Commercial · Passive fire
Fire separation, kept intact through the services.
Every duct, pipe and cable that passes through a fire-rated wall or floor is a potential weak point. We plan, install and document mechanical penetrations and fire dampers so the building’s fire separation is maintained — and can be shown at handover and inspection.
What we cover
Where mechanical services meet fire-rated construction.
Fire & smoke dampers
Selection, installation and documentation of fire and smoke dampers in rated walls and floors, installed to the manufacturer’s tested details and the AS 1682 series.
Service penetrations
Tested systems for ductwork, refrigerant pipework, condensate and associated cabling through rated elements, matched to the substrate, the services and the required fire-resistance level.
Fire mode interfaces
Mechanical plant shutdown and smoke control sequences coordinated with the fire detection system and AS 1668.1, and tested as part of commissioning.
Remediation in existing buildings
Surveys of risers and ceiling voids to find undocumented or defective mechanical penetrations, with remediation priced and scheduled as part of a building upgrade.
Evidence
Documented, not just installed.
Fire separation has to be proven, not assumed. Each penetration and damper is recorded so certifiers, fire engineers and owners can see what was installed and where.
- Penetration and damper register with locations and references
- Tested system and product used at each penetration
- Photos before close-up, linked to the register
- Identification labels on site
- Records suitable for ongoing inspection and maintenance
How it runs
Coordinated from design to close-out.
01
Confirm requirements
Fire-resistance levels, tested systems and the certification pathway are confirmed with the certifier and fire engineer.
02
Coordinate
Penetration locations and damper access are planned with the other trades before walls and ceilings close.
03
Install
Systems installed to the tested details, with photos taken before close-up.
04
Close out
Register, photos and certificates issued, and fire-mode sequences tested during commissioning.
References
Standards and guidance.
Installer accreditation and certification requirements for passive fire work vary by jurisdiction and project. We confirm them, and the applicable editions, with the certifier at the start of each job.
- NCC Volume One — fire resistance and protection of openings and service penetrations
- AS 1530.4 — fire-resistance tests for elements of construction
- AS 4072.1 — components for the protection of openings in fire-resistant separating elements (service penetrations and control joints)
- AS 1682.1 and AS 1682.2 — fire, smoke and air dampers
- AS 1668.1 — fire and smoke control in buildings
- AS 1851 — routine service of fire protection systems and equipment
- AIRAH DA05 — Guide to Fire and Smoke Control in Buildings using AS 1668 Part 1
- AIRAH DA06 — Guide to Fire, Smoke and Air Dampers using AS 1682 Parts 1 and 2
Do you only handle mechanical penetrations?
Our focus is where mechanical services pass through fire-rated elements. Where other trades share an opening, we coordinate so it is sealed with a system tested for all the services in it.
Can you help after a failed fire inspection?
Yes. We can survey the affected areas, identify which defects relate to the mechanical services, and price remediation with documentation that closes out the findings.
What documentation do we receive?
A register of penetrations and dampers with locations, systems used, photos and labels, plus commissioning records for fire-mode sequences.
Commercial enquiries
Fire separation on your next project?
Send us the drawings or the inspection report. We will scope the mechanical side and tell you what we need.