Building works, new services and fire stopping
Every time a pipe, cable or duct passes through a fire-resisting wall or floor, the hole needs sealing with a tested product. This is fire stopping. Without it, fire and smoke can bypass the fire doors entirely.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Why it matters
Fire doors are one part of a system. The walls and floors around them divide the building into fire-resisting compartments. If there’s an unsealed hole in a compartment wall, smoke and fire can go around a perfectly good fire door.
Where the gaps appear
Most gaps come from changes made after a building is finished, often during routine upgrades:
- New cabling, data and alarm wiring
- Pipework and heating changes
- Ventilation and ductwork
- Riser cupboards, often right next to fire doors
- Ceiling voids above corridors
- Around door frames where the wall has been cut back
What good fire stopping looks like
| Step | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Survey | Finds every opening before anything is sealed |
| Tested products | The right product for what passes through and the wall’s rating |
| Competent installer | Products only perform if installed as tested |
| Photograph | Shows the work without opening anything up later |
| Label and log | Gives you a record for the fire risk assessor, fire service or insurer |
A simple habit
After any job that passes through a wall or ceiling, ask: was the opening fire stopped, with what, and is there a photo? Keep the answer with your building records.
Next guide: Fire doors: the basics