Service penetrations are places where service (e.g. sanitary, electric, heating) pass through a partition separating fire zones. In the event of a fire, their task is to prevent the spread of fire and smoke and to prevent the increase in temperature. According to building regulations, they are to limit the risk of fire spreading in the required time. Penetrations should be distinguished by an appropriate level of strength and the optimal class of fire resistance.
How to protect service penetrations against fire?
There are several ways to fire-retardant service penetrations. The selection of the appropriate method of protection is largely influenced by the type of material the installation is made of. Most often, we deal with combustible installations that can participate in the spread of fire, because they burn or heat up earlier, conducive to heat, which can lead to the ignition of other materials. These types of service penetrations are usually sealed with Multitube fireproof intumescent tapes or CarboCollar CC fireproof collars.
Non-flammable service penetrations can be sealed by using intumescent or ablative or fireproof pastes. Most often they are one-component products and made of synthetic resins. They tend to intumesce while being exposed to high temperatures. Then their volume increases and a thick thermal insulation layer is created, which effectively protects the service penetrations against fire.
Some penetrations are additionally sealed with rubber or polyurethane foam insulation with tapes fixed around the pipe to protect it against fire. A similar function is performed by fireproof collars with a steel cover, which contain an insert that intumesces under the influence of high temperatures.
The fire protection of other elements of the service penetratios, such as cables, can be sealed with fireproof coating.
Mixed penetrations and expansion joints also require protection, in this case it is worth using a mineral wool board coated with fireproof paste.
