FIRE STOPPING AND PENETRATION SEALS
There are techniques that will minimise the effect a fire has on the fabric of a building and these should form an integral part of the design of all new buildings. Specifiers and architects must look at dividing a building into compartments that can be closed to stop the spread of fire – this is known as compartmentation. Confining a fire to its point of origin is the key objective of any fire safety measure.. Compartments with fire-separating elements, on the other hand, can confine a fire to its area of origin so it is essential to maintain integrity where services breach fire resting walls in such areas as:-
• multi-service openings through walls and floors
• blank service openings through walls and floors
• combustible pipes (plastics)
• cavity barriers
• construction joints
• any imperfection of fit to a fire-rated building element
Proprietary penetration seal/service opening fire protection systems include boards, batts, mortars, sealants, collars, wraps, pillows, curtains and linear joints. Penetration seal systems are available for up to 4 hours integrity and, in some cases, insulation against a cellulosic fire, in accordance with the requirements of BS 476 -20. Products are also available to protect against hydrocarbon fires.
Penetration seal systems must be specified in strict compliance with the manufacturer's data sheets and tested/assessed for that purpose. Seals should be used as a tested system and installed by competent contractors, in compliance with the manufacturer's application instructions.
Seven people have been killed and 11 seriously injured by a fire in a nine-storey hostel housing immigrants in the eastern French city of Dijon
