Fire Stopping
Experts will apply fire stopping solutions to your building and offer advice on your fire compartments. So call us today to learn more.
Fire Stopping
Fire stopping is an important aspect of modern building construction to offer high safety to people. It enhances the resilience of various structures to prevent fire from spreading quickly within the building.
This measure also slows down the spread of smoke during fires to allow people to escape from the building more easily. Fire stopping is mainly achieved by sealing gaps, joints, and other openings in walls rated as fire-resistant.
Pipes, duct systems, and exhaust systems create gaps or openings within walls and floors as they pass through. Gasses and smoke will travel through these openings to other parts of the building if a fire occurs.
That is why fire stopping is crucial to maintain the integrity of fire compartments in a building.
What Are Fire Stopping Materials?
Every company uses different fire stopping materials because they change depending on the requirements. Mineral fibres, silicones, and other materials can be used for this task.
Despite that, there are some common features of fire stopping materials. Here are some of them to help you understand better:
- Penetration sealants are used to seal areas around duct systems, pipes, and metallic components that pass a fire compartment or barrier.
- Pipe collars are used for sealing non-metal components that pass around a barrier.
- Sleeves are mainly designed for dealing with cables within a fire compartment.
The general components of fire stopping include a fire compartment with gap or joints, fire stop material, and penetrating item.
Fire Stopping Is Not Just Good But Necessary
Some believe that fire stopping is an optional measure they can skip, but that is not true. Building codes require such systems for safety. A few examples of structures for which fire stopping is necessary include:
- Every new construction project
- Medical facilities
- Offices
- Educational institutes
- Nursing facilities
- New retrofit projects
- Any fire-rated wall that has been compromised by penetrating pipes, cables, or other structures
Benefits Of Fire Stopping
One of the top advantages of fire stopping is that it enhances the integrity of fire barriers. This prevents the quick spread of fire and offers more time for people to escape. Other benefits of fire stopping are:
Protects The Property
A fire stopping system protects a building in many ways other than slowing spreading of fire. It ensures gases won’t travel through fire barriers and harm the integrity of building walls. Accumulation of harmful gases in floors and other structures may cause them to collapse later.
The system also ensures water will not leak through gaps and openings in fire compartments. This prevents seismic and electrical issues that may arise later. Fire stopping is crucial for maintaining a building’s structure.
It also protects the people within the building by ensuring its walls and floors are secure.
Maintains Compliance
Fire stopping is necessary as per the new building codes in the UK. Any construction project that does not include this safety measure can be stopped halfway.
The Building Fire Safety Act that will be implemented in 2024 also includes major points regarding fire stopping. For example, financial penalties will be applied to landlords and developers in non-compliance cases.
A fire safety manager to ensure fire stopping solutions are implemented will also be essential to hire for buildings with seven storeys or more as per the upcoming act.
This is why using professionals for fire stopping services helps maintain compliance and avoid high penalties. It also offers better safety and peace of mind to building occupants.
Discuss your requirements with us.
Please call the Etech Group team on 020 8684 4466. We have a comprehensive range of fire safety solutions including Fire Doors, Fire Safety, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Systems, Fire Compartmentation, Fire Stopping.