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Product Selection Guide
How to Choose Passive Fire Protection Products
Choosing a passive fire protection product starts with the application, not the product name. The substrate, service type, opening dimensions, required fire performance and system evidence all affect whether a product is suitable.
Use this guide as a practical introduction, then check the relevant tested system and manufacturer documentation before selecting or installing a product.
Use This Guide
Understand the principle first
Use this guide as a practical introduction, then check the relevant tested system and manufacturer documentation before selecting or installing a product.
Product Selection Guide
Quick Guide
Choosing a passive fire protection product starts with the application, not the product name. The substrate, service type, opening dimensions, required fire performance and system evidence all affect whether a product is suitable.
Key Points
What You Need to Know
1. Construction
Wall, floor, cavity or structural element.
2. Service
Pipe, cable, duct, joint or other opening.
3. Performance
Required fire and related performance.
4. Evidence
Tested system and manufacturer instructions.
Key Principle
Start With the Construction
Identify the exact wall, floor, cavity or structural construction before selecting a product. Masonry, concrete and flexible partitions can require different tested solutions.
The thickness and build-up of the construction may also be relevant to the permitted system.
Practical Guidance
Identify the Service or Opening
Record what passes through the construction and the dimensions of the opening. Pipe material, insulation, cable arrangement, trays and ducts can all change the required solution.
For mixed-service penetrations, confirm that the tested system covers the actual combination of services.
Selection & Application
Define the Required Performance
The required fire resistance should come from the building design, fire strategy or relevant specification rather than being guessed from the product range.
Other performance requirements such as movement, acoustic performance or environmental exposure may also affect selection.
Important Detail
Check the Evidence and Installation Detail
Product datasheets are useful, but the complete tested or classified system details are critical. Check installation depth, fixing, spacing, backing materials and any compatible components.
If the proposed arrangement is outside the evidence, seek appropriate technical advice rather than assuming equivalence.
Relevant Products
Explore Related Product Ranges
Use the guide to understand the application, then browse the relevant Fire Protection Direct product categories.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
At minimum, identify the construction, service type, opening size, required performance and any relevant installation or environmental conditions.
No. A fire rating does not show that the product has been tested in your exact application.
Only where the relevant evidence allows the proposed combination. Components should not be assumed interchangeable.
Check the full system evidence or seek technical guidance. Do not assume that a similar-looking application is covered.
Good project records can help with inspection, maintenance and later alterations by showing what was installed and to which detail.
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Need help finding the right product range?
Browse the Products Hub or contact Fire Protection Direct if you need help finding products for a particular construction or application.
