Short answer: In England, requirement B3 of the Building Regulations 2010 requires buildings to inhibit internal fire spread, and Approved Document B explains how openings for pipes, ducts and cables in compartment walls and floors should be protected and fire-stopped. No rule covered here names a fire-stopping logbook, but regulation 38 and the Fire Safety Order make good records essential.
Which rules apply to fire-stopping in England?
In England, fire-stopping is shaped by the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Document B during design and construction, regulation 38 at completion, and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 once the building is in use. For higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Act 2022 adds gateways and the golden thread.
You know the situation: the specification says "fire-stopping to comply with Part B", the M&E drawings show hundreds of penetrations, and nobody on site can say which document requires what, so every discussion starts from scratch.
| Rule | What it covers | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Building Regulations 2010, Schedule 1, requirement B3 | Internal fire spread, subdivision, concealed spaces | Design and construction |
| Approved Document B | Statutory guidance on compartmentation, openings and fire-stopping | Design and construction |
| Building Regulations 2010, regulation 38 | Fire safety information for the Responsible Person | Completion |
| Fire Safety Order 2005, articles 9 and 17 | Risk assessment and maintenance | Building in use |
| Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures (England) Regulations 2023 | Gateways, golden thread, handover | Higher-risk buildings |
Wales has its own versions of several of these rules, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate legislation, so this article covers England only.
What does requirement B3 say about internal fire spread?
Requirement B3 asks that the building keeps its stability in a fire for a reasonable period. Where reasonably necessary to inhibit fire spread, the building must be subdivided with fire-resisting construction, fitted with suitable automatic fire suppression, or both. It also requires that unseen spread of fire and smoke in concealed spaces is inhibited.
That matters for penetrations, because most end up above ceilings or inside risers. Regulation 7 adds that materials must be adequate, fixed so they perform as designed, and installed in a workmanlike manner.
What does Approved Document B say about penetrations through compartment walls and floors?
Approved Document B is the statutory guidance for meeting Part B in England. Volume 2 (buildings other than dwellings) has a section called Protection of openings and fire-stopping, and Volume 1 (dwellings) has its equivalent. Both cover openings for pipes, ventilation ducts and fire-stopping, so a penetration does not undermine the fire resistance of the wall or floor.
In practice, every opening is sealed with a suitable system, installed as tested, with a fire resistance (for example EI 60) matching the wall or floor, which depends on the use and height of the building.
From 2 September 2029, Approved Document B uses only the European classification in BS EN 13501 for fire resistance, with transitional arrangements, so recording the EN classification of each seal is a sensible habit.
What fire safety information must be handed over at completion?
In England, regulation 38 of the Building Regulations 2010 applies where the Fire Safety Order will cover the finished building. The person carrying out the work must give fire safety information about the building's design, construction, services and fire safety equipment to the Responsible Person no later than completion, or first occupation if that comes earlier.
A record of where each penetration sits and how it was sealed is a practical part of that information.
Who must maintain fire-stopping once the building is in use?
Under the Fire Safety Order, the Responsible Person maintains fire safety once the building is in use. Article 3 defines that person, usually the employer or whoever controls the premises. Article 9 requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, reviewed after significant changes. Article 17 requires a suitable system of maintenance for the premises and fire safety facilities.
In buildings with 2 or more sets of domestic premises, article 6 brings the structure and common parts within scope.
What changes for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022?
In England, a new building is higher-risk if it is at least 18 metres high or has at least 7 storeys, and either contains at least 2 residential units or is a hospital or care home. The Building Safety Regulator is building control for these buildings, and they cannot be occupied before passing its completion checks at gateway 3.
Under the Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures (England) Regulations 2023, the client keeps golden thread information electronically, accurate and up to date. At completion the client hands it, with the fire safety information, to the accountable person and the Responsible Person.
Is a fire-stopping logbook a legal requirement?
No rule covered here requires a document called a fire-stopping logbook. The law does require effective compartmentation, fire safety information at completion, maintenance once the building is in use and, for higher-risk buildings, an electronic golden thread. A logbook with a photo, location and product for each penetration is the most common way to show all of that.
| Legally required in England? | In practice | |
|---|---|---|
| Fire-resisting subdivision where reasonably necessary | Yes, requirement B3 | Basis of the fire strategy |
| Sealing penetrations to keep fire resistance | Guidance in Approved Document B to meet B3 | Work of the fire-stopping contractor |
| Fire safety information at completion | Yes, regulation 38 | Part of the handover file |
| Maintenance once in use | Yes, article 17 Fire Safety Order | Facilities management |
| Electronic golden thread | Yes, for higher-risk buildings | Kept by the client, then handed over |
| Fire-stopping logbook by name | Not named in these rules | Most common way to show compliance |
Installer certification such as FIRAS or BM TRADA Q-Mark, and guidance from the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), are industry practice, not law. Ed Controls, project management and quality control software for construction, records each penetration as a ticket on the drawing, so that evidence exists before ceilings close.
Who is this explanation for?
This explanation is for people who need to link fire-stopping on site to the rules in England without reading all the legislation. It helps teams prepare for building control, handover and fire risk assessments, but does not replace a fire engineer or legal advice.
Suitable for:
- Site, project and design managers who need to know which rules apply
- Fire-stopping contractors linking their work to the regulations
- Facilities managers and Responsible Persons after handover
Not intended as:
- Legal advice, or a replacement for a fire engineer when designing fire compartments
Frequently asked questions
Does the Fire Safety Order apply to fire-stopping?
Yes, once the building is in use. The Responsible Person must keep the premises and fire safety facilities under a suitable system of maintenance and review the fire risk assessment after significant changes, such as a refurbishment that adds new penetrations through compartment walls or floors.
How many minutes of fire resistance does a fire-stopping seal need?
Requirement B3 does not set a single figure. Approved Document B links the required fire resistance of compartment walls and floors to the use and height of the building, and the sealed penetration must not reduce it. The seal's classification, for example EI 60, should therefore match the rating of the element it passes through.
Is third-party certification of fire-stopping installers mandatory?
No, the legislation covered here does not require it. Schemes such as FIRAS and the BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Stopping Installation Scheme are voluntary, but many clients and principal contractors specify them in contracts because they give independent assurance that installers are competent and that seals are fitted as tested.
What counts as a higher-risk building in England?
For the design and construction phase, a higher-risk building is at least 18 metres high or has at least 7 storeys, and either contains at least 2 residential units or is a hospital or care home. The Building Safety Regulator is building control for these buildings and checks them at gateway 3 before occupation.
Is a fire-stopping logbook a legal requirement?
No rule covered here names a fire-stopping logbook. The Building Regulations, the Fire Safety Order and, for higher-risk buildings, the golden thread rules do require you to build, record and maintain compartmentation properly. A logbook with a photo, location and product for each penetration is the most practical way to show that.
Read more
- Fire-stopping logbook: what should it record and who keeps it?
- Who is responsible for fire-stopping penetrations?
- Fire safety software from Ed Controls
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk, Building Regulations 2010, Schedule 1 (B3)
- legislation.gov.uk, Building Regulations 2010 (regulations 7 and 38)
- gov.uk, Approved Document B (fire safety)
- gov.uk, Approved Document B updates (BS EN 13501 transition)
- legislation.gov.uk, Fire Safety Order 2005, articles 3, 6, 9, 17 and 25
- gov.uk, Criteria for a higher-risk building
- legislation.gov.uk, Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures (England) Regulations 2023
- Building Safety Regulator, building control FAQ (gateway 3)
- BM TRADA, Q-Mark Fire Stopping Installation Scheme
This article explains regulations and is not legal advice.
Last updated: 12 October 2026
