We’re pleased to introduce Version 5 (V5) of the award-winning QuelSelector, released in January 2026.
What Is the QuelSelector and Why Was It Developed?
The Industry Challenge It Was Created to Solve
In passive fire protection (PFP), achieving compliance can be difficult. Two major challenges in the fire safety industry are the limitations of supporting constructions and the overall complexity of service penetrations.
Supporting constructions (walls and floors) are complex because some types lack specific fire-resistance test standards, due to slow regulatory updates.
This further complicates compliance, as test evidence cannot be transferred without additional assessment.
Furthermore, there is a wide range of service penetrations. Looking at industry testing of plastic and metal pipes, for example, not all types have been tested, and some have only very basic testing.
When considering service penetrations, it’s important to look at the broader context. It’s not as simple as saying, ‘I have a plastic pipe passing through a wall’.
The firestopping manufacturer would need the size of the pipe, the details of the substrate, and the required fire rating.
They’d also need to know the material of the pipe, whether it is insulated and to what thickness, as well as whether it is a single or multiservice penetration.
These challenges, on top of the everyday pressures of finding up-to-date project packs, meeting tight deadlines, and complying with regulations, can add stress to project teams and compromise fire safety when there’s little support.
How the QuelSelector Supports Construction Professionals
Back in 2022, we launched the QuelSelector – our product selector tool – to make it easier for construction professionals to identify appropriate, tested solutions.
When we refer to ‘construction professionals’, we mean those who play an active role in the specification, design, and installation of passive fire protection systems.
This includes everyone from the main contractor and architect through to the on-site firestopping contractors carrying out the work on the ground.
QuelSelector V5 helps address the above-mentioned challenges by bringing together the latest test evidence and supporting guidance.
It is organised first by substrate construction, then by penetrating services, in accordance with typical construction methods.
The live links take you directly to the digital file to ensure you’re always using the most current information.
The Evolution Since Its 2022 Launch
Since 2022, the QuelSelector has grown from around 250 standard installation details to over 500 for real-world applications found on site.
What began as a simple idea to support our customers has now evolved into a frequently used tool.
Drew Mclean, Fire Protection Technical Services, LDD Construction Ltd, said:
“The QuelSelector tool with its hyperlinks to the UL documents and product data sheets gives comfort to clients that the products selected are fit for purpose and adds to the Golden Thread of Information.”
Building on its already wide range of tested details, V5 stands out for whitewall and shaftwall solutions.
What Makes Version 5 Different From Previous Versions?
More Standard Installation Details
QuelSelector V5 is bigger and better than before. Thanks to extensive fire testing by our Research and Development Team, the QuelSelector has grown from 60 to 97 pages. Customer feedback drives this growth.
28 of those pages feature whitewall/sandwich panel details, tested in Euroclad and Paroc Panel System.
Focus on Whitewall and Shaftwall Systems
White wall systems are used in hygienic, temperature-controlled environments, such as food factories, as well as in data centres and industrial buildings. Shaft walls protect vertical openings, such as mechanical shafts and stairwells.
Use of both wall systems continues to grow across sectors such as healthcare, data centres, and high-rise residential projects. Their ability to work as a single solution makes them a cost-effective choice.
Alignment With Brand Guidelines
QuelSelector V5 draws on our updated brand guidelines, bringing a refreshed look with orange gradients and cleaner visuals.
Importantly, the core functionality remains the same. The document is still clear and easy to navigate, with direct links to our latest standard installation details.
What New Test Evidence Is Included in V5?
Version 5 very much builds on the success of previous versions, now with new solutions for:
- Whitewall/sandwich panel systems (Euroclad Firemaster & Paroc Panel System AST F, F+, and L)
- EI 120 single-side shaftwall details
- More partial penetrations
- Steel profile decks with a steel-lined aperture
- Putty pads installed in a wall with timber studs
- Even more head-of-wall seals
How Does QuelSelector V5 Help Improve Compliance?
Designing Around Available Test Evidence
Using the QuelSelector can help projects progress more smoothly by making it easy for the design team to source and use suitably tested solutions that account for every service penetration, especially in the early design stages.
For instance, if a particular insulation specification for a specific pipe in a given scenario has not been tested, this can be identified early, allowing the design to be revisited to ensure compliance with minimal impact.
Supporting Regulatory Requirements
This approach supports Gateway 2 submissions by demonstrating how compliance will be achieved through the easy identification of tested solutions in the QuelSelector Tool.
The tool provides easy access to fire-stopping solutions, which helps the submission funnel, reduces the risk of non-compliance, and gives all involved peace of mind.
How Should Construction Professionals Use QuelSelector V5?
During Early Design Stages
Designing and constructing a building with tested firestopping solutions ensures that, in the event of a fire, the fire remains confined to its compartment of origin.
Firestopping helps save lives, but with many types of services, substrates, and construction methods, it's far more complex than simply choosing any product and hoping for the best.
That’s why we advise using QuelSelector V5 during the design stages to help identify suitable solutions, considering the ‘what’, ‘what’, ‘what’, and ‘how’:
- What – what substrates are proposed to create the compartmentation?
- What – what services are proposed? This will include sizes and materials of both the services and any proposed insulation materials.
- What – what fire rating is required? Measured as an EI rating, what does the fire strategy require at each point of penetration?
- How – how are the services penetrating the substrates? Direct seal or multiservice penetration? Is there any deflection required? If so, how much?
As a Reference Tool
Additionally, installers often use the QuelSelector as a reference tool. They rely on it daily to confirm their installation matches the details.
For retrofit projects that require firestopping to be redone or replaced, this tool centralises approved solutions for discussion.
What Are the Practical Benefits for Project Teams?
Saving Time During Design & Specification
Using QuelSelector V5 during the early engagement process can help avoid any future rework, which is both timely and costly.
It saves time by keeping all information in one place, which, in turn, makes construction more straightforward, as at that stage it's about ‘sticking to the agreed plan’.
Improving Confidence in Product Selection
The peace of mind the QuelSelector offers is unmatched: knowing that the chosen systems are supported by tested and certified solutions and that, when installed per the standard installation details and guidance, compliance requirements are met.
Frequently Asked Questions About QuelSelector V5
How Often Is It Updated?
The QuelSelector is typically updated once a year to ensure all information is up to date and that you're using the latest tested details.
Is It Free?
QuelSelector V5 is available free of charge, consistent with our other training resources. No payment is required.
Where Can It Be Accessed?
It can be accessed on our website under the ‘Technical & Knowledge’ drop-down, and then under ‘Technical Information’, titled ‘The QuelSelector’.
Although the QuelSelector is a downloadable document, internet access is still required because it links directly to drawings in our online Standard Detail Library.
Use Version 5 of the QuelSelector today. For any questions about service penetration sealing, please contact our team.
