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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Technical Advice => Topic started by: Revol on October 28, 2019, 12:19:02 PM

Title: fire stopping- Sleeving a pipe
Post by: Revol on October 28, 2019, 12:19:02 PM
Aye up all ? does any one know the origins of the detail shown in Diagram 10.1 of Approved Document B, Vol 2, 2019?

This has been around for a long time and is replicated in HTM and BS 9999 etc.

I'm looking at the Rockwool detail where a 110mm diameter UPVC pipe is 'sleeved' in a rockwool product where it passes through a 60 min flexible fire barrier. Has anyone seen test details for these? I have a number of questions about how the sleeve / pipe should be supported for example. Rockwool have an 'assessment' from Warrington which references fire test data for pipes penetrated by steel pipes ? I can't find any reference to UPVC?
Title: Re: fire stopping- Sleeving a pipe
Post by: Fishy on October 29, 2019, 07:38:27 AM
Two different issues?

If you're referring to the 'Alternative C' (sleeving) method in the 2019 AD-B then you just follow the diagram and use a (normally steel) pipe as the sleeve. 

If someone is using a Rockwool penetration sealing product, then the installation details should be as in the evidence of fire performance (classification, assessment, test or whatever) and the manufacturer's installation instructions.

uPVC pipes typically need (unless they're <40mm dia) the intumescent collars / sleeves to crush them closed - I've not seen any evidence that a sleeve alone can maintain fire resistance.  That doesn't mean it doesn't exist of course - just that I've not seen it!
Title: Re: fire stopping- Sleeving a pipe
Post by: Revol on October 29, 2019, 10:15:24 AM
Two different issues?

If you're referring to the 'Alternative C' (sleeving) method in the 2019 AD-B then you just follow the diagram and use a (normally steel) pipe as the sleeve. 

If someone is using a Rockwool penetration sealing product, then the installation details should be as in the evidence of fire performance (classification, assessment, test or whatever) and the manufacturer's installation instructions.

uPVC pipes typically need (unless they're <40mm dia) the intumescent collars / sleeves to crush them closed - I've not seen any evidence that a sleeve alone can maintain fire resistance.  That doesn't mean it doesn't exist of course - just that I've not seen it!

Fishy - Yes, 'Alternative C' is the one. You could just follow the diagram but we know where following the 'guidance' gets us; combustible cladding?

Seems counter intuitive that we can allow a 160 mm diameter 'hole' through a compartment wall in a building with progressive horizontal evacuation for example.

I must admit it's not a detail one sees very often, doesn't fill me with warm fuzzy feelings, especially when there is no detail for independent support of the sleeve.

The Rockwool sleeve detail is an interesting one. I have questioned them for further supporting information on the fire barrier system (this the chicken wire reinforced mineral wool curtain). I have been given a fire assessment from Warrington fire referencing previous tests, the only mention of penetrations is a test with steel pipes ? and yet there detail says you simply wrap your plastic pipe with a rockwool sleeve for 1 meter either side of the curtain (bearing in mind that this isn't just a cavity barrier but it quoted as being suitable for extending fire resistant construction above ceilings). When I asked about how the sleeved pipe should be supported I was told 'that's up to the builder'