Approved document B (2000 edition) of the Building Regulations outlines the need for large buildings to be divided into compartments, and specifies the level of fire performance the compartment walls and floors need to achieve.

Mechanical and electrical services by necessity breach compartment walls and floors allowing failure of integrity and insulation to occur where gaps around services have not been adequately firestopped.

The use of correctly installed proprietary certified firestopping systems, will contain a fire at its source and limit the risk of the destruction caused by the spread of fire and the release of toxic gasses.

Many Firestopping sytems are tested up to 4 hours integrity, and loadbearing products are available.