Passive Fire Protection
For Your Business
We offer a full service for fire protection to protect your business. We can address all of your fire protection needs. Our goal is to provide exceptional value to our customers protecting lives and property. Our customers know that passive fire protection plays a massive role in all building design and therefore having a compliant contractor on hand ready to assist is key, should the need ever arise.
About Us
PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION FOR YOUR
BUSINESS
AK Communications Ltd has been delivering firestopping and compartmentation services for over a decade. We’ve delivered hundreds of projects which make buildings safer, compliant with legislation, and reduce the risks associated with evacuation in the event of a fire.
Compartmentation prevents fire from spreading through cavities and penetrations within the structure of your building.
If you’ve had electrical and/or mechanical services installed recently, holes are made through partition walls for penetrants such as pipework, wiring and risers. These open holes are known as voids which present a danger should the need ever arise for evacuation from fire.
Any open holes (voids) between rooms will allow smoke and heat to transfer quickly from one room to the next.
Passive fire protection systems are designed to contain a fire at the source. By slowing down the spread of fire, heat, and smoke, key escape routes can remain open for the safe evacuation of employees, tenants, and visitors.
NEED ADVICE ON YOUR FIRE COMPLIANCE?
Specialist Firestopping Services for Commercial and Industrial Premises
It’s important to know that If you are an employer, building owner or HSE professional it is a legal requirement that your buildings are compartmented to prevent the spread of fire and allow as much time as possible to evacuate.
Our work gives you peace of mind knowing that your building is compliant. All our work comes with FIRAS certification accompanied with a report showing before and after photos. This is a certificate of conformity which satisfies the requirements of most UK business insurers.
Why Choose Us?
All of our engineers are FIRAS certified, our expert team have the skills, training and
quality of workmanship to install compartmentation to British Standard BS9999.
Full documentation provided on completion of works.
You can always be certain that AK Communications will never carry out any Fire Stopping work unless it is safe to do so. Health and Safety is a key factor for the company. Rest assured you can always rely on the Team to work on a strict schedule. This is always attractive for the large contractors we work with across the UK.
It’s important for us that we are up to date with technology and training, all of our engineers are trained regularly, this to ensure the best possible practice and end result for our customers.
Fire Stopping Services
Listed below are some of our key services we have carried out for various clients throughout the UK. We’ve carried out work for various Airports, restaurants, care homes and office buildings, we can offer our services to a wide range of sectors, just ask!
A fire curtain is used where, if there is a fire, it is necessary to create a temporary barrier within an opening that seals off the area on fire.
The curtain descends and prevents any fire and smoke from spreading from one area to another. It also allows people access to protected escape routes without any loss of fire resistance.
A fire curtain comprises a flexible fire-resistant fabric that is wound around a circular tube. Upon receiving a signal from the fire alarm system or on loss of power the curtain automatically unwinds to its operational position. If you feel this is an option you’d like to explore please get in touch with a member of the team.
Our customer focussed approach is what makes us different. You can be assured that we will only advise you on what you NEED.
-We can work hours to suit your business to avoid disruption as we know how important this can be.
-We have a no mess policy which means that once the job is finished you wouldn’t know we were there!
-Before and after photos for your records.
Penetration seal systems for firestopping are a highly effective form of passive fire protection (PFP). They are used to thoroughly compartmentalise a building to restrict the spread of fire.
We use compliant materials and guarantee a professional finish with all work carried out. It’s important that when filling a hole that any excess material is removed as this in itself could make the problem worse.
We will always advise on the best possible solution for the space.
Gallery
Here is a selection of before and after examples of our work. We improve fire safety across a wide range of buildings, slowing the spread and severity of fire, reducing risk to life and property, and ensuring compliance with the latest legislation. Contact us if you’re concerned about your fire risk and compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is passive fire protection a legal requirement in the UK?
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, building owners, employers, and those in control of premises have a legal duty to ensure buildings are compartmented to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Compliance with standards such as BS 9999 and Approved Document B of the Building Regulations is expected. Passive fire protection measures such as firestopping, penetration seals, and fire curtains are part of this compliance.
What happens if my building is not compliant with fire compartmentation requirements?
Non-compliance can result in:
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Enforcement Notices or Prohibition Orders from the Fire and Rescue Authority.
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Unlimited fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment for responsible persons.
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Invalidation of insurance policies if fire protection measures are found lacking.
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Significant risk to life and property in the event of a fire.
Who is responsible for ensuring fire stopping and passive fire protection in a building?
The Responsible Person under the Fire Safety Order (often the employer, building owner, landlord, or facilities manager) is legally accountable. They must ensure risk assessments are carried out and that passive fire protection is installed and maintained by competent contractors, such as FIRAS-certified providers.
What certification should I expect after fire stopping works?
You should receive a FIRAS certificate of conformity, along with a full report including before-and-after photographs. This documentation provides proof to insurers, regulators, and stakeholders that the work has been carried out to the correct British Standards.
How much does passive fire protection typically cost in the UK?
Costs vary depending on building size, number of penetrations/voids, and chosen systems (e.g., fire curtains vs penetration sealing). For SMEs, prices may start in the low hundreds for minor works, scaling to several thousands for large commercial or industrial projects. Importantly, compliance costs are usually far less than potential fines, insurance claims, or reputational losses following a fire.
What is the difference between passive fire protection and active fire protection?
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Passive Fire Protection (PFP): Involves built-in systems such as compartmentation, firestopping, fire curtains, and fire-resistant walls/floors. Its purpose is to contain fire at its source and maintain safe evacuation routes.
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Active Fire Protection (AFP): Includes systems like alarms, sprinklers, and extinguishers that require activation (manual or automatic).
UK law requires an integrated approach, but PFP is a legal baseline for compliance in all non-domestic buildings.
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Call us today to discuss your requirements or book an on-site visit.