Poor Firestopping Around Hospital Service Penetrations
Poorly executed firestopping was identified around a plastic waste pipe and copper medical-gas pipework within a hospital ceiling void. The installation appears irregular and incomplete, with visible gaps and no clear evidence that an approved, tested penetration-seal system has been followed.
This could compromise the fire resistance of the compartment and permit the passage of fire, smoke and hot gases. The penetrations should be inspected against the approved firestopping design and remediated by a competent firestopping contractor using suitable tested systems for each service type.
- NCQLE reference
- NCQLE-2026-00034
- Quality topic
- Defects and corrective action
- Lesson type
- Failure
- Evidence rating
- Experience
- Published
- 3 August 2026
- Last reviewed
- 3 August 2026
Evidence basis: Supported by relevant professional experience. This learning is provided for professional consideration and does not replace project-specific competent advice, statutory duties or contractual requirements.
Context
The issue was identified within a concealed ceiling void in a hospital, where plastic waste pipework and copper medical-gas services passed through a fire-resisting compartment wall or ceiling. The area contained closely grouped building services, making coordination, access and correct firestopping particularly important. Maintaining compartmentation is critical in an occupied healthcare environment, where evacuation may be phased and some patients may require assistance. Poor and incomplete firestopping was observed around plastic waste and copper medical-gas pipe penetrations within a hospital ceiling void. The sealing was irregular, with visible gaps and no clear evidence that a tested and approved firestopping detail had been followed. The services also appeared tightly grouped, making it difficult to achieve the required seal around each individual penetration.
The transferable lesson
All service penetrations through fire-resisting walls and ceilings must be planned, spaced and sealed using a tested firestopping system suitable for the specific pipe materials, sizes and supporting construction. Firestopping should not be treated as an improvised finishing task. It must be installed by competent personnel, inspected before concealment and recorded as part of the building’s fire-safety information.
Recommended action
Another project should coordinate service penetrations before installation and provide sufficient spacing for each service to be properly firestopped. Use a tested and approved system suitable for the wall or ceiling construction, required fire rating, pipe material and diameter, including the specified collar or wrap for plastic pipes. A competent firestopping installer should complete the work, with inspections undertaken before the ceiling void is closed. Record the product details, using a Software like FirePin, installation location, photographs, installer information and approval evidence within the project’s firestopping register and Golden Thread records.
Limitations and application
The assessment is based on a visual inspection only. The required fire resistance, substrate construction, pipe sizes, installed products, seal depth and concealed components could not be confirmed from the photograph. Compliance must therefore be checked against the approved fire strategy, service-penetration schedule and manufacturer’s tested detail. Any remedial work involving medical-gas services must follow the hospital’s permit, infection-control and medical-gas safety procedures and be coordinated with an appropriately authorised competent person.