Passive fire protection is built into the structural components of your building as the first measure of defense against fire. In some cases, the building itself is fire resistant, such as with concrete walls and floors. For buildings with pipework, you’ll want to rely on fire collars and wraps.
Fighting fires in the workplace doesn’t just mean using fire extinguishers or relying on the fire department. In most cases, the best way to prevent fire damage is to stop it before it begins.
A fire collar goes on your piping to maintain its shape and prevent fire and smoke from spreading throughout your building. Typically, you’ll see them installed around the part of a pipe going through a wall into another room.
Fire wraps are a more economic alternative to fire collars that can work with plastic pipework and other elements in your home. You may also see them used in conjunction with ductwork, which is usually too large for collars.
Fire compartmentation is all about containing a fire after it has broken out. Some materials, like plastic, are combustible and can actually spread a fire even if there isn’t much else that can catch a flame.
Fire compartmentation uses fire-stopping materials to effectively seal off each room from one another. That’s where fire collars and wraps come in.
When a fire collar is exposed to high heat, the intumescent core inside of the collar rapidly expands. It crushes the softened pipe and closes off the area.
A fire wrap works much the same way but without the metal fixture. They’re usually fitted onto a pipe or ductwork with duct tape. They expand when exposed to heat, so you want to make sure you secure them onto the structure.
Not all systems require these fire safety tools. The main concern is when piping goes from room to room through walls.
You also have to consider the type of piping your building has. Standard fire collars won’t be strong enough to seal off a metal pipe. In that case, you’d need to explore using a specialist collar or use a pipe wrap.
Browse our fire collars and wraps along with our other preventative fire safety equipment here.
Accidental fires almost always start as concentrated incidents, for example electronic devices can overheat and ignite a fire. If you’re lucky, the fire may burn itself out and cause minimal damage. However, piping throughout your building provides an easy outlet for smoke and fire.
Non-metal piping can catch on fire and spread. If you have ductwork running throughout your building, it can also catch fire if it isn’t well protected.
The main benefit of fire collars and wraps is to seal up those pipes and ductwork and contain the fire before it causes more damage.
Fire collars are unobtrusive, they’re installed directly on the wall where the pipe goes through and aren’t that thick.
While wraps aren’t as nice looking, they can be trimmed as needed or taped together for larger structures you want to cover.
Finally, you will potentially save your business thousands in damages later on by investing a little bit of money on preventative measures now. Additionally, you may find insurance premiums are reduced as a result. There are many other preventative measures you can take to protect you home against fires, such as fire compartmentation.
Ultimately what are these fire prevention tools going to do for your specific business? If you have plastic pipe penetrations, then they’re necessary to help prevent fire from spreading.
Both types of fire prevention work with PVC pipes and the like, and they come in a variety of sizes.
At ClearView we have a highly trained and accredited fire prevention team. If you have any concerns about compliance with fire stopping regulations, talk to one of our specialists about getting a fire risk review and full assessment today. We also offer fire stopping installation services.
Peace of mind through certification to the highest industry standards.
Over 25 years providing bespoke CCTV, Fire Protection & Access Control security solutions from our 2,000m² HQ in Essex.
Complete fire & security service with rapid response 24/7, 365 days a year.
