FIRE STOPPING INSULATION

Fire stopping insulation, a so called fire-separating element is designed to stop fire from spreading. This means that the structure of the building will remain largely intact during a fire, which leaves all escape routes clear, reduces the risk of falling debris and ensures safe evacuation while allowing the emergency services a passage back into the building should it be necessary for them to do so. A unique characteristic of this particular fire stopping insulation is that it doesn’t produce smoke, which makes it a great option for commercial and industrial applications. Moreover, it upgrades your building to a stronger R-value insulation while also fulfilling fire safety requirements. It fills perimeter gaps between concrete flooring, floor and ceiling slabs, exterior walls and firewalls, and can be installed around conduit pipes and duct openings running through floors and walls. Not only is it fire resistant and non-combustible, it also won’t create toxic smoke or allow flames to spread. Other benefits include its ability to increase a building’s energy efficiency, improve thermal stability and control noise coming into and leaving the building.

TYPES OF FIRE STOPPING INSULATION

Common fire stopping materials used within a building will often include most of the following:

FIRE SLEEVES

Fire sleeves are designed to fill or seal an aperture created by pipes or cables passing through a fire-rated wall or ceiling. In a fire situation the sleeve expands to fill the available space between the service and the substrate. In the case of plastic pipes the sleeve will crush and seal off the pipe preventing the passage of fire and smoke to the adjacent compartment. For more information click here.

FIRE COLLARS

Fire collars are designed to maintain fire resistance levels. They do this by surrounding pipes and other penetrations with intumescent compounds that expand throughout the fire. This prevents flames and hot gases passing into other compartments.

FIRE COVERS

Fire covers are designed for stopping fires of luminaires in fire rated suspended ceilings. 

FIRE SEALANTS ǀ GAP FILLERS

Fire sealants and gap fillers expand when heated at high temperatures, to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. There are different kinds of sealants for different substrates and applications.

FIRE RESISTANT BOARDS

These are strong and highly-durable, non-combustible calcium silicate fire resistant boards formulated without inorganic fibres or formaldehyde suitable for fireplaces and wood burning stoves. Boards have achieved A1 class, which is the highest fire rating for non-combustible material to prevent the spread of fire and can resist continuous high temperatures of up to 1000°C. Fo fire boards thicknesses clik here.

FIRE SLABS

Fire slab is a high density, innovative stone wool core pre-coated on both sides with a high performance ablative coating. This Fire Barrier slab has been developed to prevent the spread of flames and inhibit heat and smoke through concealed spaces in buildings and improve sound reduction. For fireslab available thicknesses click here.

All of these products help to prevent the passage of fire through concealed voids within a wall. Highly efficient insulation together with appropriate fire containment is necessary in order to prevent the spread of flames and smoke to other areas of the building. For instance, protecting the structural steel from the heat of a fire will delay the onset of this loss of strength and the possible collapse of the building. This is essential because it allows extra time for both the occupants of the building to escape and fire services to tackle the fire. Most of the stopping components are generally made of fire retardant and intumescent materials, as well as cementitious mortars, silicone, mineral fibbers, rubber compounds and firestop pillows. Firestops should always be used and maintained in accordance with the listing, approval and compliance of a building’s fire regulations and fire rated certification. For more information on fire slabs click here. To see how to install fire batt click here

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