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The aim of fire stopping is to inhibit rapid fire spread within the building by reducing the fuel available in the initial stages of a fire. The intention is to limit the severity of the fire, which in turn serves several purposes:

It allows occupants time to safely exit a building if a fire breaks out, thereby saving lives;

It allows the emergency services time and a better opportunity to fight the fire, with it being confined to a relatively small area, thereby saving property;

It limits the overall damage caused by fire by obstructing its path, thereby limiting the financial costs of repair.

This is achieved by dividing the building into a series of fire-tight boxes, termed ‘compartments’, which will form a barrier to the products of combustion: smoke, heat, and toxic gases. 

Simply put, joins within buildings between fire separating elements such as compartment walls, floors and doors, should be fire-stopped to maintain the required fire resistance of said compartment. Any openings which may be necessary to allow the passing of services such as cables, pipes, conduit, or ducts should be kept as small as practicable, as few in number as possible, and fire-stopped.

Spotting breaches of integrity in compartment walls early can help save lives. Without the correct fire stopping in place, a fire can be allowed to spread freely from one intended compartment to another, regardless of structural materials or fire doors. Sometimes these breaches or penetrations are present due to being overlooked during the construction phase; at other times services may have been added to a building throughout its lifetime, creating unwelcome openings through fire-resisting walls.

Whether commercial, office, residential, or anything in-between, the aim is to keep occupants as safe as can by obstructing the spread of fire. Instructing an experienced, and preferably third-party accredited, fire stopping specialist to conduct a survey within your building will help you identify any risk areas and necessary remedial work.

Upon completion of a survey, clients should expect to receive a comprehensive report including:

Details of any penetrations or other breaches of compartment lines;

Details of any attempt at passive fire protection works which are believed to have been carried out incorrectly or are unsuitable; 

Photographic evidence and locations of findings, so that the client can identify them easily;

Suggestions for remedial works required, although further investigation e.g. into the surrounding substrate may be required to provide specific solutions. 

A fire door is an engineered safety device which must be maintained physically and operationally such that it will fulfil its life-safety and property protection roles in a fire by:

Restricting the initial development of a fire

Restricting the spread of fire

Protecting escape routes, ensuring that occupants have sufficient time to safely evacuate the building.

Despite their critical role, fire doors are typically one of the most neglected and overlooked fire precautions in a building. It is only when a fire occurs that the life safety and/or property protection consequences of poorly manufactured, installed or maintained fire doors become apparent. 

Regular testing and maintenance of fire doors and components is necessary to ensure that they will perform predictably in the event of a fire. It is also a legal duty under Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to suitably maintain fire doors: 

“The 'Responsible Person' must ensure the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises under this Order; are subject to a suitable system of maintenance.”

The installation and surveying of fire stopping should only be conducted by personnel specifically trained to do so, and ideally by those operating under a third-party accreditation. 

 An intended fire compartment’s ability to resist fire and smoke for the prescribed time period can be seriously compromised if firestopping is not installed to the correct specification using suitable and compatible materials.

Third party accreditations generally ensure that audits by an external, recognised body are in place to uphold the operating organisation or individual to best and current practices. 

 It is important to ensure anyone carrying out installation, surveys, or maintenance has the correct skills, knowledge, training and experience to be able to assess all situations and provide comprehensive advice or solutions to any works required.

Verus Group is headquartered in South East England, but our operations extend nationally across the United Kingdom and include various international projects. 

Yes, Verus Group holds several third-party accreditations, including BM Trada, SMAS Worksafe, Constructionline Gold, and Safe Contractor. These certifications reflect our commitment to maintaining high standards in various aspects of our operations.

Verus Group employs a range of industry-approved fire stopping materials to enhance safety measures. Brands utilised include Protecta, Hilti, FSi and many more. Typical fire-rated (FR) or fire stopping materials include FR Acrylic, FR Graphite/High Expansion Mastic, FR Coating, FR Board/Batt , FR Pipe Wrap, and FR Pipe Collars. Materials and systems are always carefully selected and will have been tested as complete systems to meet stringent fire safety standards and ensure effective protection in various applications.

No, Verus Group does not certify works carried out by others. This is because we cannot guarantee the materials used, or whether the installation adheres to manufacturers' guidance. Our commitment to quality and safety is reflected in our strict training processes for all operatives and installers, ensuring that our projects meet the highest standards from start to finish. 

It is not recommended to mix fire stopping manufacturers within a single 'system'. Each detail, as dictated by a specific manufacturer, is designed and tested as a system for specific purposes, generally using their products only; combining products from different manufacturers may compromise their effectiveness and is unlikely to hold test data. For optimal fire safety, we advise using materials according to their specified applications and following manufacturers' guidelines. If you have specific questions about the compatibility of fire stopping materials, please contact our team for guidance.