Technical Guidance
Fire-rated shaft walls and service risers play a critical role in maintaining compartmentation within buildings. Designed to contain fire and smoke, these systems protect escape routes, structural elements and adjacent areas, helping to support overall fire safety strategy.
They are commonly used in multi-storey buildings where services such as pipes, cables and ductwork pass through floors and walls.
Shaft walls are vertical enclosures that surround services running between floors, such as lifts, stair cores and mechanical or electrical risers.
Service risers are similar enclosed spaces that allow building services to pass through different levels while maintaining fire separation between compartments.
Both systems must be designed to maintain fire resistance and prevent the spread of fire and smoke.
Openings created for services can compromise fire-rated walls and floors. Without appropriate protection, fire and smoke can spread rapidly through a building.
Fire-rated shaft walls and risers are designed to:
Fire-rated shaft wall and riser systems typically include:
Each element must be specified and installed correctly as part of a tested system.
Where services pass through fire-rated elements, fire stopping systems are required to reinstate fire resistance.
These may include:
Correct selection depends on the type of service, opening size and required fire rating.
Shaft wall systems are designed to achieve specific fire ratings, such as 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes, depending on building requirements.
All components must work together to maintain performance, including boards, framing and fire stopping materials.
Poor installation or incorrect detailing can compromise system performance, particularly around joints and penetrations.
Fire-rated shaft walls and service risers are essential for compliance with UK building regulations relating to fire safety.
Performance should always be verified through:
Early coordination during design helps reduce risk during construction.
Fire-rated shaft walls and service risers are used in:
They are critical wherever services pass between compartments.
Fire-rated shaft walls and service risers are essential components of a building’s fire protection strategy. By maintaining compartmentation and protecting service openings, they help limit the spread of fire and smoke and support safe evacuation.
Correct specification, system design and installation are key to ensuring performance and compliance.
FGF supplies fire protection boards, fire stopping systems and associated materials for shaft walls and service risers.
Talk to our team for guidance on product selection, system compatibility and project requirements.