1. What services does Onyx Fire Ltd provide?
Onyx Fire Ltd provides passive fire protection services, including compartmentation surveys, fire stopping, fire barriers, fire protection remedial work and fire door solutions. These services are intended to restrict the movement of fire and smoke through buildings while supporting fire safety compliance. View the service overview.
2. What is passive fire protection?
Passive fire protection uses built-in systems and materials to contain fire and smoke within designated areas. Fire doors, fire barriers, penetration seals and compartment walls help protect escape routes, support evacuation and limit fire spread without requiring manual activation.
3. Which types of buildings can Onyx Fire support?
The company serves commercial, industrial, residential, healthcare, education, hospitality and care environments. Its experience also includes operational settings such as hospitals, schools and care homes, where fire protection work must be carefully managed to minimise disruption.
4. Why might a building need a specialist fire compartmentation survey?
A standard fire risk assessment may not fully examine concealed or out-of-sight areas. A specialist survey can assess hidden spaces and identify defects that could compromise fire compartmentation. This provides building owners and occupiers with clearer information about necessary remedial work. Learn about fire surveys.
5. What can compromise fire compartmentation?
Unsealed penetrations, construction gaps and openings around mechanical or electrical services can compromise compartmentation. Concealed defects in walls, floors, ceilings and roofs may also create routes through which fire and smoke can move between different parts of a building.
6. What is fire compartmentation?
Fire compartmentation divides a building into separate fire-resistant sections. Walls, floors, doors, barriers and penetration-sealing systems work together to restrict fire and smoke movement. Compartmentation is particularly important around escape corridors, staircases, kitchens and plant rooms.
7. What is fire stopping?
Fire stopping involves sealing openings and service penetrations within fire-resistant walls and floors using suitably tested systems. Its purpose is to maintain the fire resistance of the compartment and help prevent fire and cold smoke from passing through unsealed gaps. Read about fire stopping.
8. Why must gaps around pipes and electrical services be sealed?
Pipes, cables and other building services often pass through fire-resistant walls or floors. The openings created around them can provide a route for fire and smoke. Appropriate fire-stopping systems restore protection around these penetrations and help maintain compartment integrity.
9. Which materials may be used for fire stopping?
Depending on the defect and application, fire-stopping work may involve ablative-coated mineral wool, intumescent mastic, pipe collars, sleeves, wraps, sealants, putties, sprays, foam or socket-box inserts. The selected product must be suitable for the specific penetration and surrounding construction. Explore fire protection methods.
10. Can fire stopping be installed in different wall types?
The fire-stopping page explains that an ablative batt and intumescent mastic system can be used with blockwork, concrete and plasterboard partitions. When correctly specified and installed, this type of system can provide up to four hours of fire integrity, depending on its tested application.
11. How do pipe collars, sleeves and wraps work?
These products are installed around pipes or services passing through fire-resistant construction. During a fire, intumescent components react to heat and help seal the opening. This reduces the risk of fire and smoke spreading through the penetration into adjoining rooms or floors.
12. What are fire barriers?
Fire barriers are passive protection systems installed within concealed areas, including roof and ceiling voids. They subdivide these spaces to restrict the movement of flames, hot gases and smoke from one building compartment to another. Learn about fire barriers.
13. What types of fire barriers are available?
The website describes mineral fibre barriers and lightweight woven cloth barriers. Mineral fibre systems provide insulation and fire protection, while woven cloth systems offer a lightweight alternative. The appropriate barrier should be selected according to the void, construction type and required fire performance.
14. Why are cavity barriers important?
Unprotected cavities can act like chimneys, allowing air to enter while flames, smoke and hot gases travel through concealed spaces. Cavity barriers subdivide these areas and help prevent fire from spreading rapidly between compartments through roofs, floors and walls.
15. What guidance applies to cavity barriers in residential buildings?
The fire-barriers page references BS 9991, which provides recommendations concerning fire safety in residential buildings. It covers dwellings, blocks of residential accommodation and specialised housing, including both new construction and alterations to existing buildings.
16. What is the purpose of a fire door?
A fire door is designed to resist flames and hot gases for a specified period. It helps maintain compartmentation, protects escape routes and provides occupants with additional time to evacuate. Routine maintenance is necessary to keep fire doors operating as intended. Read about fire doors.
17. What is the difference between FD30 and FD60 fire doors?
An FD30 fire door is designed to provide 30 minutes of fire resistance, while an FD60 door is designed to provide 60 minutes. The correct rating depends on the building design, location of the door and applicable fire safety requirements.
18. Can fire doors help control smoke?
Some fire doors are fitted with smoke seals to restrict the movement of cold smoke. An FD30S door, for example, incorporates suitable smoke-sealing components such as brushes or intumescent strips. The complete doorset must be correctly specified, fitted and maintained.
19. What qualifications and quality controls does the company use?
Site personnel hold CSCS cards and minimum NVQ Level 2 qualifications, while supervisors and project managers have SSSTS or SMSTS certification. The company supports installation quality through third-party assessments, in-house checks and recorded manufacturer specifications for each defect and application.
20. Where does Onyx Fire operate, and how can the company be contacted?
Onyx Fire provides nationwide coverage and can work in occupied or operational environments using a controlled approach. Enquiries can be submitted through the contact page, by calling 07544 080555 or by emailing Marvin@onyxfire.co.uk. Opening hours are 07:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday.
