David Roulstone, national commercial and marketing manager of fire stopping specialist FSi Promat, looks at how single-sided fire stopping can support project efficiency
Compliant passive fire protection is dependent on systems being fitted in line with tested solutions. However, where access is an issue, it can be impossible to work on both sides of a wall to ensure fire doesn’t spread.
Tested and certified single-sided solutions offer a way to solve that challenge in retrofit projects – but can also be used to prevent installation requiring temporary rehoming or office closures.
While standard passive fire protection systems work by forming a fire-resistant barrier to stop fire spreading from one area to another through applying the system on both sides of a compartment wall, a single sided solution can achieve the same fire resistance but only require access to one side of the wall.
This makes single-sided solutions ideal for refurbishment or retrofit projects where access can be an issue. It also offers a solution for projects that would otherwise require a level of occupant displacement to install passive fire protection on both sides of a wall.
The use of a single-sided fire stopping solution in occupied buildings negates the need to rehome occupants – and in turn will support efficiency in the project by saving both money from rehousing or moving or closing offices – as well as saving considerable planning time and disruption in the project as work can get started immediately.
Why choose a single-sided solution?
Access can be a considerable issue in refurbishment projects, with often only one side of an application being accessible due to either the physical location of the seal or to avoid the costly displacement of residents if the building is occupied.
As a recognised problem, specific solutions have been created to accommodate this, with fire stopping systems now available for a single-sided application.
FSi Promat has recently tested its Stopseal Batt system in conjunction with Pyrocoustic Sealant, which has now been successfully fire tested in various single-sided configurations, that allows a compliant seal to be put in place to reinstate compartmentation without the need for access to both sides of the wall.
The issue of access can be problematic for any retrofit project, including in more modern buildings that are being overhauled for a change-of-use project due to gaining access to adjacent buildings or the positioning of the building itself.
Post-Covid, the move to increased remote working has seen former office blocks turned into residential dwellings in line with a fall in demand, while trends in city centre living continue to drive demand for converted mills and warehouses. All of these buildings present potential issues with access while needing to conform to fire safety regulations to ensure the safety of residents.
Accurate specification
It is vital that buildings being retrofitted for a change of use have the correct specification of passive fire protection.
Multiple occupancy buildings demand the highest level of passive fire protection to ensure occupants have time to escape in the event of a fire – and that the integrity of the building is protected to allow firefighters access in the event of a fire.
The switch to a residential property is likely to see the time resistance of passive fire protection increase and any change of use must incorporate the level of fire protection specified in its fire strategy document.
Whatever the scale of the project, it is essential that any changes to services, such as pipes and cabling, and to windows, doors and air vents, as well as to the fabric of the building, take into account the need to reinstate compartmentation through adequate fire stopping.
Fire stopping is required in all service penetrations where compartmentation is in place, which means that any upgraded services will need to be adequately fire stopped to ensure compartmentation remains intact.
The same applies to any alterations to fire doors, windows or façades, and any additional breaches on to the compartment walls to facilitate access. These must all have a compliant fire stopping seal.
This is further complicated in retrofit projects by the element of the unknown as to what passive fire product has been used previously, and when it was installed. If there is no record of the installation, the fire stopping will need to be replaced to ensure that the passive fire protection in the building is compliant.
The building owner still needs to ensure the requisite fire safety systems are in place – and if there is no record in place that will prove impossible.
Further to this, mixing existing, older passive fire protection with new is prohibited due to evidence not being available to clearly demonstrate the installation and product details, meaning that the tested solution for fire stopping in that application may not be supported as the full details cannot be verified.
The introduction of the golden thread and the need to provide transparent, demonstrated data around what building products have been used, including supporting test data and evidence of compliant installation, will better support retrospective fire stopping in these circumstances moving forward. This is a good demonstration of how the Building Safety Act will deliver the transparency and accountability to protect buildings through their lifetime.
Working around occupants
Another major challenge around retrofit projects is working in a building that is already occupied. Accurate planning and clear communication are essential to minimise disruption – raising awareness of the work that is taking place and that it will enhance safety.
In offering reassurances over disruption to residents and businesses, choosing products that are quick to install is an advantage. The single-sided fire stopping systems from FSi Promat bring a huge benefit to both residents and contractors – as there is no need for them to vacate properties during the works, causing minimal disturbance and avoiding high displacement costs.
Residents in a housing upgrade, for example, may also want reassurance that the problem will be corrected first time – from both a safety and disruption point of view.
This extends to projects where access may not be an issue but will require a level of displacement. Although a single-sided solution may require an additional layer of fire stopping, any associated cost should be considered in the context of rehoming costs/office downtime and the implications of a delayed start.
While developed as a solution to meet access issues, single-sided solutions can also be considered where applying fire stopping to both sides of a wall will cause considerable disruption.
FSi Promat is a leading manufacturer of fire stopping products and cavity barriers in the UK – find out more online.
*Please note that this is a commercial profile.
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