Have you ever looked at a tested firestopping detail and thought, “Where do I even start?”
You’re definitely not alone in this.
Stick with us, and we’ll walk you through our tested detail, QB-FW100-D-02, and explain what each section means and what to watch for. 
A Quelfire tested detail contains a wide range of information and is typically easy to read – if you know what you’re looking for. We’ll cover how to interpret reference numbers, wall constructions, fire ratings, service spacing, and more. Also, how to find fire test evidence and technical data sheets, should you wish to review them.
Please note that we are showing an example of a detail that was correct at the time of publication. Always check our Tested Detail Library for the most up-to-date information.
What is a firestopping tested detail in passive fire protection?
What is a tested installation detail, and why are they required?
A standard installation detail essentially serves as ‘proof’ that a product or system has been fire tested to the relevant standard to ensure compliance. It sets out the scope of what is covered. For service penetrations, this is BS EN 1366-3.
The main purpose of firestopping test evidence is to ensure the safety of building occupants in the event of a fire. Without evidence you can rely on, how can you be confident that the installed systems will function correctly in an emergency?
Furthermore, it plays a significant role in demonstrating that the systems you’re specifying will work as intended when you submit your application at Gateway 2. The evidence is there, making the process of ‘demonstrating’ much easier.
How do Quelfire's tested details simplify specification and installation?
The beauty of a Quelfire tested detail is that all the information can be located on one page, thereby simplifying the specification and installation of systems.
In the top-right-hand corner of our details under ‘Description’, all products used are listed and hyperlinked. This supports installation, for instance, because by the time you arrive on site, there is no guesswork. It’s about sticking to the agreed plan.
How do you read a Quelfire tested detail?
What does the tested detail reference code mean?
Let’s take a look…
In the top left-hand corner, you’ll be able to see the detail’s reference number – this will be consistent across all Quelfire tested fire stopping details. 
The first part of the reference is the primary product code; this is what makes up the bulk of the fire stop seal.
If, for instance, it is a letterbox opening or a pattress application, the biggest part of the seal is the QuelStop Fire Batt: a QB detail.
Another example is if it were a direct-to-wall seal and you had a HPE seal around your service, because that’s the largest part of the fire stop seal, that now becomes a HPE detail.
Next, you have the substrate construction – the wall or floor. In the case of QB-FW100-D-02, it’s a flexible wall. You may see other letter make-ups across different details. Here are some examples:
- ‘RW’ = Rigid Wall
- ‘PC’ = Plasterboard Ceiling
- ‘WW’ = White Wall
The next part of the reference is the minimum thickness of your substrate construction. This is the overall thickness of the wall or floor tested, which, in this case, is 100mm, meaning it will cover anything thicker than 100mm.
In all of our QuelStop Fire Batt details, the type of fire batt follows the substrate construction:
- ‘P’ = Pattress
- ‘S’ = Single batt
- ‘D’ = Double
Finally, the ‘02’ is simply a reference number for the product listed in the detail, though it is more relevant to us as manufacturers.
Where is fire test evidence located on a detail sheet?
In the Firestopping of Service Penetrations Best Practice in Design and Installation Guide by the ASFP, BESA, BSRIA, FIS, and GPDA, Golden Rule 7 recommends requesting copies of third-party certificates. No request is needed here; you just click the link in the bottom-right corner next to ‘To be read in conjunction with’.
In this example, the UL Classification Report is hyperlinked, and the relevant page numbers are included to help you easily access the correct part of the report.
Why do some tested details include multiple pages?
As previously mentioned, having all information on one page still applies, but some details, like this one, require additional products to achieve different fire ratings. 
Always scroll down if you see a Quelfire tested detail that spans multiple pages, as this will show different aspects of the detail.
For example, for detail QB-FW100-D-02, Page 1 shows the HPE directly around the electrical services, whereas Page 2 requires the HPE and an additional rockfibre insulation around the services to achieve a higher fire rating.
How is the scope of application shown?
Understanding service types on a tested detail
Next, if you look at the left-hand side of the Quelfire tested detail under ‘Service Type’, you can identify which service penetrations the detail includes. 
In this case, it includes cables, cable bundles, cable baskets/cable trays, cable ladders, and similar items. However, in some other instances, it could refer to pipework.
Service sizes and scope of application explained
In the next column along, the service size is listed – either a single size or a range, depending on the tested fire stopping solution. 
This is where your scope of application comes into play: the range of variations a tested system is approved to cover based on fire test evidence.
What type and size of seal is required around the services?
In the third column, you’ll find the size of the annulus of sealant around your service. For QB-FW100-D-02, it’s a 20mm annulus around a bundle of cables, with a 25mm depth of QuelStop HPE Sealant on both sides of the seal, as shown in the column heading. 
What is an annulus? It’s an empty space left around a particular service to install appropriate firestopping (or a bundle of services, depending on the tested detail).
What does an EI fire rating mean in tested details?
Further to this, the EI fire-resistance rating can be located in the last column, under ‘Classification’ – this rating is always given in minutes. 
Insulation (I) measures how long a component resists heat, whereas Integrity (E) refers to a component’s ability to withstand fire to ensure compartmentation and prevent the spread of fire.
The EI rating is a critical part of any tested detail because, in this case, despite the seal being the same – 20mm HPE – the type and size of the service affect the fire rating achieved.
For example:
- 21mm cable = EI 120
- 40mm cable = EI 60
- 21mm cable on a tray = EI 60
What spacing has Quelfire tested for service penetrations?
The spacing requirements are located on the right side of the detail, labelled ‘Multiple Service Penetration Spacing’.
BS EN 1366-3:2021 states that a minimum of 100mm should be maintained between service penetration seals, unless different testing has been conducted. 
Regarding Quelfire's batt details, we have tested down to 0mm from the edge of the aperture (such as your letterbox edge) to the edge of your firestop seal. For seals around services of the same type (as listed on the same detail), the clearance is 0mm, while for seals around different service types (e.g., pipe and cable), the clearance is 50mm.
Please bear in mind that this measurement is always taken from the fire stop seal. In other words, it's measured from the edge of your sealant to the edge of your collar, or from the edge of your wrap to the edge of your fire sleeve – where you've applied the acrylic sealant, not to the service itself.
What building and wall construction details are shown in tested details?
Where are wall types included?
Let's move on to wall types! You can find this information in the top-left corner under ‘Additional Instructions’. 
It’s worth noting that the system is not limited to any particular wall manufacturer. This section covers the scope, including your stud type, board thickness, and the specifications and quantity of boards.
Where is the maximum aperture size in a tested detail?
To the right, there is information about unframed and unlined apertures. A framed and lined aperture is an opening with a ‘supporting frame’ around it and/or finished edges (lines), usually made from materials such as metal studs or plasterboard. 
It has a more structured feel to it than an unframed or unlined opening, which is essentially just a raw cut through the wall or floor.
Framing and lining all apertures is good practice, and some wall manufacturers may insist on this, as it provides the greatest scope.
What are first service support requirements in firestopping?
The first service support is the first fixing or support bracket nearest to a penetration through a fire-rated wall or floor. It essentially does what it says on the tin: supports the service and prevents any loads from transferring onto the service penetration seal. 
You can find information about the first service support in the table on the right side of the tested fire stopping detail. The words ‘First Service Support’ are hyperlinked and will take you to a document with more information, such as what material it should be made from and so on.
How does understanding test scope help with product selection?
If you understand how a tested firestopping detail reference works, it becomes a good initial guide for determining whether a solution is relevant to the application in question.
This includes checking the scope of application, required fire rating, and other related factors.
This helps save time at the specification stage by avoiding the tedious work of trudging through details that don’t apply to what you’re planning to design or build.
Also, understanding the level of information available on a tested detail is crucial to feeling confident that the systems you’re selecting are compatible and have tested evidence to support them – it really does bring that peace of mind.
If you’re unsure about what Quelfire tested detail is needed for your project, reach out to our technical team for support. We can help you understand the tested scope, and together we can ensure you’re selecting the right system to protect people and property.
