Fire stop
A fire stop seals penetrations through fire-rated walls and floors to block fire and smoke. Required wherever pipes, cables, or ducts cross a rated element.
Ask Chalkline about this →A fire stop is a passive fire protection measure that seals a penetration through a fire-rated wall or floor so that fire and hot gases cannot pass through the opening. Common fire stop products include intumescent collars (which expand when heated to seal around plastic pipes), mineral fibre packing with intumescent sealant, and purpose-made fire-rated duct blankets.
Under NCC 2022, any opening in a separating wall between Class 1 dwellings must maintain the wall’s FRL. For electrical cables, the Housing Provisions specify maximum opening sizes and require the gap to be packed with mineral fibre or equivalent fire-resisting material. Pipes that penetrate a rated wall or floor typically require a fire stop collar sized to the pipe diameter (verified 2026-05-07).
Incorrect or missing fire stops are a common PCI defect in attached dwellings: an unprotected cable penetration or an unsealed pipe collar can destroy the integrity rating of an otherwise compliant separating wall.
Also known as: firestop, fire-stopping, fire stop collar.
Category: Compliance & approvals.
Related
- NCC fire separation, where fire stops are required in separating walls and floors
- FRL, the fire resistance rating that fire stops help maintain
See also
- Plasterboard, the lining system the fire stop integrates with
Last updated: 2026-05-07. Verified: 2026-05-07. Quarterly review for currency.