Indoor fires can become dangerous in a matter of seconds. Fire stopping installation in a building buys you valuable time to evacuate safely before the blaze gets out of hand. It is crucial that your building has the necessary regulated components installed to be a safe workplace.
Fire stoppers work by containing a fire breakout to one room for as long as possible. They ensure that any people inside a building have more time to evacuate. It is also a good measure to have in place to prevent extensive fire and smoke damage to a building.
There are three main types of fire stopping installation:
Fire Doors:
Fire doors are a passive form of fire protection and a fundamental feature of any building. They contain the spread of a fire to the room of its source. They are essential for managing the rate of the spread of fire, ensuring that stairways and corridors are safe to access, and reducing the possible damage to a building from an uncontrollable blaze. Your fire doors must be well maintained to ensure they meet regulations.
They are not a solution to fire, such as a sprinkler system, but instead, buy the people inside of a burning building time to get safely outside. Depending on the rating of the fire door, it can prevent the spread of fire for up to 60 minutes. Fire doors are composed of a combination of timber, aluminium, steel, or gypsum. They can also have anti-shattering glass and must always form a complete seal when shut. A fire door should be labelled as such and not be left ajar, which will render it ineffective.
A qualified individual should fit a fire door to ensure it complies with regulations. London Fire Solutions are certified with Excva BM TRADA and FIRAS and only install Certifire approved doors.
Fire Barriers:
Barriers are a passive form of fire protection installed within ceiling and roof voids. They prevent smoke and flames from travelling at an accelerated rate between floors of a building for up to 240 minutes. They also protect the structure or a building from collapse. A cavity fire barrier fills the internal gaps in buildings concealed by walls and ceilings.
A fire stopper is another type of fire barrier that fills any visible gaps left around fire-resistant walls. They conceal a space against smoke and flame penetration, helping maintain the fireproofing of a wall or floor. Without such a feature within your building, fires can spread 5-10 times faster. Contractors should install barriers in any new construction. However, it is recommended that you double-check that your building meets regulations to ensure you are fully protected.
Fire Curtains:
Fire curtains are a valuable and cost-effective fire protection method for large entranceways or voids, such as lift shafts. They do not interfere with your day-to-day business but come into use when your fire system is active. London Fire Solutions will supply, install and maintain your fire curtains, guaranteeing you up to 120 minutes of protection.
Installing fire curtains in your building provides additional protection from flames and fire damage by minimising fire spread. It is important to fully maximise your fire safety measures to ensure the best possible safety for yourself and others.
We offer a complete survey of your current fire safety measures and can recommend additional fire-stopping methods. London Fire Solutions are passionate about protecting people, so do not hesitate to contact us with any general inquiries.