Fire Stopping Regulations UK – What is Fire Stopping?

Fire stopping is an imperative part of property fire protection. With the right fire stopping measures in place, you can significantly improve your site’s fire safety standards, while also reducing the extent of fire-related damage and the costs of repair following the event of a fire. 

Furthermore, in the UK, fire stopping is subject to considerable regulations, which businesses must remain compliant with. 

With this article, you can understand leading fire stopping approaches and their benefits, and ensure that your business is in compliance with all UK fire stopping regulations. 

What is fire stopping?

Fire stopping is the method of sealing openings and gaps in key areas of a building, to minimise the spread of fire, smoke and other toxic gases in the event of a fire. 

It involves sealing openings and any gaps in walls, floors, ceilings and other service penetrations (e.g. cables and pipes). A professional fire specialist can use a range of fire stopping materials, including fire-resistant sealants, fire-resistant boards, fire collars and fire barriers.

That way, should a fire occur, you can more effectively compartmentalise it, keeping it contained within one smaller area, for as long as possible.  

By hindering the fire’s progression, you can reduce occupants’ exposure to smoke, give them more time to evacuate, and also limit the extent of the fire damage within your premises. 

The main UK fire stopping regulations

In the UK, stringent fire stopping regulations are in place, in order to maximise fire safety standards across the country. 

The main regulations that you need to be aware of are: 

• Approved Document B – Provides fire stopping guidelines for both new and existing buildings. Requires fire stopping materials to be installed in junctions and penetrations within fire-resisting walls and floors.
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – Requires the appointment of a responsible person to oversee fire safety measures, and the completion of regular fire risk assessments.
• BS 9999: 2017 – Provides further fire compartmentation guidance and best practices. 

Non-compliance with these regulations can compromise your fire safety standards, and result in fines or other serious legal consequences. 

Common fire stopping compliance mistakes

Some of the most common fire stopping oversights that we see include: 

• Unsealed service penetrations (with gaps left around ducts, pipes or cables)
• The use of non-compliant fire stopping materials
• Incorrect or inaccurate installation 
• Insufficient fire stopping inspections 
• Not including fire stopping within a fire risk assessment 
• Failing to update fire stopping measures after a renovation or a refurb 
• Insufficient or poorly maintained fire stopping documentation

By enlisting a fire protection specialist, like BritCut, you can ensure your fire stopping measures are dependable, comprehensive and fully compliant with all fire stopping regulations. 

Typical fire stopping installation processes

For commercial properties

• Fire stopping focuses on maintaining compartmentation across different floors, particularly the escape routes.
• Key points of a building to assess (and install fire stopping measures in) include service risers, electrical and data cabling and HVAC systems.
• Common fire stopping approaches for these areas include fire-rated sealants, intumescent coatings and penetration sealing systems.

For industrial properties

• Due to the nature of these buildings, fire stopping measures must be particularly resilient, with the ability to withstand extremely harsher conditions. 
• Key points of a building to assess (and install fire stopping measures in) include penetrations in industrial piping and ventilation. Typically, fire resistant barriers and collars are installed in these areas. 

For domestic properties

• Key points of a building to assess (and install fire stopping measures in) include pipework and electrical installations.
• Strong fire stopping maintenance and monitoring must be put in place, particularly during renovations.
• For HMOs and high-rise buildings, other compulsory fire stopping measures will include fire doors, fire-rated walls and cavity barriers.

At BritCut, we are fire safety and fire stopping specialists, with over 40 years of experience. Our fully accredited, experienced and trained operatives are trusted by customers across the country. 

To find out more about our fire stopping services, or to enlist our team to improve the fire safety standards of your property, don’t hesitate to get in touch.