What is Fire Stopping in Construction?

• Fire stopping means sealing gaps to prevent fire and smoke from spreading, helping protect lives and property.
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes fire stopping a legal requirement in existing buildings.
• The Building Regulations 2010 make fire stopping a legal requirement in construction.
• Different materials and methods are used for fire stopping, such as sealants, intumescent coatings and firestop collars.
• Accurate record-keeping is essential for proving compliance and sharing information with other duty holders.

All buildings can be divided into compartments – areas that are separated by walls or floors. But these compartments aren’t airtight. So a fire that starts in one area will quickly spread to others, passing through the gaps and penetrations (holes made for cables, pipes or vents) present in most buildings.

To prevent the spread of fire, openings between compartments must be sealed using fire stopping methods. This helps keep a fire contained, buying time for people to get out of a building and firefighters to get in.

Because fire stopping is fundamental to building safety, it’s required by law in the UK.

Fire stopping is a legal requirement throughout the UK, but regulations vary across regions. This guide focuses on the primary fire stopping regulations for England and Wales, which are:

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for existing buildings.
• Building Regulations 2010 for buildings under construction.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) is the primary legislation for fire safety in England and Wales.

Under the FSO, a “responsible person” must ensure fire safety measures are in place and maintained in non-domestic buildings and common areas of multi-occupancy dwellings.

The “responsible person” is the individual in control of a property. For workplaces, it’s the employer. For other properties, it’s typically the landlord or building owner.

Their most important duty is conducting a fire risk assessment to identify hazards and plan how they can be managed via fire stopping and other safety measures.

If you’re asking, “What is fire stopping in construction?” you’ll find the most comprehensive answer in the Building Regulations 2010. They set out the fire safety requirements for all “building work”, a term that covers:

• Extensions
• Alterations
• Conversions
• Installing new services/fittings, such as electrical wiring or heating systems
• Improving a building’s energy efficiency, such as installing insulation

Approved documents provide guidance on compliance with the Building Regulations. For fire stopping, there are two approved documents you must be aware of:

• Approved Document B (Fire Safety): This document provides detailed guidance on the fire safety measures that must be in place, including fire stopping requirements. It specifies where fire stopping should be used to prevent the spread of fire and smoke between different compartments of a building.

• Approved Document 7 (Material and Workmanship): This document emphasises the importance of using appropriate fire stopping materials and proper installation methods. Even high-quality fire stopping products will fail if not installed correctly.

There’s no standard solution for fire stopping. Different gaps, joints and openings need different materials and methods to stop fire and smoke from spreading. But there are some commonly used options:

• Fire-Resistant Sealants: These are used to fill small gaps around pipes, cables or joints. They expand when exposed to heat, sealing off any openings.
• Intumescent Coatings: A paint-like substance applied to surfaces that swells up when exposed to fire, creating an insulating barrier.
• Firestop Collars: Metal collars filled with intumescent material that wrap around pipes, expanding to block the gap if a fire occurs.
• Fire-Rated Boards: Rigid boards that can be cut to size and used to seal larger openings or gaps.
• Fire Pillows and Blocks: Flexible, fire-resistant pillows that can be stuffed into gaps around cables or ducts and are ideal for areas that might need future access.

Each method serves a different purpose, but all work together to create an effective barrier against fire and smoke.

During construction, the principal designer is most directly responsible for fire stopping. They must incorporate appropriate fire stopping methods in their designs and specify requirements.

Contractors also have a responsibility to install fire stopping measures correctly, with oversight from the principal contractor.

For existing buildings, the responsible person must assess the property for fire risks, identify any gaps or weaknesses in fire barriers and decide on the necessary fire stopping measures. Arranging for ongoing inspection and maintenance is also part of their duties.

But they don’t need to carry out the work themselves. Fire safety contractors with the necessary expertise can be brought in as needed.

Proper installation is crucial for fire stopping to work effectively. Even the best fire stopping materials won’t do their job if they’re not installed correctly, which is why the quality of workmanship matters just as much as the materials used.

Fire stopping should always be installed by trained and competent workers who understand the specific requirements of each product. Each type of fire stopping material has unique installation instructions, and following these guidelines is essential to maintain the fire resistance rating.

It’s also important to keep accurate records of all fire stopping work for two reasons. First, it proves compliance. Second, records can be shared with other duty holders and fire safety professionals, which is now a requirement under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Ensuring that fire stopping measures are properly understood and applied is essential for building safety.

Our online Fire Stopping Training course explains what fire stopping in construction is, why it’s needed in all buildings and how to comply with regulations on installation, inspection, and maintenance. Designed for those with fire safety duties, it provides clear guidance on selecting, installing and inspecting fire stopping systems.

The course also includes a free e-checklist to help you conduct and document inspections before, during and after fire stopping installations to ensure safety and compliance.