2023-01-06
Fire-stopping systems are a fundamental part of passive fireproofing of a building and its compartments in ensuring occupants’ safety. Firestopping is the reinstating (filling of) service penetration openings that penetrate through fire-rated (resistant) construction elements and joints that occur between fire-rated (resistant) construction elements. Firestops slow and prevent the spread of fire between ‘compartments’ within a building for a given time.
Firestops systems can comprise various products, parts, components, and materials that together are designed and engineered to resist fire, smoke, and in some instances, water; however, the most familiar and commonly used in this region consist of intumescent or charring silicones, mineral fibre insulations & cementitious mortars, etc.
Fire-resistive joint systems are needed where joints are formed between walls, floors, ceilings, soffits, etc. Through penetration, and membrane penetration, firestop systems are required where openings or service penetrations breach into or through fire-rated (resistant) compartment’s partitions or walls, floors, slabs, ceilings, and slab terminations with curtain walls, etc.
As per the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (FLSCP, edition 2018), fire-stopping systems should be tested and certified (listed) by a recognised third-party testing and certification body. When selecting firestops for installation in a building, the project designers and consultants must only detail listed (certified) systems by a recognised testing and certification body. The firestop systems must also be approved and registered with the Civil Defence Authority.
Below, we have detailed each types of firestop system with the applicable test standards to meet the UAE FLSCP requirements.
Through-penetration firestop system: It addresses openings in fire-rated assemblies where penetrants pass through a fire-rated construction and where the integrity of the wall and floor needs to be maintained.
Through penetration firestop system shall be tested & certified to any of the following standards, such as ASTM E 814, UL 1479, EN 1366-3, FM 4990 or other equivalent test standards, approved by the UAE Civil Defence (refer to the UAE FLSCP for the minimum required rating).
Membrane-penetration Firestop system: It addresses openings in fire-rated assemblies where only one side of the fire-rated barrier is penetrated and where the integrity of the wall or floor needs to be maintained.
Membrane firestop system shall be tested & certified to any of the following standards, such as ASTM E 814, UL 1479, EN 1366-3, FM 4990 or other equivalent test standards, approved by the UAE Civil Defence (refer to the UAE FLSCP for the minimum required rating).
Fire resistive joint system: It addresses any gap, joints, or opening (whether static or dynamic) between two fire-rated barriers, including where the top of a wall meets a floor, edge-to-wall edge configurations, floor edge-to-floor edge configurations, floor edge to wall configurations.
Fire resistive joint system shall be tested & certified to any of the following standards, such as ASTM E 1966, UL 2079, FM 4990, EN 1366-4 or other equivalent test standards, approved by the UAE Civil Defence (refer to the UAE FLSCP for the minimum required rating).
Perimeter fire barrier system: It addresses any gap, joint, or opening, whether static or dynamic, between a fire-rated floor assembly and a non-rated exterior wall or fire-rated exterior wall assembly (curtain wall).
Perimeter fire barrier system shall be tested & certified to any of the following standards, such as ASTM E-2307, EN 1364-3 (Full configuration test) or EN 1364-4 (Part configuration test) or other equivalent test standards, approved by the UAE Civil Defence (refer to the UAE FLSCP for the minimum required rating).
The UAE Fire & Life Safety Code of Practice (FLSCP) has mandated several other aspects for such fire-stopping systems in terms of design, inspection, qualification, and installation guides. Refer to the UAE FLSCP for more information here UAE FLSCP - Edition 2018