Fire stopping contractors: survey, seal and record every penetration
Fire stopping seals the gaps and holes that let fire and smoke pass through walls, floors and risers, using products tested for that exact detail. We survey the building, price the repairs location by location, and every seal is photographed, referenced and recorded so you have evidence for your fire safety file.
Surveys by DC Fire & Security, Luton. Works by our BM TRADA Q-Mark / FIRAS-certificated contractors. Updated October 2026.
Fire stopping at a glance
- What it is: tested seals around cables, pipes, ducts and openings that pass through fire-resisting walls and floors
- Where it fails: after M&E, data and plumbing works, or when untested foam and mastic were used
- How we price: per location from a survey or photos, so you see exactly what you are paying for
- Evidence: before and after photos, a location reference, the system used and the certificate for your records
What fire stopping does
Buildings are divided into compartments so a fire stays where it starts long enough for people to get out. Every cable, pipe and duct that passes through a compartment wall or floor makes a hole in that barrier. Fire stopping restores the fire resistance of the wall or floor around the service, using a system that has been tested for that combination of service, wall and gap.
Where we find it failing
- Gaps left after electricians, data installers and plumbers have passed services through a wall
- Expanding foam, general-purpose mastic or loose mineral wool with no test evidence behind it
- Mixed products from different manufacturers, which breaks the tested detail
- Services added to a riser or ceiling void with the original seal disturbed
- No record of what was installed, where, or by whom
How we work
- Survey or photos. We identify the penetrations and openings, mark them on plans or a schedule, and note the wall or floor type and the service passing through.
- Fixed price per location. You get a schedule of works with a price you can check against what is in the building.
- Tested systems only. Each seal uses a product system tested for that service, substrate and gap. Systems are not mixed.
- Photographed and recorded. Every location is photographed before and after, given a reference, and tagged where the building allows.
- Paperwork. You receive the schedule, photos and the third-party certificate for your fire safety file.
Survey first, or fix first?
If you already know where the gaps are, for example from a compartmentation survey or a fire risk assessment, send the report and we price the repairs from it. If you do not, we start with a survey. The two are separate pieces of work: the survey finds the defects, the fire stopping closes them.
Typical clients
- Managing agents and freeholders of residential blocks
- Housing associations and local authority estates
- Schools and academies
- Care homes
- Contractors closing out M&E works
- Landlords of HMOs and commercial buildings
The photos on this page come from fire stopping on jobs we managed in residential buildings and schools. Each seal is photographed and referenced in the same way.
Related guides and services
- Fire stopping survey — finding every penetration before pricing
- Fire stopping Slough — local details
- Fire stopping High Wycombe — local details
- Compartmentation surveys — find the defects before you price the fixes
- What is passive fire protection? — how walls, doors and seals work together
- Fire door inspections — doors are part of the same compartment line
- Fire risk assessments — where fire stopping defects are often first flagged
- Choosing a fire stopping contractor — what certification to ask for
- Building Safety Act explained — evidence and the golden thread
Fire stopping near you
Pick your town for local details and a quote form. We also work outside the towns listed; send the postcode.
Certified work, with the paperwork to prove it
Fire stopping surveys and the scoping of works are carried out by DC. The installation is done by our BM TRADA Q-Mark / FIRAS-certificated contractors using tested systems, and the third-party certificate goes in your fire safety file. DC does not claim that certification for itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is fire stopping?
What is the difference between fire stopping and a compartmentation survey?
Can I use fire foam or mastic from a builders' merchant?
What evidence do I get?
How much does fire stopping cost?
Who carries out the work?
How long does it take?
Do you cover my area?
Send us your survey or photos
Email your compartmentation survey, fire risk assessment or photos of the openings to info@dcsecurity.co.uk, or use the form. Luton, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, London, the Thames Valley and the East Midlands.
Request a free quote
Priced per location · No obligation · Response within 24 hours