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Fire Protection DATA
Graham Ellicott
Association for Specialist Fire Protection Fire-stopping and
penetration seals
1 Types of product
Effective fire-stopping in fire-resisting should be adequately protected by sealing
separating elements plays a critical role in or fire-stopping so that the fire resistance of
containing a fire at its source, thereby the element is not impaired.’
reducing its effect on the primary building
The document adds that joints between
structure. The degree of spread is controlled
fire-separating elements should be fire-
by creating fire-resisting compartments
stopped, and that all openings for pipes,
which subdivide the building.
ducts, conduits or cables to pass through
Mechanical and electrical services, by any part of a fire-separating element should
necessity, breach compartment walls and be:
floors allowing failure of integrity and
• kept as few in number as possible
insulation to occur where gaps around
services have not been adequately fire- • kept as small as practical
stopped. Fire-stopping products must be • fire-stopped (which in the case of a pipe
able to provide sufficient insulation to the or duct, should allow for thermal
penetrating services, in order to reduce the movement)
temperature rise along conductive
materials, in accordance with the required There is a wide range of products that are
insulation criteria of the fire-separating designed for use as fire-stopping and
element. In addition, the movement of penetration seals. These include products
smoke is often an underrated feature of based upon mineral wool, high and low
fires, and needs to be considered carefully pressure intumescent, mortars, pillows filled
when specifying fire-stopping constructions. with fire-resistant materials, elastomers,
putties, foams and mastics.
Approved Document B, 2000 Edition, of the
Building Regulations 1991 for England and These can be divided by use:
Wales states: ‘If a fire-separating element is
a) Penetrations in walls and floors
to be effective, then every joint, or
imperfection of fit, or opening to allow • mineral fibre batts
services to pass through the element, • coated mineral fibre batts
• foams
• bags/pillows
• plugs/blocks
• pipe closures
• ducting seals
• mortars
• silicone elastomers and gels
b) Joints between construction elements
• mineral fibre batts
• foams
• bags/pillows
• intumescent
• sealant/mastics
• putties
• curtain walling seals
• preformed elastomeric seals
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F i r e P r o t e c t i o n D a t a
2 Design and installation issues
The use of any product can be undermined Approved Document B, which states: ‘Since
by poor application. Any work that is not of the performance of a system, product,
the correct quality could lead to a component, structure is dependent upon
premature failure of a building compartment satisfactory site installation, testing and
in the event of a fire. This in turn could maintenance, independent schemes of
threaten the lives of the occupants and certification and registration of installers
attending firefighters. Thus it is imperative and maintenance firms of such will provide
that contractors with the appropriate confidence in the appropriate standard of
credentials for the work install fire-stopping workmanship being provided.
and penetration seal products in accordance ‘Third-party accreditation and registration of
with the manufacturers’ instructions. installers of systems, materials, products or
Third-party accreditation schemes are in structures provide a means of ensuring that
operation for installers of passive fire installations have been conducted by
protection. These schemes ensure that the knowledgeable contractors to appropriate
installing companies and their operatives standards, thereby increasing the reliability
have the required level of expertise to carry of the anticipated performance in fire.’
out the job properly. These are recognised in
3 Maintenance
Building managers will need to be aware of Where fire-stopping or penetration seal
the Fire Precautions (Workplace) products have to be removed or have
Regulations 1997 (as amended) and the become damaged for other purposes, they
ramifications of the impending Regulatory must be made good as soon as possible.
Reform (Fire Safety) Order. The provision Ideally, where the operation and
and maintenance of the fire-stopping and maintenance data for a building is available
penetration seals within a building should and the ‘as-built’ products can readily be
form part of the risk assessment for the procured, any changes and repairs should
building carried out under the Workplace be carried out with the materials originally
Regulations (and in future the Fire Safety specified. Suitably skilled, experienced and
Order). Managers need to be aware that accredited personnel must carry out such
there may be liability issues in the failure to works, in accordance with the
comply with regulations. manufacturers’ recommendations.
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4 Relevant standards and other documents
Currently, fire-resistance tests for fire- insulation performance and pipe-end
stopping and penetration seal products are conditions are covered in a level of detail
most likely to have test evidence created by above that of current testing practice.
ad hoc testing to BS 476: Part 20: 1987:
(pr)EN 1366: Part 4: Fire resistance tests for
Fire tests on building materials and
service installations: Linear joint seals
structures. Method for determination of the
provides a test method for evaluating the
fire resistance of elements of construction
performance of products used for sealing
(general principles). The testing is deemed
between two elements of construction, such
ad hoc because there is no British Standard
as two walls or a wall and floor slab. The
in existence specifically dealing with
standard addresses the fire test method and
penetration and linear joint seals. However,
also considers the effect of movement on
this is all set to change.
the seals. When a manufacturer claims that
The Construction Products Directive, a the seal can tolerate a certain degree of
European initiative which aims to allow free movement and still retain its fire-resistant
trade within the European Union, has properties, this can be proven by using the
resulted in the introduction of European test test methodology outlined in the standard.
methods, classification of products and CE
In conjunction with the Fire Test Study
marking. The European test methods for the
Group, the Association for Specialist Fire
fire-stopping and penetration seal products
Protection (ASFP) has published Fire
are currently still in a draft format but
Stopping and Penetration Seals for the
products are being tested to the
Construction Industry. This publication, also
requirements of:
known as the ‘Red Book’, is available as a
(pr)EN 1366: Part 3: Fire resistance tests for book or as a download from the ASFP
service installations: Penetration seals website, www.asfp.org.uk. It is recognised
provides a test method for evaluating the as the industry guide to both testing and
performance of products such as pipe product approval. The ‘Red Book’ contains
closure devices, cable supporting systems third-party reviews of test reports and
(trays and ladders) and non-combustible assessments for fire-stopping and
pipe-sealing systems. Within the standard, penetration seal products.
the issues of separating wall construction,
5 Other issues
Problems may occur when the product or Undertaking Assessments in Lieu of Fire
system has not been fire tested at all, or Tests, should be followed. This document,
has test data that is not appropriate to the published by the Passive Fire Protection
job at hand. In some cases, for example, it Federation, is available as a free download
may not be possible to subject a from the ASFP website or on tel: +44
construction or a product to a fire test (0)1252 739142. The booklet breaks down
because of its size, or the test data may assessments into three levels of complexity:
apply to a similar, but not identical, system. simple, intermediate and complex. It also
discusses the requirements of assessors
In these cases, an assessment carried out
and identifies four levels of experience,
by a competent fire engineer will be
which are related to the complexity of the
required, and it is recommended that
required assessment.
guidance in the booklet, Guide to
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