Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Duncan AlabasterDuncan Alabaster

Technical Director of PFC Technical Director of PFC CorofilCorofil

Effects of major fire damage on businesses

6%are sold or merged

28%out of business within one year

28%out of business within one year

23%fully operational again

after one year 43%never

operational again

Introduction to cable Introduction to cable firestoppingfirestopping

Industry experts agree that combinations of active and passive fire protection measures are the best way forward.

East Tower Parque Central, Caracas, Venezuela

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

FIRESTOPPING PRINCIPLESFIRESTOPPING PRINCIPLES

Buildings are broken down into fire resistant Buildings are broken down into fire resistant cells constructed from fire compartment cells constructed from fire compartment walls and floors. walls and floors.

Each of these must contain a fire for a Each of these must contain a fire for a specified period of time. specified period of time.

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

If one of these cells is penetrated e.g. If one of these cells is penetrated e.g.

••PipesPipes••DoorsDoors••CablesCables

The integrity of the cell must be reinstated The integrity of the cell must be reinstated to its original state.to its original state.

Thus preventing spread of fire and smokeThus preventing spread of fire and smoke

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

How Fast Does Smoke Travel?Consider this:Consider this:

�� A square room 20 ft x 20 ft x 20 ft has a pencil hole between coA square room 20 ft x 20 ft x 20 ft has a pencil hole between compartments.mpartments.

�� How long will it take for the smoke to fill the room to a thicknHow long will it take for the smoke to fill the room to a thickness such that ess such that you cannot see your hands 18 inches in front of you?you cannot see your hands 18 inches in front of you?

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

20 ft x 20 ft x 20 ft room

Pencil Hole

3 minutes40 seconds

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Introduction to cable Introduction to cable firestoppingfirestopping

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

THIS HAS MANY BENEFITS:THIS HAS MANY BENEFITS:

••Allows time for safe evacuation of peopleAllows time for safe evacuation of people

••Allows fire services to work safely and efficientlyAllows fire services to work safely and efficiently

••Reduces damage to contentsReduces damage to contents

••Reduces rebuild costsReduces rebuild costs

••Reduces business down timeReduces business down time

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

The electrical, data and telecoms The electrical, data and telecoms contractors are increasingly being given contractors are increasingly being given responsibility to fire stop their responsibility to fire stop their installations.installations.

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Legislation, regulations and best practice Legislation, regulations and best practice guidelines now cover guidelines now cover allall types of buildings.types of buildings.

Not just commercial and new build but also Not just commercial and new build but also domestic and domestic and refurbrefurb/upgrade works./upgrade works.

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

BS8492:2009BS8492:2009

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

When you penetrate through any When you penetrate through any compartment wall a compartment wall a ‘‘fit for purposefit for purpose’’firestoppingfirestopping product product mustmust be installed.be installed.

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

It is the contractorIt is the contractor’’s responsibility to s responsibility to make sure that this is done.make sure that this is done.

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Introduction to cable Introduction to cable firestoppingfirestopping

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

FirestoppingFirestopping products are subject to products are subject to independent fire testing at third party fire independent fire testing at third party fire stations.stations.

••BS476 Part 20BS476 Part 20

••EN1366EN1366--33

�� An An IntumescentIntumescent pillow fire test at BRE pillow fire test at BRE -- BeforeBefore

�� 4 hours later4 hours later

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Test laboratories do not police the Test laboratories do not police the use of claims made by use of claims made by manufacturers of manufacturers of firestoppingfirestoppingmaterials.materials.

Third party schemes which review Third party schemes which review test data and carry out factory test data and carry out factory audits , clearly define the limitations audits , clearly define the limitations of a productof a product

Introduction to cable Introduction to cable firestoppingfirestopping

How do I select a fit for purpose product?How do I select a fit for purpose product?

Key questions:Key questions:

Fire rating?Fire rating?

Wall or floor?Wall or floor?

What is it made from? E.g. Masonry or dry wallWhat is it made from? E.g. Masonry or dry wall

What cable management system is being used and what is it What cable management system is being used and what is it made from (steel or plastic)?made from (steel or plastic)?

What is the size of the hole around the CMS?What is the size of the hole around the CMS?

What is the extent of the cable fill within my CMS?What is the extent of the cable fill within my CMS?

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

�� HANDBOOK TO APPROVED HANDBOOK TO APPROVED FIRESTOPPING FOR MOD JOINT FIRESTOPPING FOR MOD JOINT SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS WORKSWORKS

�� DRAFTDRAFT

�� APRIL 2006 EDITIONAPRIL 2006 EDITION

�� Written by: Duncan Alabaster of PFC Written by: Duncan Alabaster of PFC CorofilCorofil

�� Verified by BRE Fire CertificationVerified by BRE Fire Certification

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Cable management Fire stop Systems allow flexibility Cable management Fire stop Systems allow flexibility for future cable installations with transit points in fire for future cable installations with transit points in fire

compartmentscompartments

Looking ahead!Looking ahead!

Introduction to cable Introduction to cable firestoppingfirestopping

�� Keep records of what products were Keep records of what products were used,whereused,where and when they were and when they were installed.installed.

�� On new build, where On new build, where firestoppingfirestopping can be fragmented between trades, can be fragmented between trades, record the items that you werenrecord the items that you weren’’t responsible fort responsible for

�� Clearly label Clearly label firestopsfirestops, giving contact details for future clarification on , giving contact details for future clarification on resealing if penetratedresealing if penetrated

�� In occupied buildings, introduction of permit to work schemes rIn occupied buildings, introduction of permit to work schemes reduce educe risk of penetrating fire compartments by:risk of penetrating fire compartments by:

�� Increasing cabling contractor awareness of fire stopsIncreasing cabling contractor awareness of fire stops

�� Keeping records of who is working where and at what timeKeeping records of who is working where and at what time

Reducing your liability Reducing your liability -- Record keepingRecord keeping

Introduction to cable fire stoppingIntroduction to cable fire stopping

Workmanship IssuesWorkmanship Issues

EducationEducation

Training installers to increase awareness of the importance Training installers to increase awareness of the importance of of firestopfirestop seals and the need to reinstate the barrierseals and the need to reinstate the barrier’’s s integrityintegrity

Introduction to cable Introduction to cable firestoppingfirestopping

Workmanship issuesWorkmanship issues

Where possible, reduce liabilities to a minimum by appointing Where possible, reduce liabilities to a minimum by appointing a 3a 3rdrd party accredited fire stop contractorparty accredited fire stop contractor

Summary for successful Summary for successful firestoppingfirestopping

�� Ask yourself the key Ask yourself the key ‘‘fit for purposefit for purpose’’ questionsquestions

�� Ask the manufacturer if their product fulfils your requirementsAsk the manufacturer if their product fulfils your requirements

�� Reduce your liability by sourcing a third party certificated proReduce your liability by sourcing a third party certificated productduct

�� Keep accurate records including labelling Keep accurate records including labelling firestopsfirestops about what, where about what, where and when you installed and when you installed firestopsfirestops

�� Keep records what you were not asked to Keep records what you were not asked to firestopfirestop

�� Education Education ––Make sure your installers are made aware of the Make sure your installers are made aware of the importance of maintaining fire sealimportance of maintaining fire seal’’s integritys integrity

�� Reduce your liability further by using a third party accredited Reduce your liability further by using a third party accredited specialist fire stopping contractor, if commercially possible.specialist fire stopping contractor, if commercially possible.

Questions ?Questions ?