Five-way collaboration realises Best Practice guide on firestopping of service penetrations

The aim of the guidance document is to encourage all stakeholders in construction to consider firestopping design earlier in the process in order to avoid problems at a later stage. It’s not an installation manual, but rather guidance for a good practice approach.

The guide is broken down into segments to provide information on actions that should be carried out during each of the stages from one to seven as defined in the Plan of Work devised by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Complete with a foreword written by Dame Judith Hackitt, chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the document will enable a project team to meet its obligations when it comes to delivering a safe and secure project in terms of penetration seals.

The guide was produced collaboratively by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, the Building Engineering Services Association, the Building Services Research and Information Association, the Finishes and Interiors Sector and the Gypsum Products Development Association to address service penetrations in buildings and ensure the spread of fire due to inappropriate or poorly installed service penetrations can be eliminated.

Collaborative working

Commenting on the launch of the guide, Dame Judith Hackitt said: “This document is the result of a collaboration between a number of relevant trade bodies and organisations representing the wider construction and fire safety industries. It’s an example of the collaborative working and acceptance of professional responsibility throughout the supply chain that must become a feature of the industry’s culture from now on.”

Nick Mead of Laing O’Rourke Europe responded: “Service penetrations in fire-separating elements are, in part, a minor element of a compartment wall or floor, yet in truth they’re one of the most important elements when it comes to ensuring that the performance of any compartment wall or floor is maintained.”

The guide was produced with the support of stakeholders across the industry including manufacturers, designers, contractors and specialist fire companies and, in particular, Rockwool, FSi Ltd and Warringtonfire.

The Best Practice Design and Installation Guide: Firestopping of Service Penetrations is available to download from the websites of the five organisations involved in its compilation.