Page 19 - Caswell Firesafe Manual 2018

9 Fire Compartments and Penetration Seals

A Compartment in fire terms is defined by the ASFP as a part of a building comprising one or more rooms,
spaces or storeys constructed to prevent the spread of fire from, or to, another part of the same building.

Compartmentation

In conventional ductwork systems fire
compartments are protected by installing
fire dampers within the compartment wall in
accordance with DW145.
The correct installation of a fire damper is
critical to the compartment maintaining its
integrity under fire conditions.

In fire resisting duct systems the correct
installation of the duct and combined
penetration seal system is just as critical.

Penetration Seals

The fire stopping of service penetrations is not normally part of the ductwork contractors package, however
it is essential that the penetration is fire stopped in accordance with the tested method. If the specific
application is outside the scope of the tested method then an alternative fire-engineered solution should be
agreed and implemented to the satisfaction of the approved authority.

All contractors involved with the forming of the penetration, the installation of the fire resisting ductwork
system and the subsequent sealing of the penetration have a joint responsibility to coordinate the works
and to ensure each understands what is required to provide a compliant system.
It is not acceptable for any party to distance themselves from this responsibility even if they have not
physically undertaken the fire stopping element of the works.

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