Archetech Issue 36 2018 | Page 66

CREATING A PASSIVELY
FIRE-SAFE DESIGN
As building designs become more ambitious and certainly more
complex, architects and specifiers must pay attention to the
effective inclusion of passive fire protection measures if the
building is to protect lives and minimise costly damage, should
the worst happen.
Fire stopping products have a critical role to play in the
construction of any building, helping to slow the spread of smoke
and fire by using the principle of dividing the area into effectively
sealed compartments, using walls and floors.
The installation of services such as water, waste and electricity
require the creation of cavities in walls and floors to pass plastic,
flammable pipes through the building. Should these cavities not
be fully sealed by certified passive fire stopping products such
as pipe collars, wraps and seals, there remains a significant risk
of smoke and fire spreading rapidly through the building by
exploiting these gaps in the compartments. Intumescent seals
around fire doors are of equal importance and can often be
overlooked.
When installed correctly, test evidence demonstrates that such
fire stopping products can restrain a fire in a specific compartment
for 30, 60 or even 90 minutes (depending on the specification
chosen). In practical terms, this means more time to evacuate the
building and less damage due to smoke and fire spread.
Pyroplex © Passive Fire Protection Products
About Pyroplex
A leading authority in the specification, manufacture and testing
of passive fire protection products, Pyroplex Ltd operates
internationally to help the construction industry ensure high
levels of fire safety in both commercial and residential buildings.
UK based with worldwide reach, the long-established
manufacturing company supplies a wide range of highly
effective fire stopping products and components including CE
marked pipe wraps and pipe collars, fire-rated foams and many
profiles of fire door seals suitable for both timber and metal
door sets. As all responsible suppliers must do, Pyroplex can
demonstrate full product traceability.
Committed to technical excellence, Pyroplex works tirelessly
to secure and maintain third-party certification for its products,
reassuring specifiers and contractors about its passive
fire protection strategy. This includes CE marking, Certifire
certification and relevant BSI certificates. Furthermore, the
company carries out a constant program of independent
testing – using highly regarded organisations such as Exova
Warringtonfire - to confirm and demonstrate the exemplary
levels of fire protection that so many Pyroplex products deliver.
For further information, please visit www.pyroplex.com