What are the legal requirements for fire stopping in buildings in the UK?

In England, fire stopping is required by Part B of the Building Regulations 2010 during construction and refurbishment, and must then be maintained under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 once a building is occupied. Requirement B3 covers internal fire spread through the structure, and Approved Document B sets out how to comply, including fire stopping where pipes, cables and ducts pass through compartment walls and floors. Every gap around a service penetration should be sealed so the wall or floor keeps its fire resistance.

In occupied buildings, the responsible person must assess and manage fire risk, and in blocks with two or more homes the Fire Safety Act 2021 confirms this includes the building’s structure. Higher-risk buildings carry further duties under the Building Safety Act 2022. Fire stopping should use tested systems fitted by competent installers, with records kept to support your fire risk assessment. Our FIRAS-accredited team carries out penetration sealing in Sheffield and across the North and Midlands, sealing each penetration with a tested system matched to the wall or floor it passes through.