Fire Stopping Method Statement: What UK Contractors Need to Know
Fire stopping is one of the most safety-critical tasks on any building project. Get it wrong and you undermine the passive fire protection that buys occupants time to escape. Get the paperwork wrong and you may find yourself unable to demonstrate that the work was done correctly — a serious issue when buildings are handed over, inspected, or involved in an incident.
This guide explains what a fire stopping method statement is, what it must cover, and how it sits alongside other legal duties.
What Is a Fire Stopping Method Statement?
A method statement is a document that sets out, step by step, how a specific task will be carried out safely. When combined with a risk assessment, the two documents together form a RAMS (Risk Assessment + Method Statement).
For fire stopping work — sealing penetrations through fire-rated walls, floors, and partitions made by pipes, cables, ducts, or structural gaps — a method statement describes exactly how the operative will restore the fire resistance of the element being penetrated. This is distinct from a Fire Risk Assessment, which is a separate legal document under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (enforced by the relevant enforcing authority, not the HSE) and does not include a method statement.
When Do You Need One?
On most commercial or multi-occupancy residential projects of any scale, a principal contractor or client will require a RAMS before fire stopping work begins. Under CDM 2015, contractors have a duty to plan, manage, and monitor construction work, and providing a method statement for high-risk or specialist tasks is standard practice in discharging that duty.
Even outside formal CDM notifiable projects, a fire stopping method statement is best practice whenever:
- You are penetrating a compartment wall or floor
- You are working in an occupied or partially occupied building
- The specification requires third-party approved products (e.g., CERTIFIRE or similar certification)
- Your contract or insurance requires documented procedures
What a Fire Stopping Method Statement Should Cover
A well-written method statement for fire stopping should include the following sections:
1. Scope of Work
Define the specific penetration types, locations, fire ratings required (e.g., EI 60, EI 120), and the building elements involved.
2. Products and Systems
Identify the exact intumescent products, collars, pillows, boards, or sealants being used. Reference the manufacturer's installation guide and any third-party certification number. Using a certified system and installing it in accordance with the certificate is critical — improvising voids the system's tested performance.
3. Sequence of Work
Set out the step-by-step installation process:
- Confirm fire rating of the host element before starting
- Prepare the penetration (correct annular gap tolerances per the certificate)
- Install the fire stopping product as specified
- Complete, photograph, and label the penetration
- Update the fire stopping register or O&M log
4. Risk Assessment Summary
Your RAMS links the method statement to a corresponding risk assessment under Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3. Relevant hazards typically include working at height (addressed under the Work at Height Regulations 2005), dust from cutting (addressed under COSHH 2002 — sealants and intumescent products may have relevant WELs), confined spaces, and hot works.
5. Controls — Applied in the Correct Hierarchy
| Hierarchy Level | Example for Fire Stopping |
|---|---|
| Eliminate | Avoid penetrating compartment walls by re-routing services during design |
| Substitute | Use a pre-tested sleeve system rather than cutting and filling |
| Engineering | LEV or on-tool extraction for cutting dust |
| Administrative | Permit to work, toolbox talk, installer competency check |
| PPE (last resort) | FFP3 mask, safety glasses, gloves |
6. Competency and Supervision
State who will carry out the work, their relevant training or qualification (e.g., manufacturer's installation training), and how the work will be supervised and inspected.
7. Inspection and Sign-Off
Fire stopping is notoriously difficult to inspect after other trades cover it up. The method statement should specify interim inspection hold points, photographic records of each completed penetration, and who is responsible for signing off conformity before close-up.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the wrong product for the pipe material or annular gap size. Intumescent collars designed for plastic pipes must not be used on steel; the gap tolerances in the certificate are not suggestions.
- No photographic record. Without evidence, you cannot demonstrate compliance during a building safety inspection or gateway process.
- Copying a generic method statement without site-specific detail. A document that doesn't reference your actual products, fire ratings, or locations provides no practical guidance and little legal protection.
- Confusing a fire stopping method statement with a Fire Risk Assessment. They are entirely different documents serving different purposes under different legislation.
A Note on Building Safety
Since the Building Safety Act 2022, the scrutiny on passive fire protection — including fire stopping — has increased significantly for higher-risk buildings. Golden thread documentation, including your fire stopping records and RAMS, may be required to be retained and accessible throughout the building's life. Even on lower-risk projects, thorough documentation is increasingly expected by clients and insurers.
Key Takeaway
A fire stopping method statement is a practical, site-specific document describing exactly how compartmentation will be maintained during and after penetration work. It forms the method statement half of your RAMS, sits alongside a proper risk assessment, and should reference certified products installed strictly to their certification. It is not a Fire Risk Assessment — that is a separate legal requirement under different legislation entirely.
Getting the document right means getting the installation right, and that is what passive fire protection ultimately depends on.