Fire stopping works

Pingu1

The managing agent for my block has announced they are obtaining quotes for fire stopping works in the communial areas of the building, involving sealing penetrations in communial cupboards. Can anyone explain what this means and how much it will cost? Its a small block of four flats.

Eldi_Dos

Concerning this is just being picked up, have there been any renovation works carried out recently or anyone been running new services, broadband that type of thing.

tacpot12

Fire stopping is building work aimed at stopping the spread of fire. As has been suggested, the work in your block can include blocking up the holes (aka penetrations) between fire compartments. Usually each flat is regarded as its own fire compartment and there has to be sufficient non-flammable material between each flat to stop fire moving between fire compartments (flats) for at least 30 minutes (and more in higher-rise buildings). Fire and smoke can pass through relatively small holes, especially if the holes are only partially filled with electrical cables. 

The cost will be related to the amount of work, but it unlikely to be expensive for a small block of four flats. There simply aren't enough holes to turn it into a mega-project, even if the work is done properly.   
 

Pingu1

I don't think so. There are 2 meter cupboards, one on each floor. Each flat also has a lockup cupboard. There is 1 fire door on the ground floor, and each flat's front door is a fire door.

ComicGeek

The meter cupboard doors would normally also need to be fire rated, but if the building is more than 30 years old (or had work undertaken more recently) then very common for cable penetrations through the fire rated partitions of the meter cupboards not to be fire stopped, or for that to have failed since installation.

Simple job to fire stop, and it's good to see managing agents taking it seriously. There has probably been a fire risk assessment undertaken recently that has picked this up, it's a serious risk if a fire starts in the meter cupboard and blocks your escape route.

travis-powers

I’ve just done this on a banking hub, any cable, pipe or gap had to be filled with fire batt (dense rock wool coated with intumescent paint) any cut edges painted, and any smaller gaps filled with intumescent putty and or intumescent silicone.
 Depending on the specifications they may add fire resistant plaster board to the ceiling.