Understanding fire rated mastic sealants
Intumescent sealants, also known as mastic sealants, are a type of fireproofing material used to seal gaps and joints in buildings, pipework, doorways and walls to prevent the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gasses. Our range of certified intumescent mastic sealants function as passive fire protection (PFP), meaning once applied to the desired surface, no human interaction is needed to provide fire protection if one breaks out. This is thanks to the intumescent properties – which simply means expansion when exposed to heat. Our fire rated intumescent sealant remains flexible and elastic over a long period of time.
Differentiating fire rated sealant from standard sealant
Fire rated sealants are specially formulated with fire-retardant materials, such as intumescent fillers, that expand when exposed to heat. Compare this with regular sealants, which are typically composed of silicone or polyurethane. They do not possess the same fire rated properties and will degrade or simply melt when exposed to high temperatures.
The varying surfaces and parts of buildings each type of sealant is applied to are also different. Regular sealants are used for general sealing purposes, including filling gaps and preventing water ingress, or bonding materials together.
Features and properties of fire rated sealants
Fire rated sealant is commonly used in fire-rated assemblies to ensure buildings and the parts it is applied to meet fire safety standards.
FPC’s fire resistant sealants have intumescent elements in them which expand when heated, preventing flames and hot gases from escaping through cracks and seams in the event of a fire. Some fire rated sealants also may contain endothermic fillers. These absorb heat and emit water vapour, delaying the spread of fire even more.
Code compliance and standards
Our fire rated sealants adhere to all necessary fire safety standards and building regulations in the UK. These include:
- Building Regulations 2010 – Part B
- British Standards (BS) – BS 476, BS EN 1366-4, BS 9999
- CE Marking – To conform to European Norms (EN)
Our fire rated mastic sealant will aid you in meeting all fire safety requirements and helping to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, as well as helping reduce as much damage to your building and the internal structure as possible.
Testing and certification
It is important to offer proof that the used intumescent sealants have undergone routine testing and adhere to the relevant criteria. Failure to comply with this is documented as part of a comprehensive fire safety policy, and there may be legal ramifications.
A preliminary analysis of the fire rated sealant will take place that aims to determine the sealant’s basic physical and chemical properties, such as curing time, viscosity, and initial flammability.
As one of the most reputable manufacturers and suppliers of passive fire products and systems, FPC adheres to all UK fire resistant tests with our fire rated sealant. We carry out tests including BS 476, and BS EN 1366-4, assess performance metrics, and evaluate how long the sealant will function when exposed to extreme temperatures for a predetermined duration.
Applications of intumescent mastic sealant
The incredible benefit of using intumescent mastic sealant is that it can be installed for a vast array of applications, helping to keep your products and other fire protection measures in working and safe order. Some of the most common applications our fire rated sealants can be applied to include:
- Linear seals in floors
- Linear seals in drywalls, masonry, or concrete walls
- Cables in flooring, walls made from timber, concrete, and masonry
As well as protecting these varying applications, fire rated sealant is used for sealing irregular holes in fire walls, sealing joints and filling gaps between services that penetrate fire walls and partitions. When fire resistance is critical, such as around pipes, electrical wiring and fire-rated walls and floors, our mastic sealant is the ideal solution for added protection. FPC’s fire rated sealant can work in conjunction with many of our other fire protection products, including our range of structural fire protection and fire protection plumbing items.
