Five leading not-for-profit organisations have launched a best practice guide for the firestopping of service penetrations. The guide aims to encourage all stakeholders in the construction industry to consider firestopping design earlier in the process to avoid problems at a later stage in the construction.
Rather than being an installation manual, the guide offers guidance on how to approach good practice in seven stages, as defined in the RIBA Plan of Work, providing information on actions that should be carried out during each stage.
With a foreword by Dame Judith Hackitt, former Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the best practice guide will allow project teams to meet their obligations to deliver a safe and secure project in terms of penetration seals.
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 is 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.”
The guide was produced collaboratively by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and the Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA) to address service penetrations in buildings and ensure the spread of fire due to inappropriate or poorly installed service penetrations can be eliminated.
Nick Mead, Mei Systems And Assurance Lead – Meica Systems, Laing O’Rourke Europe commented on the launch of the guide, he said: “Service penetrations in fire-separating elements are in part a minor element of a compartment wall or floor, yet in truth they are one of the most important elements when it comes to ensuring 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, in particular, ROCKWOOL, FSi Ltd and Warringtonfire.
The Best Practice Design and Installation Guide, Firestopping of Service Penetrations, is available to download on the FIS website.
We supply a range of Passive Fire Protection solutions for all your service penetration requirements, contact your local branch to find out more.
Nationwide Delivery
