Ritherdon Passive Fire Protection Solutions

The Ritherdon range of passive fire protection products has evolved in response to real world fire risk assessments, which continually identify new types of breaches in a building’s fire compartmentation. These breaches, if left unprotected, create potential pathways for fire and smoke to spread, compromising the safety of occupants and increasing the risk of extensive fire damage.

The Importance of Passive Fire Protection

In the event of a fire in a multi-occupancy building, such as a block of flats, it is critical that the fire is contained at its source while emergency services extinguish it and/or the building is evacuated. The Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Residential Buildings (BS 9991) emphasises that critical walls in a building must provide a minimum level of fire resistance to prevent the rapid spread of flames and smoke. This requirement is at the core of passive fire protection principles, which aim to limit fire progression and protect evacuation routes.

However, many buildings feature breaches in compartmentation, often introduced during construction or refurbishment. Common examples include:

• In-set electricity meter boxes, which create voids within fire rated walls.
• Dry risers, which provide essential access for firefighting but can act as fire pathways.
• Service risers, carrying electrical and plumbing systems through multiple floors.

These structural penetrations are frequently flagged in fire risk assessments, yet in many cases, there has been no adequate fire-rated solution available—until now.

Ritherdon’s FireSeal: Leading the Way in Passive Fire Protection

Recognising the urgent need for fire rated enclosures, Ritherdon pioneered the development of the FireSeal, a high performance, fire rated access panel designed specifically to reinstate the fire resistance of compartment walls that have been compromised by meter boxes and riser access points.

Since its launch, thousands of FireSeal units have been installed across the UK, helping to enhance passive fire protection and ensure compliance with fire safety regulations.

Case Study: FireSeal – Wates for Wolverhampton Homes– See how Wates refurbished meter boxes with FireSeals in this mid-rise residential block of flats.

Expanding the Ritherdon Passive Fire Protection Range

Building on the success of the FireSeal, Ritherdon has developed a comprehensive range of fire rated products, including:

• Fire rated R5 meter box – A robust, fire-resistant replacement for traditional meter boxes, ensuring fire compartmentation is maintained where meters are installed.
• Riser FireSeal – An innovative solution for protecting service risers, preventing the vertical spread of fire through buildings.

Certified Fire Resistance Testing

All Ritherdon passive fire protection products undergo rigorous fire resistance testing in accordance with British and European fire safety standards, including:

• BS EN 1363 – General fire resistance testing framework.
• BS EN 1364 – Fire resistance for non-loadbearing elements.
• BS EN 1366 – Fire resistance of service installations, including ducts and risers.

These stringent tests ensure that our products provide reliable and certified passive fire protection, giving building owners, fire safety professionals, and facility managers confidence in their fire safety measures.

Supporting Fire Safety Compliance

Ritherdon is committed to providing transparent technical data to support fire safety compliance. Full testing reports and technical documentation are available on our Technical Information page.

Why Choose Ritherdon for Passive Fire Protection?

With a heritage of innovation in fire safety solutions, Ritherdon continues to push the boundaries of passive fire protection technology. Our products are:

• Designed to integrate seamlessly into existing and new-build infrastructure.
• Independently tested and certified for fire resistance.
• Manufactured in the UK with a commitment to quality and compliance.

By choosing Ritherdon’s passive fire protection solutions, you ensure greater safety, enhanced compliance, and long term peace of mind in fire critical building environments.