Penetration seals are a passive fire protection system that prevent the passage of gases, smoke and flames between walls and floors where services such as cables, pipes or ventilation ducts pass through them.
We’ve answered some of our most frequently asked questions about our products, our certifications and general questions about passive fire protection. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please contact us.
Fire protection basics
What is passive fire protection and how does it work?
Passive fire protection is a form of fire safety provision that remains dormant or inert during normal conditions but becomes active in a fire situation. It is an integral component of structural fire protection in a building and is designed to contain fires or slow their spread.
The purpose of passive fire protection is to contain the spread of fire for sufficient time to permit:
- The safe evacuation of all occupants of the premises
- The arrival of the fire services
Is passive fire protection a requirement in the UK?
Passive fire protection provision is required in all buildings, whether domestic or non-domestic, with the purpose of containing and retarding the spread of fire. There are several methods and products available that will achieve the required standard of fire resistance in existing buildings, some of which may be more appropriate than others.
Who is responsible for passive fire protection?
The person responsible for fire safety also has a duty of care towards any members of the emergency services, e.g. fire fighters, who may have to enter the premises during the course of a fire. Slowing the spread of flames, smoke and hot gases, passive fire protection also serves to ensure the building remains as safe as possible for entry in this situation.
What is an intumescent?
An intumescent product contains a substance which swells as a result of exposure to heat. The swelling of the substance leads to an increase in volume and decrease in density.
What is fire resistance?
Fire resistance is the property of a material that prevents the passage of gases, smoke and flames.
What are fire classifications and what do they mean?
E – Integrity,
the time it takes for fire to physically spread through a fire seal. At the point of failure one can see the glow of the fire through the seal, flames coming through or via a cotton pad which catches fire when held close to the seal by the test technician.
I – Insulation,
the temperature, measured on the non-fire side has increased by 180°C on either the fire seal or the services. This is measured through many thermocouples placed in strategic locations. The intention is to replicate the lowest possible temperature that can actually start a fire, even though the fire itself has not passed through the fire seal. This is the more difficult classification to achieve.
The letters are followed by a number, which is how long in minutes the integrity and insulation were maintained. For instance, the classification E 60 is integrity for one hour, whilst EI 120 is both integrity and insulation for two hours.
Can I substitute or mix manufacturers’ products?
No, this is not recommended. Substituting and mixing different manufacturers products will compromise the integrity of the firestop system, risking life and assets.
Firestopping basics
What is firestop and how does it work?
Firestop is a fire protection system that seals openings to prevent the passage of gases, smoke and flames from passing through compartments walls and floors
Is firestopping compulsory?
Yes, firestopping is compulsory in the UK.
What is a penetration seal?
Protecta FR Board
What is the biggest sized aperture covered with FR Board?
1200mm high by unlimited width
How many services can you have in one opening?
The total amount of cross sections of services (including insulation) should not exceed 60% of the penetration area.
What is the separation distance between openings?
100mm if penetration seals are to EN1366-3 and 200mm if penetration seals are to other standards.
What is the minimum separation from the edge of the opening to the service?
25mm to from edge of the opening to service or insulation for insulated services.
What is the minimum separation between services?
Services within the system FR Board seal do not require a minimum separation, except where FR Pipe Wraps are used, which should be a minimum of 30 mm from other services in the aperture.
Can I use the FR Board in a 3 sided opening?
Yes if there is no deflection. FR boards should not be used in an aperture with deflection.
Can I use FR Board for partial penetrations?
FR Board seals may also be used in the situation where the services penetrate one side of the wall only and the remaining side of the wall is not penetrated at the same point
What services are covered with FR Board?
Penetration seal with cables, conduits, cable trays, bus-bars, metallic pipes, composite pipes and plastic pipes, with and without insulation, with mixed services within the same seal/aperture.
What are service support requirements for FR Board?
Services in floors shall be supported at maximum 450 mm from the top face. Services in walls shall be supported at maximum 270mm from both faces of the wall.
Do you have a detail for angled pipes through FR Boards?
Yes, services through the system Protecta FR Board may be used in all angles between 90° and 45° in all directions, subject to metallic pipes only.
Protecta FR Acrylic
To what fire standard is FR Acrylic tested to?
For fire stopping of service penetrations, the test standard used is EN 1366-3 in conjunction with EN 1363-1. For fire-stopping through linear joints, the test standard used is EN 1366-4 in conjunction with EN 1363-1.
With Protecta FR Acrylic, a minimum seal width of 10mm is advised, but can it be less?
Minimum seal width should be 10mm to allow for correct fitting of backing and seal depth. Where the sealant is designed to close a gap, for instance around plastic pipes, 10mm would be the minimum width.
A solution states 12.5mm depth of a Protecta FR Acrylic sealant on a 12.5mm backing of stonewool, can I instead seal with 25mm sealant and skip the backing?
Yes, the Protecta sealant will give better fire resistance than the stonewool backing material so if the total depth is the same or greater this is ok.
There is a solution for a double sided seal with a Protecta FR Acrylic sealant at 15mm depth in a rigid wall. Can I instead seal this single sided at 30mm depth?
No. With a double sided fire seal the fire has to effectively ‘start again’ when it meets the second seal. As a fire stopping solution it is better to do a single sided seal on both sides resulting in a higher fire resistance.
It is stated that I should use a stone-wool backing with a Protecta FR Acrylic sealant, can I instead use Protecta Backing material?
Yes, the Protecta backing is made of AES fibre which has greater fire resistance than stonewool. However, if Protecta Backing is stated, you cannot use stonewool backing.
I am to fire seal a plastic pipe, but it is not a standard PVC, PE or PP pipe. Can I use the general instructions for plastic pipes?
Yes, in most cases we have tested variations of the plastic pipes. Please refer to the installation instructions or our UKTA and ETA for the plastic pipe variations.
It is stated ‘alupex’ pipes in the instructions; can I use Geberit Mepla MLC pipes?
Yes. Alupex is a term for composite aluminium pipes consisting of an aluminium core covered on the inner and outer sides with plastic. Please refer to the installation instructions or our UKTA and ETA for variations.
Can the firestop details given in concrete floors be used in timber floors?
No, it is not allowed. Please see our handbook for timber constructions.
What is the minimum separation distance between openings when using FR Acrylic.
When used in circular openings, a minimum 30mm separation is permitted between openings.
What is the minimum gap between edge of opening to service when using FR Acrylic?
Minimum 10mm annular space or 10mm from the edge of opening to service required.
Protecta EX Mortar
Is it acceptable that instead of a minimum 100mm depth of Protecta EX mortar, I can use a 50mm stonewool slab with 50mm depth of mortar?
No. But where a 50mm depth of mortar on a 50mm stonewool is mentioned, you can use a 100mm depth of mortar instead and with no stone wool.
Do I need to remove a shuttering stone wool board when the shutter is not shown as part of the approval for EX Mortar in a floor?
No, the shutter will only increase the fire resistance, and will not hinder any pipe wraps expanding normally.
What PVC Pipes have been tested with Protecta EX Mortar?
This includes any PVC – U and PVC – C pipes or similar. This is providing the pipe is according to EN 1329-1, EN 1452-2, EN1453-1 and EN1566-1.
What PP Pipes have been tested with Protecta EX Mortar?
This includes any PP-MV, PP-H, PP-R or similar. This is providing the pipe is according to Annex A, EN1451-1 or DIN 8077/8078.
What PE Pipes have been tested with Protecta EX Mortar?
This includes any PE-LD, PE-MD, PE-HD, PE-X or simliar. This is providing the pipe is according EN1519-1, EN12201-2, EN12666-1.
What ABS pipes have been tested with Protecta EX Mortar?
This includes any SAN+PVX or ABS according to EN1455-1 or EN1565-1.
Can I use EX Mortar in timber stud flexible walls?
Yes, no part of the penetration seal may be closer than 100 mm to a stud, the cavity must be closed between the penetration seal and the stud, and a minimum of 100mm of insulation of class A1 or A2 according to EN 13501-1 must be provided within the cavity between the penetration seal and the stud.
What is maximum aperture size tested in walls with Protecta EX Mortar?
2400mm wide by 1200mm high.
What are minimum separation requirements within the EX Mortar seals?
Services should be a minimum of 20mm from the seal edge and combustible services must be 30mm from other services.
What are the service support requirements when using EX Mortar?
Services in floors shall be supported at a maximum of 450mm from the top face. Services in walls shall be supported at a maximum of 270mm from both faces of the wall.
Approvals, Certifications & Training
What certifications are available for Protecta products?
The Protecta® fire stopping range has ETA certifications and the CE-marks for Europe and Africa, UL-EU International certifications for Asia and South America and local certifications for the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Australia.
What is a CE mark?
CE mark stands for ‘Conformite Europeenne’ which is a French phrase but required by the European Union. A CE mark is a verification by a manufacturer that their product meets EU regulations in safety, health and environmental requirements.
Are all Protecta products CE marked?
Most Protecta products are CE marked, excluding Steel Paint FR-1, Mineral Fibre Bio and FR Damper.
What is declaration of performance?
The Construction Products Regulation requires manufacturers to supply a Declaration of Performance for each product they sell which outlines how the product performs when they are CE marked.
What is an ETA?
An ETA is a European Technical Assessment which is an approval received on testing to agreed European requirements.
Do Protecta offer training on their products?
We are able to offer our customers a range of different training options, from online, to on-site assistance.
Where can I find documentation for Protecta products?
All product documentation including technical and safety data sheets, certifications, declaration of performance (DOP) can be downloaded from the relevant product pages
I have a fire seal that is not mentioned in any of the solutions, what should I do?
Please contact us and we will assess if we can make an engineering judgement.
