• 70% was related to fire stopping that was either missing or poorly maintained.

• 30% was caused by poor workmanship or contractors using unsuitable fire stopping products.

Sub-standard passive fire protection is often discussed in the industry, with numerous examples of poor fire stopping regularly shared on social media. Even the tiniest gap in a fire compartment can render it ineffective. It’s also deeply troubling that we are encountering sub-standard fire stopping in recently constructed buildings, as well as older buildings where contractor works may have damaged structural compartments by running new cables or other services through walls and ceilings.

With so many accounts of ineffective fire stopping, it’s evident that installation and maintenance of firestops play a major role in ensuring health, safety, and compliance. So, what is the solution to implementing effective fire stopping?

How to ensure effective firestopping

Given the extent of this problem, our advice to ‘Responsible Persons’ would be to carefully consider the following two key points when it comes to meeting their duties relating to general fire precautions and maintenance (as defined by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005).

Competence

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) recommends that fire stopping should only be carried out by ‘competent persons’. Ideally, this would those who have had their competency checked by a third-party certification body or a contractor who is certified by a third party.

However, fire stopping can also be completed by other types of contractors who have a secondary function to their main profession. For example, those working as an electrician or a dry-lining contractor. For these contractors, the ASFP recommends they should hold, as a minimum, an NVQ Level 2 qualification in fire stopping.

As well as ensuring contractors are competent, it is also essential to keep a record of all fire stopping work, to enable completion certificates to be issued.

Without significant preparation, fire risk assessors could miss crucial details which could be the difference between a fire spreading or being safely contained. The ‘Responsible Person’ should also focus on record keeping, particularly in the field of fire stopping work. This will help them to comply with new duties around maintaining building fire safety information throughout its life cycle.

Our recent review of residential fire risk assessments serves as a reminder that, despite all the recent changes to fire safety legislation, the ‘Responsible Person’ needs to continually focus on maintaining adequate standards of passive fire protection within the buildings they are responsible for.

Effective fire stopping is not merely a means of staying compliant, it is a fire prevention method used to protect human life and ensure building safety. At William Martin, we provide unparalleled health and safety expertise, as well as powerful technology. With a wealth of industry knowledge, we can give you the support you need to remain strong, compliant, and successful. If you’re committed to ensuring health and safety, get in touch with us today.

Contact

At William Martin, we bring together clever consultancy with smart technology, so our clients can grow. If you want to know more about how we can help you, get in touch or call our team on 0203 819 8829.