Fire Protection Collars

Fire protection collars are essential devices designed to protect penetrations made by combustible materials, such as plastic pipes, that pass through fire-rated building elements. These devices are crucial for maintaining fire resistance and preventing the spread of fire and smoke through vulnerable openings.

What Are Fire Protection Collars?

Fire collars are specialized fire protection devices used to seal penetrations caused by pipes, particularly those made from combustible materials like plastic, which pass through fire-rated walls, floors, or ceilings. These collars are typically composed of a durable metal or composite shell, which houses an intumescent material. The collar is designed to expand and form a tight seal when exposed to high temperatures, providing a barrier that prevents fire from spreading through the pipe penetration.

How Do Fire Collars Work?

Fire collars operate using the unique properties of intumescent materials. These materials expand significantly when exposed to heat, and in the event of a fire, the temperature causes the intumescent material inside the collar to swell. As the plastic pipe melts due to the heat, the expanding intumescent material crushes the pipe and fills the gap, effectively sealing the penetration. This rapid expansion prevents the passage of fire, smoke, and hot gases through the opening left by the melted pipe.

The primary function of a fire collar is to prevent the spread of fire through a pipe penetration, ensuring that the fire-resistance of the wall, floor, or ceiling is maintained. This is critical in providing additional time for building occupants to evacuate and for emergency services to respond.

Applications

Fire collars are widely used in various applications where combustible pipes penetrate fire-rated walls, floors, and ceilings. Some common applications include:

• Plastic Pipe Penetrations in Walls: Fire protection collars are commonly used to seal plastic pipe penetrations in fire-rated walls, preventing the spread of fire and smoke between rooms.
• Plastic Pipe Penetrations in Floors: Fire collars are also used to seal pipe penetrations in fire-rated floors, maintaining the fire-resistance of the floor structure.
• Ceiling Penetrations: In buildings with ceilings that contain fire-rated materials, fire collars are used to seal plastic pipe penetrations, ensuring that the ceiling’s fire-resisting properties are not compromised.

Benefits

Fire collars offer several important advantages when it comes to fire safety:

• Enhanced Fire Safety: By sealing combustible pipe penetrations, fire collars prevent the spread of fire and smoke, ensuring that the building’s fire-resistance is maintained and limiting potential damage.
• Quick and Easy Installation: Fire collars are easy to install and can be retrofitted to existing buildings, making them a versatile and cost-effective solution for maintaining fire safety in both new and renovated structures.
• Reliable Protection: Fire collars are tested to meet stringent fire safety standards and offer reliable protection against fire, ensuring that the integrity of fire-rated barriers is not compromised in the event of a fire.
• Low Maintenance: Once installed, fire collars require minimal maintenance, making them a long-lasting and dependable solution for sealing pipe penetrations.

Installation and Maintenance

Proper installation of fire protection collars is critical for ensuring their effectiveness in a fire situation. It is essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and fire safety regulations when installing fire collars. Typically, fire collars are installed around the penetrations where the pipe passes through the wall, floor, or ceiling, and they are designed to be installed with a tight fit to create a secure seal.

At LPP Fire Protection Services, we specialize in the professional installation of fire protection collars, ensuring they are correctly positioned and fully compliant with fire safety regulations. Whether you are working on a new build or retrofitting an existing structure, our expert team ensures that the fire collars are installed to the highest standard.

It is also important to regularly inspect fire collars to ensure they are in good condition and functioning properly. Any damage to the collar, such as corrosion or wear, should be addressed immediately to ensure ongoing fire protection. We offer maintenance services to inspect, repair, and replace fire collars as necessary to maintain optimal performance.

Why Choose LPP Fire Protection Services?

LPP Fire Protection Services is a trusted provider of passive fire protection solutions. Our experienced team offers expert installation and maintenance of fire collars, ensuring that your building meets fire safety standards and is protected in the event of a fire. We are committed to delivering high-quality services and products to keep your building safe and compliant.

We are accredited by BM TRADA, ensuring that all of our work is completed to the highest standards of quality and safety.