How are firestopping systems tested? Firestopping FAQs

Fire testing products is not just a regulatory requirement; it’s a life-saving measure. By fire testing products, you get that vital evidence to demonstrate how they will perform in the event of a fire. This verification process ensures that such products can prevent fire from spreading throughout the building, giving occupants crucial time to evacuate or wait safely for fire and rescue services to arrive. 

Fire testing drives the industry’s moral compass. It not only ensures product safety but also supports businesses from a commercial standpoint. Products that pass rigorous fire testing are more likely to be accepted by key stakeholders – from the main contractor to the firestopping contractor. This is because certifications from recognised testing bodies, like UL or Warringtonfire, signify quality and reliability.

What is a fire test for service penetrations?

Service penetrations are tested according to BS EN 1366-3, which assesses the fire resistance of penetration sealing systems used to close openings created by the passage of cables, metal pipes, plastic pipes, and other services through fire-rated walls and floors. Fire tests are designed to replicate the product’s end use. 

The fire testing process involves several key steps. First, the manufacturer constructs a representative wall or floor section with a fire-resistance rating. Then, the service penetrations being tested are installed through the construction—for example, pipes and cables. Finally, the firestop is installed as it would be in the actual construction onsite. 

Once the installation is complete, the specimen is built into a restraint frame and mounted either on the front or on the top of a fire test furnace depending on the application’s orientation requirements. For a BS EN 1366-3 fire-resistance test, we use the standard fire temperature curve, so the furnace can reach temperatures of 1000°C.

Fire tests replicate two parts of fire growth, the flashover and fully developed stages, thus ensuring the products work in real-life scenarios. 

Throughout the fire test, the specimens are monitored to ensure they achieve the fire-resistance criteria. For service penetrations, the requirements are as follows:

• Integrity, the ability of the component to withstand and prevent fire and smoke from breaching the building’s compartmentation, is monitored by what is known as the ‘cotton pad’ test. This test ensures that the specimens retain their separating function without either permitting the penetration of a gap gauge in the prescribed manner, causing ignition of a cotton pad when applied as specified in BS EN 1363-1:2020, or resulting in sustained flaming on the unexposed surface. 

• Insulation is the time a component can withstand the heat generated from a fire, again, preventing it from breaching the compartmentation. The standard requires that the maximum temperature rise not be greater than 180°C. Insulation failure also occurs simultaneously with integrity failure, as specified in BS EN 1363-1:2020.

After the fire test is complete, the test laboratory creates a fire test report summarising the results. This report is one of the first steps in demonstrating a product’s performance, as explained in this Quelfire knowledge hub: What is a test solution for service penetrations? 

If you have any further questions about fire testing, please don’t hesitate to contact us.