It's a mandate under the UK's building codes that any newly constructed or renovated structures consider the implementation of passive fire protection.

This concept, rooted in compartmentalisation, involves designing buildings in a way that confines potential fire outbreaks to specific sections.

This approach not only impedes the progression of fire throughout a structure but also provides ample time for occupant evacuation and minimises infrastructural damage, reducing the likelihood of a total collapse.

The importance of passive fire resistance amplifies in larger structures like tower blocks or in facilities with expected lengthy evacuation times, like hospitals.

The efficacy of most passive fire protection systems is gauged by their designed fire containment duration.

It's crucial that any openings within the fire-resistant sections of walls & floors be filled with suitable fire stopping materials. The absence of such measures could jeopardise the fireproof integrity of these compartments. Various fire-stopping materials are available to address any such compromised situation.

The crux of fire stopping lies in containment. Fire-resistant walls and floors are engineered to halt the advancement of fire, smoke, and harmful gases. Any penetration in a fire-rated substrate negates its fire resistance. As fire stop installers, our task is to restore and uphold the fireproof integrity of these substrates, such as walls, floors, and at times, roofs.

To reinstate the fire resistance rating of the substrate, fire stopping employs specific assemblies that have undergone rigorous testing and have proven their effectiveness. These assemblies are often referred to as UL Systems.