Getting Firestopping Right: Don't Stop at Compliance

In 2025, conversations about fire safety are shifting away from reactive inspections and toward proactive systems built on precision, planning, and accountability. While active alarms and suppression systems often grab headlines, the passive fire protection discipline (especially firestopping) deserves equal focus.

Too often, firestopping is treated as an afterthought. But when compartmentation fails, bad firestopping does more than just increase property damage. It shortens the time people have to escape. That makes poor firestopping not just a code violation, but a life safety issue.

The UL Solutions guide on firestopping lays out nine useful steps for getting it right. Below, we break down those insights and connect them to the challenges and opportunities facing building owners, contractors, and safety professionals today.

Compartmentation Only Works If Firestopping Is Done Right

During real fires, building safety hinges on how well each compartment contains the blaze. When a fire penetrates walls or floors that were supposed to contain it, it becomes far more difficult to protect occupants or mitigate damage.

In times like these, fire spreads faster. Smoke travels beyond intended limits and suppression systems can be overwhelmed.

Firestopping failures allow what should be a localized threat to become a building-wide disaster.

UL Solutions points to multiple real-world cases where improper firestopping led to residential fires affecting people nowhere near the point of ignition. As a result, dozens were displaced, homes were destroyed, and lives were needlessly put at risk.

A common cause traces back to simple oversights: unsealed cable penetrations, missing intumescent materials, or undocumented product substitutions.

The takeaway here is pretty clear: passive protection systems like firestopping are only effective when fully implemented, documented, and maintained.

Step 1: Plan Firestopping Early - Not Onsite

One of the most significant systemic issues with firestopping is timing. Fire protection, especially passive protection, is rarely discussed in early design meetings. But by the time walls are erected and systems are installed, it's too late to backtrack without cost or compromise.

RIBA Stage 2, the project's concept design phase, should include deliberate coordination between architects, structural engineers, MEP consultants, and fire engineers. This early integration allows firestopping needs to be built into the design. Doing so avoids last-minute improvisations that rarely pass muster.

Too often, the so-called "drive to the bottom" - favoring price over quality - leads to shortcuts. However, prioritizing initial cost savings often leads to expensive post-construction fixes, missed deadlines, or worse: regulatory rejection.

A solid planning process involves:

• Early identification of service routes through compartments
• Agreement on fire resistance ratings for walls and floors
• Strategic placement of tested penetration seals
• Specification of products with traceable third-party certifications

Without this, even the best designs can fail in execution. A resilient building begins with a fire-conscious design brief.

Step 2: Engage Competent Teams Who Collaborate

It's not enough to write fire safety into the blueprint. The project team must include people with the Skills, Attitude, Knowledge, and Experience (SAKE) to carry it through.

Competence must exist across the design, installation, and oversight phases. It should also extend to every contractor and subcontractor at the site.

When fire safety is relegated to a box on a checklist, mistakes pile up:

• Service penetrations created without consultation
• Fire engineers dropped from the project post-design
• Low-bid subcontractors performing critical work without certification

This fragmentation undermines the entire fire strategy. To avoid it, the project client must set a tone of collaboration, not fragmentation. That includes requiring fire engineers to stay engaged throughout the construction phase and mandating that firestopping plans be respected - not revised on the fly.

The benefits of this integrated approach extend beyond compliance. A competent team is more likely to secure early approval from regulatory bodies, avoid delays at Gateway Two (a stage in the regulatory process), and deliver a safer, more rugged building.

Step 3: Submit Detailed Firestopping Plans to Regulators

As the UK and other regions implement Gateway-style regulation, firestopping is no longer a "back of the binder" item. It's a regulated design element subject to inspection and rejection if not properly detailed.

At RIBA Stage 4, firestopping design must be documented with:

• Layouts and penetrations mapped on architectural plans
• Specific products named, with certification documentation
• Performance criteria (such as fire resistance, insulation, movement tolerances)
• Quality benchmarks for installation and testing

This level of detail helps make sure that when the building regulator inspects your submission, they see clear evidence that fire risks have been addressed proactively.

More importantly, this documentation serves as the basis for quality assurance during and after construction. Without it, any site issue (whether a leak, a re-route, or a retrofit) can spiral into liability or delays.

Step 4-6: Control Changes, Train Installers, and Document Everything

Construction is dynamic. Plans change. But with firestopping, ad hoc fixes aren't acceptable. That's why the UL Solutions framework emphasizes:

1. Change Control Protocols: Every field deviation from the approved firestop plan must trigger documentation and expert re-evaluation.
2. Competent Labor: Firestopping is not "just caulking". It's a skilled trade. Only certified specialists should be used, ideally through a UKAS-accredited contractor.
3. Mockups and Sequencing: Creating sample installations for complex projects helps train crews and standardize expectations.

Typically, unskilled labor leads to "cosmetic compliance". In these scenarios, there's an appearance of a firestop with no performance integrity. Firestops must be verified before, during, and after installation. This includes:

• Photo documentation
• Penetration ID tagging
• Certification matching
• Installer tracking

Even small oversights - like mixing product lines or skipping intumescent backing - can compromise entire fire compartments. And once walls are sealed and paint is applied, errors are buried until it's too late.

Step 7-8: Validate and Preserve the Quality of Work

Installing a system is only half the battle. Verification is what makes it trustworthy.

UL Solutions recommends a mix of internal and independent quality checks, especially on larger or higher-risk builds. This includes:

• In-process inspections by a general contractor
• Third-party assessments by certified passive fire protection bodies
• Destructive testing (when appropriate) to confirm installation quality

These inspections should follow frameworks like the ASFP TGD 17, which offers a matrix for inspection frequency based on building complexity and use.

At project handover, a complete set of firestopping documentation - with photos, certifications, drawings, O&M manuals, and QA records - must be turned over to the client and submitted as part of Gateway Three.

This "golden thread" of information becomes the foundation for long-term safety. This is especially true for buildings that may change ownership or undergo renovations in the future.

Step 9: Managing Firestopping in Occupied Buildings

The job doesn't end at handover. Maintaining firestopping integrity in occupied buildings is a lifelong task. Service penetrations get added, renovations happen, and firestops age.

That's why building safety coordinators must be equipped with:

• Original firestopping specs and installation records
• Inspection schedules and product lifespans
• Contacts for the original manufacturer and certified installer

When systems need repair or replacement, traceability saves time and risk. Instead of guessing what product was used - or hoping the fix matches code - your team can restore the firestop using the same tested and certified method originally installed.

The new concept of the "Building Safety Coordinator" recognizes this ongoing responsibility. It's about more than just managing risk. It's about maintaining continuity in complex, multi-system buildings over decades of use.

Digitize Helps Bring Monitoring & Documentation Together

While firestopping is a passive system, it interacts closely with active fire protection measures. That's where Digitize solutions provide a vital layer of safety.

The Prism LX is a modern head-end monitoring system that brings together fire alarms, supervisory signals, and event history into a single, actionable platform.

When paired with firestopping strategies, Prism LX offers:

• Zone-based event tracking that highlights breaches of compartmentation
• Supervisory alerts for system components like valve positions, flow switches, or tamper devices
• Immediate fault notification to reduce downtime and safety gaps

More importantly, Prism LX is built for integration - even with legacy panels. That means you don't need to rip and replace. You can modernize your monitoring without losing your existing investment.

Fire Safety in 2025 Demands Integration and Accountability

As regulations become more stringent and fire risks evolve, one message is clear: compliance is not enough. Every stakeholder - designers, builders, owners, and operators - has a role to play in ensuring firestopping is more than just a checkbox.

That requires:

• Planning early
• Thoughtful designing
• Installing competently
• Active monitoring
• Documenting thoroughly

Together, passive and active protection systems form a safety net that can prevent tragedy. When firestopping is paired with integrated monitoring, facilities gain both physical defense and situational awareness. With it, people escape safely and assets are protected.

Strengthen Your Fire Safety Strategy Today

Digitize helps bridge the gap between firestopping plans and fire alarm monitoring systems. Our solutions - like the Prism LX - offer centralized monitoring, real-time notifications, and documented zone-level supervision that aligns with today's most demanding safety expectations.

Whether you're planning a new build, renovating an existing structure, or looking to verify your compliance, Digitize can help.

Contact us at 1-800-523-7232 or info@digitize-inc.com to speak with a fire monitoring expert today.