3 common mistakes to avoid when installing Fire Stopping
1. Leaving too much (or too little) space
Mind the gap! The goal of Fire Stopping is to prevent fire from spreading through penetrations in walls, floors of ceilings. When you drill a hole, make sure to make it the right size for the fire stopping product you use. If you make the hole too narrow or too wide, the fire stop might not work as it should. When in doubt, ask your Promat expert!
2. Using dangerous product mix
Don’t mix products from different manufacturers. Fire stopping is a science. Every product is designed for a specific solution. Your favorite fire stopping brand should be able to offer the right products for every type of penetration. Make sure you select the right product. It should come with a certificate that proves it was approved by a recognized testing facility. The Promat Selector App helps you to choose the right set of products for your project. You download it for free and get 100% peace of mind.
3. Not following the installation guidelines
A fire stopping solution is only as good as the craftsman who installs it. As this is a life-saving activity, you need to make sure that you or your staff install the product as required. If not, the product loses its proven fire stopping qualities. Prevent a negative audit by the fire authorities and avoid claims from your client. Make sure you use products that come with detailed installation guides and videos. Every Promat product comes with a detailed installation video for full compliance.
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Other tips and tricks that might interest you
Compartmentalization is only as good as your Fire Stopping
Compartmentalization is a crucial element in passive fire protection. Building engineers, contractors and dryliners need to create within the building separate compartments that will contain the fire for a legally required amount of time (60/90/120 minutes). This combination of fire safe walls, ceilings, floors and doors prevents a fire from spreading through the building and allows the fire brigade to evacuate the building and fight the fire.
BUT: once a compartment is built, installers need to make penetrations for electricity, sanitary of ventilation. All these penetrations need the correct fire stopping seal or collar to close the gap in case of fire.
Make sure you talk to the architect, engineer or drywaller to find out if you are working on a fireproof compartment. Check the required fire resistance to select the right product with the Promat Selector app.
Get the certificate you need
Fire Stopping products that are not tested by a recognized facility could be unreliable and might not meet the requirements of building codes. At the time of construction, you need to use firestops that are fully tested and comply with all the legal requirements in your market. Luckily for you, all Promat products are tested and certified to the highest standards. If you use the Selector App, you can be 100% sure you’ll use the right products. If you use the Reporter App to archive the installation and create a report with all certificates attached, you’ll have complied with all the legal requirements and your installation is ready for inspection and maintenance by the building owner.
Avoid paperwork with a reporting app
Documenting Fire Stopping in projects is mandatory. This information is not only essential for inspections, but also comes in handy if there is ever a need for a repair or replacement. By using the Reporter App, you can document projects and materials without breaking as much as a sweat. You take pictures of the installation on the jobsite and locate them on your floorplan. The app automatically produces a full report for your client. Bye bye paperwork!
Don’t take our word for it
“Working with Promat has been a breath of fresh air. Every product has been easy to install and when I do encounter the occasional snag, someone from Promat is readily available.”
Stefano, installer
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