Fire stopping is a crucial aspect of building safety, ensuring that spaces are shielded from the destructive force of fires. This has become of great importance after the Lacrosse Towers and New 200 Apartments fire incidents.
The Basics of Fire Stopping
Fire stopping is more than just a safety measure; it’s a meticulous process designed to impede the spread of fire within a structure. It involves the installation of materials to seal openings and joints, restricting the movement of flames, smoke, and toxic gases.
Joints between fire-separating elements, such as compartment walls or floors, should be fire-stopped to ensure continuity of resistance; and openings for timber beams, joists, purlins, and rafters, as well as pipes, ducts, conduits, or cables that pass through any part of a fire-separating element, should be kept as few and small as possible, and fire-stopped.
What are Fire-stopping Materials?
Fire stopping materials encompass a variety of products designed to restore the fire resistance ratings of walls and floors by preventing the passage of fire and smoke via openings. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services are often routed through these holes. The fundamental goal of firefighting materials is to save lives and property by increasing escape time during a fire and limiting property damage.
Types of Fire Stopping Materials and Their Uses
There are various types of materials utilized for fire stopping, each serving specific purposes in enhancing the fire-resistance of structures. Here are some common types and their respective uses:
- Fire Retardant Sealants: Applied to seal gaps and joints in walls and floors to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
- Intumescent Strips: Installed around doors and windows to expand and create a fire-resistant barrier when exposed to heat.
- Fire-resistant Mortar: Fills openings in walls and floors, providing a protective barrier against the passage of fire.
- Firestop Putty: Moldable material applied around penetrations such as pipes and cables to block the passage of flames and smoke.
- Fire Resistant Boards: Installed in walls and floors to enhance their fire-resistance, especially in critical areas.
- Spray Fireproofing: Applied as a spray coating to structural elements to protect them from the effects of fire.
- Firestop Pillows: Placed in openings around cables and pipes to create a fire-resistant barrier.
- Duct Fire Wraps: Wrapped around HVAC ducts to prevent the spread of fire through ventilation systems.
- Firestop Collars: Fitted around pipes and conduits to seal openings and inhibit fire and smoke passage.
- Fireproof Insulation: Installed in walls and floors to enhance thermal resistance and prevent the spread of flames.
Understanding the specific applications of these fire stopping materials is crucial for ensuring effective fire protection in buildings and safeguarding lives and property.
Fire Stopping vs Fire Proofing
Fire stopping is commonly applied around openings created for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing services, as well as doors, windows, and other potential fire paths. It focuses on compartmentalizing fire, limiting its movement within a building, and providing additional time for occupants to evacuate safely.
Fireproofing, on the other hand, is designed to protect structural elements of a building, such as steel beams and columns, from the damaging effects of fire by delaying the point at which they lose their structural integrity.
Fireproofing materials include sprays, coatings, and insulations that are applied to structural components. These materials are formulated to withstand high temperatures and prevent the structural elements from reaching critical failure temperatures too quickly.
Fire Stopping Regulations
In Australia, fire stopping materials are governed by the NCC C3.15 clause: Penetration of walls, floors and ceilings by services. It prescribes materials and methods of installation for services that penetrate walls, floors and ceilings required to have an FRL.
It states:
SAFE can assess the effectiveness of your fire stopping measures by inspecting your property for compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) C3.15 clause and/or the relevant baseline data created during the original building construction. This audit ensures that the fire stopping materials and techniques employed in your building aligns with the regulatory standards, further enhancing the overall fire safety and compliance of the structure. Give us a call to learn more about our services.
