Fire Stopping

Fire-stopping is a term used to refer to the sealing of gaps in building construction, including those around services, for the purpose of maintaining fire compartmentation and separation.

 Typically it includes:

• Penetrations seals – used around services through walls and floors
• Linear joint seals – seals between two separating elements such as two walls or a wall and floor
• Small cavity barriers – seals between the inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall
• Large Cavity barriers – separates larger spaces such as roof spaces or ceiling voids
• Ventilated/open state cavity barriers – seals between the inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall where ventilation is required
• Air transfer grilles – seals that allow air flow in cold state but prevent fire spread

In line with CDM 2015, Holistic Fire Safety produce (where necessary) a pre-construction phase plan and construction phase plan to ensure a seamless and safe execution of works.

Our process and attention to detail pre construction enables us to:

• Reduce the number of unknown variables for both our clients and their residents
• Establish a clear and defined structure of the project
• Confirm timelines and offer opportunity for third party auditing
• Minimise the risk and disruption to relevant persons

Our methodology is to:

• Review the fire strategy documents and fire strategy plans in conjunction with the M&E specifications
• Ensure early engagement with manufacturers
• Select firestopping products which are third party certified by a UKAS accredited organisation
• Request copies of standard details and test evidence to provide a tested solution
• Follow approved guidance such as the ‘Design process for penetration seals’

All installations completed by Holistic Fire Safety are in line with the requirements of the BM Trada Q-mark fire stopping installation scheme and are designed to meet Building Regulations 2010, Regulation 4 (schedule 1) and Regulation 7. Our fire stopping installations are more specifically related to Approved Document B Volumes 1 & 2 2019 B3.

Holistic Fire Safety utilise Bolster electronic recording software for all passive fire protection works; the system is a critical component which forms part of the Construction and Handover phase. Software is used for storing documentation, recording installations and ensuring compliance with Building Regulations 2010 – Regulation 38.

Holistic Fire Safety produce our clients with a comprehensive O&M manual for each project involving passive fire protection works. Passing on the correct fire safety information to the responsible person at the completion of a project is a requirement under the Building Regulations, Regulation 38. This pack of information enables Holistic Fire Safety to evidence work completed for any given project by demonstrating that products used, are in scope and installed to a specific test detail.

The information subsequently enables our clients to demonstrate to the Building Safety Regulator, Residents, Duty holders, Shareholders, Insurers and Local Authority Fire & Rescue that they have exercised due diligence and have done all that is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of relevant persons.

We believe our holistic approach which is proportionate and risk based sets us apart from our competitors as we able to work with designers, assessors, contractors and building control to install reasonably practicable solutions to maintain passive fire protection.

Please feel free to contact us should you wish to discuss the specifics of our methodology, samples of completed projects or request a site survey.