How Does a Ritherdon Riser FireSeal Work?

Riser shafts running vertically up through a building are often identified as potential fire routes in FRAs.  Compartmentalization between floors has traditionally been achieved by putting horizontal breaks inside the riser. However, these are breached whenever a new pipe or wire is installed (often being resealed with the universal ‘pink foam’). 

The Riser FireSeal is fitted over the front of the riser to form a vertical barrier. This is much less susceptible to disturbance and its integrity can be checked at a glance in future assessments. 

Designed and tested to provide at least 60 min fire resistance (EN1364 and EN1366 tests) to riser openings and maintain compartments between floors in buildings 

Shortlisted for Passive Fire Innovation of the Year – Security and Fire Awards 2015 

The Riser FireSeal is fitted over the front of the riser to form a vertical barrier (>60 min resistance in the EN1364 and EN1366 tests) and isolate the riser from the rest of the building. This has the following advantages over the horizontal barrier method: 

• No need to fit intumescent collars around pipes and wires at every level 
• New pipes and wires can be run up the riser without penetrating the barrier 
• No bodging around pipes and wires inside the riser 
• The integrity of the fire barrier (Riser FireSeal) can be inspected quickly and safely, without opening up the riser 
• Quick and tidy to open up the whole riser again if necessary 

Side rail sections are fixed to the wall on either side, working up the riser opening from floor to ceiling. Spacer bars set the correct spacing and keep the rails parallel. Then filler panels are quickly fixed between the rails with the top one trimmed to fit. Finishing plates seal the base and top of the unit. 

All joints between the rails and panels and also at the rail: wall interface is sealed with intumescent strip. 

All the FireSeal products are tested to the appropriate EN fire resistance testing standards as recommended in the BS 9999:  2008 Code of Practice:  EN 1363, EN 1364 and EN 1366. All the testing reports are available in our Technical Information page.