A Technical Discussion on External Wall Cavity Barriers.
Understanding Passive Fire Protection
Ensure your team has the complete understanding they need to make informed decisions about passive fire protection for their projects.
Our comprehensive, 1 hour Technical Discussion on External Wall Cavity Barriers is fully RIBA approved and covers the major topics concerning cavity fire barriers in external walls.
Understanding Passive Fire Protection
The presentation is suited to all delegates involved in external facades, including technical, design, and construction of projects both traditional and offsite.
Attendees will receive an in-depth knowledge of how fire barriers differ across type and application and a good understanding of the crucial ingredients used to manufacture intumescent and how they allow for improved performance.
Understanding Passive Fire Protection
Spearheaded by Tenmat National Specification & Supply Chain Manager, Adam Taylor.
“Our RIBA-approved CPD gives architects essential fire safety insights that align with the latest regulations and RIBA’s core curriculum. Developed in collaboration with RIBA, it supports every project stage from design through to construction with clear, compliant specifications.
“Join us at the Tenmat Manufacturing & Innovation Centre in Irlam for added value, including a guided factory tour, lab visit, and lunch in our on-site canteen. It’s an ideal setting for learning, discussion, and networking.”
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In-person at your site or ours
A cavity barrier is a fire-resistant component installed within concealed spaces in buildings – such as wall cavities, floor voids, and roof spaces – to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. These voids, often created for ventilation or insulation, can act like chimneys during a fire, allowing flames and smoke to spread rapidly. Cavity barriers block these hidden routes, helping to maintain fire compartmentation and slow fire progression.
They are typically made from stone wool and intumescent materials that expand when exposed to heat, sealing gaps and joints. Cavity barriers are essential for meeting building regulations and ensuring occupant safety. Without them, fire can bypass fire-resistant walls and floors, compromising the building’s integrity. Tenmat’s cavity barriers are rigorously tested and designed to perform reliably in real-world fire scenarios.
Cavity barriers are required in concealed spaces where fire and smoke could spread undetected. These include wall cavities, floor voids, ceiling spaces, and roof structures. In external walls, especially those with ventilated facades or cladding systems, cavity barriers must be installed at floor levels, around window and door openings, and at compartment lines.
Their placement is critical to maintaining fire compartmentation and preventing vertical or horizontal fire spread. Building regulations mandate their use to ensure that fire does not bypass fire-resistant walls or floors via hidden routes. Proper installation is essential for compliance and safety.
Yes, cavity barriers are still required even when full fill insulation is used. While full fill insulation reduces the size of voids, it does not replace the role of cavity barriers in preventing fire spread. Insulation materials may not be fire-resistant or may degrade under high temperatures, allowing fire and smoke to travel through gaps or around penetrations.
Cavity barriers provide a tested, reliable method of sealing these paths, especially at compartment lines, floor levels, and around openings. Building regulations typically require cavity barriers regardless of insulation type to ensure comprehensive passive fire protection and compliance with fire safety standards.
Passive fire protection (PFP) refers to the built-in features of a building that help contain or slow the spread of fire and smoke without requiring activation. Unlike active systems like sprinklers or alarms, passive systems are always in place and form part of the building’s structure. These include fire-resistant walls, floors, doors, and cavity barriers. PFP is essential for maintaining fire compartments, sections of a building designed to contain fire for a specific time, giving occupants time to evacuate and emergency services time to respond. Materials used in PFP include stone wool, fire-resistant boards, and intumescent products that expand under heat to seal gaps. PFP reduces the risk of structural collapse, limits damage, and supports the effectiveness of active systems. It is a legal requirement in most building codes and plays a vital role in overall fire safety. Tenmat’s cavity barriers are a key example of effective passive fire protection.
Active fire protection involves systems that require activation to function, such as sprinklers, alarms, and fire extinguishers. Passive fire protection, on the other hand, is built into the structure and works continuously to contain fire and smoke without needing activation.
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