Four Preventative measures include: Fire Collars, Fire Sleeve, Fire Covers and Fire Sealants; Collars: designed to maintain fire resistance levels. They do this by encompassing pipes and other penetrations with compounds that grow throughout the fire. Sleeves: intended to fill or seal an opening created by pipes or cables passing through a fire-rated wall or ceiling. Covers: made for stopping fires in fire rated suspended ceilings. Sealants: expand when heated at high temperatures, to prevent the spread of fire and smoke.

Firestops are used in: Electrical, mechanical, and structural penetrations, Unpenetrated openings (such as openings for future use), Re-entries of existing firestops, Control or sway joints in fire-resistance-rated wall or floor assemblies, Junctions between fire-resistance-rated wall or floor assemblies and Head-of-wall (HOW) joints, where non-load-bearing wall assemblies meet floor assemblies.

The selection and right installation of a fire stop can save people’s lives. Therefore, it is a decision that should involve competent parties to safeguard effective fire stopping solutions are specified. Buildings differ and it is imperative to consider not just the product you require, but also the environment and condition into which it is being installed. Firestops should be maintained in accordance with listing and approval use and compliance.