Fire safety in commercial buildings goes beyond just fire doors. While fire doors play a critical role, it’s essential to think about the other measures that work together to protect people and property in the event of a fire. One of the most important, but often overlooked, is fire-stopping. This refers to passive fire protection techniques designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through a building, which are crucial in working together with all other passive fire protection measures.

At Manor Interior Solutions, we specialise in providing certified fire-stopping solutions across the East and West Midlands. This article will help you understand why fire-stopping is essential for commercial properties and how it fits into your overall fire safety strategy.

Fire-stopping is one of the cornerstones of fire safety in any commercial building. In simple terms, it involves sealing any gaps, openings, or joints that could allow fire or smoke to spread. These gaps are often created by pipes, ducts, cables, or other building services. Left untreated, they can be a weak link in your fire safety strategy.

The importance of fire-stopping can’t be overstated. Even a small gap can allow fire to spread rapidly from one area to another, turning what could have been a contained fire into a major hazard. Effective fire-stopping, alongside fire doors, works to isolate fire to one area, providing critical time for evacuation and minimizing damage. At Manor Interior Solutions, we provide fire-stopping surveys and installations to help ensure your property is well-protected.

Fire-stopping systems are typically made from specialist materials like intumescent seals, fire-resistant sealants, fire-rated boards, and mortars. These materials expand or harden when exposed to heat, effectively blocking the spread of fire and smoke through walls, ceilings, and floors to create a robust barrier that contains fire to a specific area, protecting other parts of the building.
The BM TRADA certification scheme ensures that fire-stopping installations meet strict quality standards. By choosing BM TRADA certified fire-stopping solutions, such as those offered by Manor Interior Solutions, building owners in the East and West Midlands can feel confident that they comply with UK building regulations and that their property is safeguarded against fire risks.

Fire-stopping isn’t a standalone solution; it’s part of a broader fire safety strategy that includes other essential measures such as fire doors, sprinklers, alarms, and emergency lighting. You could have the best fire doors in place, but if gaps in the surrounding walls or ceilings aren’t properly sealed, fire can still spread.

Regular checks by certified professionals ensure that fire-stopping measures are maintained alongside fire doors. At Manor Interior Solutions, we offer comprehensive fire-stopping services, including regular inspections to identify and address any weaknesses in your building’s fire safety defences.

As a building owner or manager, it’s crucial to be aware of potential fire-stopping issues. Some typical places where fire-stopping is necessary include:

• Around fire doors, especially if the frames or surrounding walls have gaps
• Service penetrations, such as pipes and cables passing through walls
• Expansion joints or other structural gaps between floors and ceilings
• Void spaces above ceilings and beneath floors

If your commercial building is older or has undergone renovations, it’s especially important to have a fire-stopping survey carried out. New construction might introduce new gaps or openings that require sealing. Additionally, fire-stopping materials can degrade over time, so regular maintenance is key to keeping your building compliant and safe.