The Future of Building Safety: Firestopping & Compliance 

As we approach 2025, building safety remains a top priority, particularly when it comes to fire safety. The tragic events of the past have underscored the importance of ensuring that buildings are safe, resilient, and compliant with the latest regulations. In the face of evolving safety standards, one crucial aspect of building safety is firestopping, and it will continue to play a key role in 2025 and beyond. At Sentinel, we’ve been at the forefront of this critical area, helping our clients ensure that their buildings are protected, compliant, and aligned with the industry’s most rigorous safety standards, including The Golden Thread


Firestopping: A Critical Element of Building Safety 

In 2025, we can expect an even greater emphasis on firestopping as part of the building safety agenda. With the introduction of The Golden Thread, which ensures that building safety data is recorded, maintained, and accessible throughout the building’s lifecycle, firestopping is now a key element in the ongoing monitoring and compliance process. This means that firestopping systems need to be properly documented and regularly inspected to ensure they are functioning as intended. 


The Golden Thread 

Introduced by the Building Safety Act, The Golden Thread ensures that safety information—particularly regarding fire safety—is properly documented and accessible, so that building owners, managers, and authorities can make informed decisions about safety and maintenance. 

For firestopping, this means that every detail of the fire protection system, from materials used to installation methods, must be accurately recorded and easily accessible. This not only ensures compliance with regulations but also provides a clear picture of the fire safety measures in place, allowing for proactive maintenance and timely upgrades when necessary.  

At Sentinel, we’ve been helping our clients navigate these new requirements, ensuring that firestopping solutions are compliant and well-documented, aligning with The Golden Thread and building safety best practices. 


Sentinel’s Commitment to Firestopping Compliance 

At Sentinel, we understand the vital role that firestopping plays in building safety. Our team is dedicated to providing innovative firestopping solutions that help our clients protect their buildings while ensuring full compliance with the latest safety regulations. From initial design consultation to installation and ongoing maintenance, we offer a comprehensive service to ensure that firestopping measures are seamlessly integrated into every building project. 


Norfolk House: Fully Compliant Firestopping 

Norfolk House is a splendid neo-Georgian building in the heart of London’s West End that has a long and fascinating history.  When it came to passive fire protection, a key part of the project was the installation of Firemac FM Blue fire-resistant walls.  

By using FM Blue, we were able to create fireproofed seals that were fully compliant with fire resistance standards. We also upgraded the insulation of the penetrated surfaces using Nullifire FI025 Intuflex insulation wrap. This increased the fire performance of the area concerned. 

As well as using FM Blue, our team also used Firetherm Intubatt and Mastic to bolster our passive fire protection provision. Intubatt is a factory-finished multi-layer low resin bonded mineral fire board. It is manufactured under ISO 9001 factory conditions. We used this to reinstall the service openings passing through the fire compartment walls and doors. Read the full case study here


Wimbledon Quarter: Maintaining High Compliant Standards 

In November 2023, the newly rebranded Wimbledon Quarter opened, featuring a wider range of occupants and a more open and welcoming ambience for the people of the area.  Our first step was to conduct a full survey of the existing fire protection measures at the old shopping centre, and to advise the client on its suitability, given the imminent transformation of the site.  The client wanted to retain some of the existing firestopping on the steelwork structure. These measures would have been compliant in the past, but they did not meet current standards.   

Our solution was to design interfaces between different board systems that would permit the retention of the historic fire protection while enhancing its effectiveness to meet present-day passive fire protection regulations.  

As well as creating a firestopping solution for the primary structure, Sentinel was also involved in the upgrading of the passive fire protection for the composite metal decking supporting the new swimming pool. Read the full case study here


As we look ahead to 2025, we remain committed to providing the expertise, solutions, and ongoing support that our clients need to ensure their buildings are as safe and resilient as possible. 

Act today to enhance your building’s fire safety and ensure compliance with essential fire protection standards. Get in touch with Sentinel for your design, supply and installation passive fire protection expertise.   

Achieving Environmental Goals with Dulux 

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” - it’s a critical aspect of modern construction projects. Working with industry leaders like Dulux, we help contractors meet their sustainability objectives without compromising on performance or aesthetics. 

Intumescent Paint: A Powerful Tool for Passive Fire Protection 

One of the most effective forms of passive fire protection is Intumescent Paint. This specialised coating expands when exposed to heat, forming a thick, insulating layer that shields structural elements from the intense heat of a fire.

LATEST NEWS

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” – it’s a critical aspect of modern construction projects. Working with industry leaders like Dulux, we help contractors meet their sustainability objectives without compromising on performance or aesthetics. 

One of the most effective forms of passive fire protection is Intumescent Paint. This specialised coating expands when exposed to heat, forming a thick, insulating layer that shields structural elements from the intense heat of a fire.

We put safety, quality, innovation and sustainability first

CASE STUDY