The risk of fire in hospitals, hotels and homes for the elderly has resulted in considerable changes to legislation governing the construction of this type of building. In particular much emphasis is placed on Fire Containment and the need to minimize the possibility of fire spreading through the various floors of the building. Previous regulations have stressed the need for construction materials that offer a degree of fire protection, but one area that is now coming under closer scrutiny is the increasing number of pipes and shafts that pass throughout the building. These can easily become avenues for fire transmission and in some cased they turn out to be “Blast” channels, forcing the fire into otherwise safe areas.
 
The brief was simple: Prevent the fire from getting into the shafts pipes and shafts, and so reduce the opportunities for the fire to spread. However many of the ventilation shafts and drainage channels are of plastic construction and actually add to the danger. What was required was a slim, easily installed protective covering that would offer at least 2 hours fire resistance. Just a 30mm coating of FIRESHIELD around the pipework, either prior to installation of later (Dry-spray method) and the required fire protection was complete. Fire tests showed that two hours exposed to temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius would not allow protected pipework to give away – even those made from plastic.