2 Feb 2018
According to the building regulations ‘Approved Document B’, plastic pipes penetrating fire compartment walls and floors need to be equipped a with firestopping solution to prevent the spread of fire.
Typically, this is covered by installing either intumescent
pipe collars or intumescent wraps around the pipes where they go through the
fire rated floors and walls. These systems should be tested to BSEN 1366-3:
2009.
Both intumescent pipe collars (or fire collars) and
intumescent pipe wraps work on the same principle; in the event of a fire, when
exposed to heat, the intumescent material expands crushing the plastic pipe as
it softens and plugs the hole. The fire seal created by the activated
intumescent material prevents the fire and smoke spreading to the adjoining
compartment.
So, what is the difference between the two products and how
to decide which one to use?
Composition
Fire collars consist of a metal shell (typically stainless
steel) containing the graphite based intumescent material. They require
mechanical fixings to be secured to the structure. In pipe wraps, the
intumescent material is contained within a polythene cover and typically put in
place using a self-adhesive tape.
Application
In the event of a fire, it is essential that the intumescent
material expands towards the melting plastic pipe so that it exerts enough
pressure on the melting pipe to crush it and completely block the hole. In fire
collars, the metal shell prevents the intumescent material expanding outwards,
making them also suitable to be used where plastic pipes penetrate through
plasterboard walls, ceilings and floors. Due to the lack of the outer band,
pipe wraps need to be installed in a solid construction i.e. concrete floors to
prevent the intumescent expanding outwards. Some intumescent pipe wraps can
also be used in fire batts with the relevant specification. Intumescent wraps
can be used where pipes are fitted tightly to the wall and fire collars can’t be
installed because of space restrictions.
Ease of installation
While pipe collars are easy to install, with the right
design and preparation (by creating the right size hole and using the right
materials, like fire protection compound and ablative coated fire batts), pipe
wraps are just as simple to put in place. However, if the fire protection is
being retro fitted, it is considerably easier to use fire collars as they can
also be wrapped around the already installed pipes.
Pipe wraps tend to cost less, however other products may
need to be used in conjunction with these. While intumescent wraps may be more
cost-effective, applications, where fire collars need to be used, tend to be more
common, so the decision on which product to use is not always evident. If in
doubt, always seek for advice from the manufacturer of the system or contact a
specialist fire protection professional!
Quelfire Limited
Website
Email Us
T: 0161 924 1342
Springvale Industrial Estate
Millbuck Way
CW11 3HT
Sandbach, Cheshire
United Kingdom
Meet Quelfire Limited at stand FI.1237 on the 16-18 May 2023 at the ExCeL London when the co-located IFSEC, FIREX, Facilities Show and Safety & Health Expo events take place!
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