below are some of the most frequent and critical errors:
1. Incorrect Material Use
A major issue is the use of materials that lack proper fire resistance certification. Products such as standard polyurethane (PU) foam are often marketed as “fire-resistant” based on their reaction-to-fire performance. However, this does not mean they can prevent the spread of fire through penetrations. Using non-rated or misapplied fire-stopping materials, especially in service openings, can allow fire and smoke to bypass compartmentation entirely.
Additionally, even certified fire-stopping products can fail if they are used outside the scope of their tested application. For example, installing a fire-resistant foam around a plastic pipe without the required intumescent collar will likely lead to failure, as the foam alone cannot stop fire once the pipe melts away.
2. Improper Installation
Fire stopping products must be installed exactly as tested. This includes correct sizing, positioning and use with compatible materials. Common installation issues include:
-Incomplete sealing of joints or penetrations.
-Incorrect installation of collars and wraps around pipes.
-Overfilling or underfilling gaps, which compromises material performance.
Poor workmanship and installation (even with the right materials) will reduce fire resistance significantly, creating weak points in the building’s protection.
3. Lack of Maintenance & Inspection
Fire stopping is not a one-time task. Over time, buildings undergo changes as new services or plumbing may be added or relocated. When these penetrations are made, they’re often not properly re-sealed, compromising the integrity of the fire compartments.
Additionally, some fire stopping materials degrade with age or may be damaged during routine maintenance. Regular inspection and maintenance are essential to ensure these systems continue to perform effectively.
4. Failure to Meet Compliance Standards
Fire stopping systems must comply with UK regulations, including the Building Regulations 2010, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Building Safety Act 2022. Using uncertified products or failing to document fire-stopping work can result in:
-Non-compliance penalties.
-Increased liability for the responsible person or building owner.
-Compromised life safety in the event of a fire.
5. Lack of Competency and Verification
A common but overlooked mistake is relying on installers who lack the necessary training or third-party certification. Fire stopping is a specialist trade and even minor errors in application can lead to catastrophic failure during a fire. Verifying that installers are competent and certified is an important step in ensuring safety and compliance.
Fire Stopping Surveys with GRJ Surveying
At GRJ Surveying, we specialise in comprehensive fire stopping surveys that ensure your building remains compliant, safe and protected. Our experienced surveyors will:
-Assess your existing fire-stopping systems.
-Identify areas of non-compliance.
-Provide expert recommendations for corrective action.
We are UKAS-accredited fire protection specialists with extensive industry knowledge. Our detailed reports help you maintain a high standard of passive fire protection throughout your property.
Contact us today to schedule your professional fire stopping survey or learn more about our passive fire protection services. Learn more about what’s included in our passive fire protection surveys in our guide.
Share this post:
