Passive Fire Protection

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice regarding fire stopping. I've recently seen some service penetrations (cable trays, wire bundles) that have been 'fire stopped' with what looks to be off cuts of fire rated plasterboard and mastic. The work was carried out by a general builder, not a fire stopping specialist and no fire stopping labels were present. I've put in my report that it was not possible to confirm that the products used meet the required fire resisting properties etc. So my query: Can fire stopping be done with FR plasterboard or should it always be a fire batt/FR mastics etc. I was under the impression that FR plasterboard was only for wall and ceiling lini…

Hi All, Our company has a customer who wants us to supply tables and chairs for an airport cafe. Could you please advise what is fire safety requirement for treating wooden furniture? Do we need Class 0, Class 1 or FR lacquer? Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

I am considering going into business selling club fender seats made from wood with an upholstered seat. From what I have read the upholstery must meet fire standards but the wood is not covered by the legislation. As the piece of furniture is designed to be placed close in front of the fire what are the relevant regulations I should be aware of as a seller/maker and what are their conclusions? Thank you in advance for your help.

Not sure if you can help but I need a quick question answering for work. What is the maximum gap allowed between and intumescent strip and a door keep?

If I sell a dining chair on ebay which I have recovered , does it have to meet with any fire regs. Thank you

If timber cladding is found on the walls (and balcony - single means of escape route) of a low building, then I understand that it must meet a rating of euroclass B. There are plenty of companies who sell fire-retardant solutions to paint the timber. Do these tend to be reliable? And do they need specialist knowledge of how to apply them - e.g. to achieve desired depth of impregnation?

Trying to establish around retro fitting smoke control in old buildings. I have buildings where we have POVs and i do see the need to change these to AOVs as this was the standard of the day. My question is where you have a three story, two staircase buildings. Both lobbied and balcony access to both. Is there any requirement to install window opening on the stairs for the Fire service to manual vent the stairs. Present arrangement has no smoke control. my arguement is this is how it was built, plus two staircases so if one is compromised you can turn hour back and use the alternative. smoke is also not going risk the means of escape as it is not an en…

Hi I am thinking of renting out my property. It was all furnished newly over last 5 years, most of the furniture is from IKEA or ARGOS. However, at the point of purchasing I did not realise the importance of keeping the labels (also IKEA only provides them on request as I understand). Is there any way of having the furnishings in my house tested by someone who is certified to do so and can provide me with a certificate? It seems a total madness (and rather costly) to be replacing all the furnishing lacking the label.. I would be happy to replace/ get rid of anything that won't meet the standards however, I am sure most of it should be fine. How can I go about …

I was wondering whether antique upholstered furniture also needs to comply with the legislation. For example, an edwardian chair that was upholstered in the last 10 years. Does it need to have a fire resistant label to be sold in a shop?

Hi All I have a faux leather settee which is in very good condition that I wanted to donate to a 'reuse' charity rather take it to the tip. It has a valid fire label but also two very minor scratches on one arm and a 2cm x 0.5 scrape of the 'skin' is missing on one leg. The guys who came to collect the settee said this invalidates the fire label but they'd take it away for a fee; whether they then throw it away or use it for charity, I don't know. I've researched via the internet and can find nothing to indicate that what they say is true. Please can anyone advise on the facts of the matter Thanks in advance

I currently have several 1930’s buildings connected to a district heating main. At one end there is a subterranean plant room At the other is a pit For the subterranean plant room end I am happy to rely on the external door to the space as that is all there is in the plantroom. However I am looking for advice as to what to do with the pit end which is in the actual boiler room. What fire stopping would you suggest if any?

I'm a handyman and my clients have asked me to replace their old gas meter cabinet located at the rear of the building (external). The cabinet covers 6 gas meters (203cm high x 108cm wide x 15cm deep) and is made of chipboard that gradually decayed over the years (see photos) Instead of chipboard, I am planning to use 2" x 5" C24 treated, sawn, structural timber for sides & top. Instead of the heavy, large door (180cm high x 101cm wide) with butt hinges, I am planning to install a double door made of sealed 18mm hardwood core plywood, fitted with flush fit hinges so the doors won't be concealed but will cover the entire frame. The chipboard plinth (33cm high and …

Hello I've read and re-read the domestic fire regulations but can't get a clear idea of what I need to do. I am an upholsterer. I have reupholstered an item of furniture for someone who sells items as a vintage furniture dealer. The item in question was in fact not manufactured until post-1950, so I know it needs to meet fire regs. It does I reupholstered the item from scratch using all fire reg materials and fabric. Now for the guy to sell the item, what labels does it need? I have attached a green swing ticket, one that can easily be removed. My confusion is with the perm label. It came to me with no label on it. I appreciate it is post 1950, b…

Hi, I have received a new sofa that has arrived with a permanent fire safety label underneath and a fire safety swing tag attached quite visibly. I am struggling to find any confirmation that I can just cut and discard the swing tag?

What is the legal position regarding furniture / upholstered chairs that were produced in the 1970's when fire safety labels were not required? The reason I ask is that we have some perfect condition furniture to donate and charity shops are refusing to accept due to them not having a fire label. It would be a great shame if this meant that all older furniture had to be scrapped. Thank you in advance for any advice you might give. Kind regards, Peter

Hello - first post 😉 Situation. Grade II listed building. Basement (staff only, storage and electricals) Ground floor mixed staff and guest. 1st floor 99% guest. 2nd floor Staff only. We have a cupboard, in a ground floor loo (staff only) which opens to a main escape route stair bottom. (the loo door faces the bottom of the stairs, the cupboard is inside the loo room) The cupboard houses pumps, water pipes, valves and minor 240v electrical devices WRT heating systems. The cupboard is currently made of 9mm ply, and screwed shut. Access is required very infrequently. The top of the cupboard, pipes and ethernet cables go into the floor above (and divert off to radi…

Hi I'm looking for some clarification about the need for and locations of manual smoke vent controls in a four-storey single-staircase property with protected lobbies. Smoke detectors are installed in the lobbies only. On activation AOVs in both the staircase and lobbies open. There is no audible alarm. Where should the AOV manual override switches be located? NS

I came across this forum and have a little issue that I wonder if someone could help with . It is perhaps a mixture of a legal and moral issue . I am a reseller and have recently started trying to sell sofas and sometimes wash the covers and I sometimes scrub/wash the main body . However I have come across something which has worried me . I am aware that sofas must have a fire safety label . However I have recently learnt that washing covers can sometimes remove any fire retardant/chemical . Does this make them non fire compliant ? Would I be right in saying that once washed they would no longer be compliant and therefore technically I would be breaking the law if …

I have strived to find an answer but can't. The term continuous intumescent strip is used, throughout the industry, what happens when an ULSASD or DD is greater than 2100mm, as the strips are sold in 2100mm lengths. Continuous means without break or does it means 2 pieces continuously placed without gap, so to reach lengths above 2100mm Regards Chris W

I hope you can help me as I am receiving mixed information regarding furniture (dog beds) for pets. The cushion used in the bed can be non-fire retardant and the filling has to be fire retardant? So if we create a wooden bed which will be upholstered. Will the bed have to be fire safe? I am confused about which bit will have to be fire retardant when dealing with pets. Thank you very much for looking into this. Kirsten

Morning all Could I get clarity on design, I have a contractor who want to install electrical supplies using the dry riser shaft, I have checked BS9990 and cannot find any regulation to prevent this. Although I have not authorised this I would like to confirm with a BS standard.

If a door has a smoke seal is the gap measured between the brush and the door edge or between the frame and the door edge. If there's a 4mm gape between the door edge and frame and a smoke seal is fitted won't this hinder the door in closing?

Hi, I am just looking for some advice regarding fire stopping and maintaining compartmentalisation in a dry riser for a 4 storey block of flats built in 2017. From visual inspection using my torch it seems as tho I can see from the 3rd floor in the riser space to the ground floor at the bottom of the riser duct , should the riser be compartmentalised continuing the floor across in some form of fire resisting material therefore compartmentalising every floor in the riser. If this was done I wouldn't be able to see from the bottom to the top of the riser. This may be a stupid question , but I didn't want to just assume that the building was constructed corr…

Hi all, I want to protect my wooden furniture from fire. Can you provide me with some of the most effective methods to fireproof wood and prevent fire hazards? Should I consider using coatings, varnishes, or chemical treatments? I came across a fire retardant product online, but I'm unsure of its effectiveness. Are there any specific safety standards to follow when treating wood to make it fireproof? Thank you in advance for your advice.

The wall and shaver/tooth brush unit in my bathroom has got very hot suddenly this morning. Is this a fire risk. I rent this property and my land lord hasn’t replied yet