upgrading electrical fire performances

Do I need fire rated sockets?

Believe it or not but these exist, be it premanufacturered or by upgrading the enclosure after the fact. Upgrading the sockets so that they can resist fire for up to 60 minutes could mean the difference between a fire travelling from one room to another.

Learn more below.

An example of one of our socket gaskets designed to meet 60 minutes resistance.

Fire Rated Sockets?

Fire Rated Socket gaskets are designed to stop the spread of fire/smoke through the wall cavity after burning through the plastic front plates. We recommend their installation as they would come under Approved Doc B 8.20 Note 2 & 10.17b.

They also help Comply with the Acoustic Regulations of Doc E though 17th Edition IEE Regulations also mentions they are required as they are a service penetrating the compartment wall. Once the hole is made in a wall for a recessed switch or socket box, the fire integrity of the construction is compromised: in addition, the capability that the wall maintains an effective acoustic barrier is weakened

This is because most electrical back boxes are made of a plastic or metal and the plastic boxes within a fire are not able withstand the required fire resistance of the wall (simply melting away within 5 minutes). As for the metal boxes they would still require the same intumescent pads as plastic as the goal is to keep the back boxes protected from the fire via expansion to protect the wall cavity.

Key Features of the products we fit

One Hour Fire Resistance
Compatible with single , double socket, switch boxes, BESA boxes, universal conduit boxes and ceiling roses
Complies with IEE Wiring Regulations, bringing standard boxes in line with Document B
Simple, quick to install with minimal damage or disruption