Protest Compliance Group Ltd
Fire Stopping
Fire stopping is a form of passive fire protection, involving the sealing of any openings that could lead to the spreading of fire, smoke, and heat, throughout a building.
Why you NEED Fire Stopping
Fire stopping is an essential method for protecting all occupants in a premises as well as the building itself, from the spread of fire.
Fire stopping is required to help control the spread of fire through the use of fire-rated compartmentation of a building.
Without the adequate fire stopping materials and protection in place, fire, smoke and heat can quickly travel through a building, causing serious damage to property and risk to life.
Simply put, joints within buildings between fire separating elements such as compartment walls, floors and doors, should be fire-stopped to maintain the required fire resistance of said compartment.
Any openings which may be necessary to allow the passing of services such as cables, pipes, conduit, or ducts should be kept as small as practicable, as few in number as possible, and fire-stopped.
The benefits of Fire Stopping
Fire stopping delays and in some instances, prevents the spread of fire and also smoke and heat too. This allowing occupants in a premises, valuable extra time to safely evacuate the building in the event of a fiure outbreak, saving lifes and protecting valauble assets as well as parts of the building.
Fire stopping will give added time for people in the building to contact emergency fire services, also giving them an advantage in combating the fire as it will not have progressed as quickly with fire retardent materials properly installed.
The fire should, with the right fire stopping programme in place, be confined to a specific compartmentalised area, thus preserving the overall strcuture of the building.
This can in some cases, be the difference between total devastation of an entire building and its structure, or specifically damaged areas of a building that can later be repaired.
By compartmentalising the spread of the fire, this will in turn, significantly reduce the damage and therfore the financial weight of a damage faced.
What is involved?
The containment of the spreading of fire by implementing fire resistant compartments, these subdivide a building (vertically or horizontally). Duty holders should ensure that any openings and gaps are fitted with the appropriate fire stopping materials to restrict both lateral and vertical fire spread.
Part of implementing the correct type of fire stop is understanding the different kind of openings and penetrations faced in a premises.
Once there is an understanding for these different types, there can be an understanding for the specific type of materials required to fill that particular opening, penetration or joint.
Examples of areas that will require Fire Stopping
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Unpenetrated openings, involving openings for future use
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Head of wall joints where wall assemblies combine with floor assemblies
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Areas between fire resistance rated walls or floor assemblies
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Re-entries where previous unsuccessful fire stops will be found
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Any structural, mechanical, or electrical penetrations that can be found within a building
With you every step of the way
We offer consistent and ongoing support to help you with any problems that may arise between or even after we visit and inspect your site.
We devised a continuity program to help identify any areas, floors, rooms that may require attention in the form of year or monthly servicing.
After this you will always recieve detailed reports that include photographic evidence documenting all completed work well in time for your upcoming inspection.
Why you should use PCG fire experts
PCG fire experts are BRE and BM TRADA certified.
Our DBS checked and qualified technicians will provide assurance that every aspect of your building’s fire doors are functioning in accordance with fire regulations.
Working in partnership with the biggest and the best
Hear from some of our clients across various sectors
"I am pleased to say that as a long term partner of ours, Protest Compliance always perform and meet our KPI’s and their service and quality of reports is second to none."
Property Director, NHS Trust
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