Fire Stopping And The Law

The principal method of fire stopping and damage limitation is achieved through compartmentalising a building. This involves the installation of fire-resistant walls, floors and ceilings.

It is often required to breach these fire-resistant materials to access services such as:

Cables
Pipes
Ventilation systems

Access to these services requires there to be gaps between the fire-resistant elements. These must be sealed so that the integrity of the elements is maintained.

What National Regulations Cover Fire-Stopping?

The following regulations are published as statutory acts covering life safety:

Building Regulations (England and Wales) 1991 – These regulations are expressed as functional requirements There is an accompanying document (Approved Document B Fire Safety gives non-mandatory guidance.
Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 – Mandatory standards found in Schedule to Regulation 9. Guidance is given in Section 2 of Domestic and Non-domestic Technical Handbooks.
Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 – Functional requirements with approved solutions are given in Technical Booklet E.
Building Regulations (Republic of Ireland) 1997 – Building Regulations in the Republic of Ireland are arranged similarly to the England and Wales Building Regulations and are covered by Technical Guidance Document B.

Why is Fire Stopping Mandatory?

Fire wardens are essential for the safe evacuation of guests and employees in the event of a fire. When appointing fire wardens there are some important factors to consider:

“If a fire separating element is to be effective, then every joint, or imperfection of fit, or opening to allow services to pass through the element, should be adequately protected by sealing or firestopping so that the fire resistance of the element is not impaired.” (10.2)

The document is very clear that every opening in a fire rated element needs to be sealed.

“In addition to any other provisions in this document for fire-stopping:

a. joints between fire separating elements should be fire stopped and

b. all openings for pipes, ducts, conduits or cables to pass through any part of a fire separating element should be:

i) kept as few in number as possible and

ii) kept as small as practical, and

iii) fire stopped (which in the case of a pipe or a duct, should allow for a thermal movement.) (10.17)”

The final sentence rules out the use of sand, cement or concrete to seal around services.

The Non-Domestic Technical Handbook also states:

“Compartment walls and compartment floors (including a fire resisting ceiling) are intended to prevent fire passing from one compartment to another. Openings and service penetrations through these walls or floors can compromise their effectiveness and should be kept to a minimum. The solum and roof space should not be forgotten. Openings and service penetrations should be carefully detailed and constructed to resist fire.” (2.1.15)

“Where a wiring system passes through elements of building construction such as floors, walls, roofs, ceilings, partitions or cavity barriers, the openings remaining after passage of the wiring systems shall be sealed according to the degree of fire resistance required of the element concerned.” (527-02-01)

“Where a wiring system such as a conduit, cable ducting, cable trunking, busbar or busbar trunking penetrates an element of building construction having specified fire resistance it shall be internally sealed so as to maintain the degree of fire resistance of the respective element as well as being externally sealed to maintain the required fire resistance.” (527-02-02)

Why Should All Firestop Products Be Tested?

Approved Document B states the following on the subject of testing:

“the….product…should be in accordance with a specification or design which has been shown by test to be capable of meeting that performance or have been assessed from test evidence against appropriate standards.” (Appendix ‘A’ 1a)

“Provide…propriety fire-stopping and sealing systems which has been shown by test to maintain the fire resistance of the wall or other element.” (10.19)

Regulations and Guidelines

Why is it Recommended That Specialist Contractors are Accredited to a Third-Party Scheme?

Approved Document B states the following on the subject of accreditation of contractors:

“Third party accreditation of installers of systems, materials, products or structures provide a means of ensuring that installations have been conducted by knowledgeable contractors to appropriate standards, thereby increasing reliability of the anticipated performance in fire.” (0.15)

All of our contractors are members of FIRAS. FIRAS is a UKAS certification scheme run by the Warrington Fire Research Establishment.

Fire-Stopping and Liability

Numerous pieces of legislation and guidelines regarding firestopping apply on all construction sites and buildings undergoing renovation. At this stage, designers and constructors have ultimate responsibility in terms of complying with the different legislation; however, sub-contractors will have a duty to also adhere to the regulations.

The Joint Code of Practice on the Prevention for Fire of Construction Sites states:

“Construction works should be designed, planned and sequenced to achieve the early installation and operation of:

a) Permanent fire escape stairs, including compartment walls;

b) Fire compartments within the building under construction, including the installation of fire doors, and the completion of fire stopping with special given to lift shafts, service ducts and voids which offer a passageway to heat and smoke.” (8.1)

The Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007 stipulates that all who are involved in a construction project have a duty of care. Sufficient knowledge and competence checks have to be carried out and the reduction or elimination of health and safety risks must be achieved during the construction process and at the end when users are in the building.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order

The Fire Safety Order applies to all workplaces within England and Wales with the exception of mines and workplaces that occur offshore. Every employer or building owner appoints a ‘Responsible Person’ who ensures the company’s compliance in the regulations the order stipulates.

One of the pivotal duties that a ‘Responsible Person’ performs is the undertaking of an annual risk assessment on the building which includes identifying potential features that could promote the spread of fire and the steps that are going to be taken to reduce the likelihood of those features contributing towards a fire.

In Scotland, The Fire Act 2005 applies in the same way as the Fire Safety Order.

SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Emerging Trends in Construction 2025December 11, 2024 - 2:05 pm
As the construction industry approaches 2025, several emerging trends are poised to reshape its landscape, driven by technological advancements, sustainability imperatives, and evolving economic conditions. Key developments include: 1. Technological Integration and Automation The adoption of advanced technologies is accelerating within the construction sector: Robotics and Automation: The use of robots for tasks such as […]
READ MORE
Effective Cost Management in Construction ProjectsNovember 11, 2024 - 2:05 pm
Effective cost management is crucial for the success of construction projects. It ensures that projects are completed within budget, maximizing profitability while meeting quality and timeline expectations. This post outlines key strategies and best practices for managing costs in construction projects effectively. Detailed Budget Planning A comprehensive and realistic budget is the foundation of cost […]
READ MORE