Fire stopping is best defined as the sealing of any openings to prevent fire (including smoke and heat) from passing through multiple building compartments. The spread of a fire is contained by creating fire resisting compartments, which subdivide the building (vertically or horizontally). Buildings must ensure that any openings and gaps are fire stopped to restrict both lateral and vertical fire spread.
The Wiki firestop definition is:
A firestop is a fire protection system made of various components used to seal openings and joints in fire-resistance rated wall or floor assemblies. For penetrating cables, these can also be called as Multi Cable Transits (MCTs). Firestops are designed to restore the continuous fire-resistance of wall or floor assemblies, impeding the spread of fire by filling the openings in them with fire-resistant materials.
Ultimately the selection and correct installation of a fire stop can potentially save people’s lives. It is therefore a decision that should involve qualified parties to ensure effective fire stopping solutions are specified. All buildings are different, and it is important to consider not just the product you require, but also the environment and situation into which it is being installed. Each construction situation can be different, so simply using the same firestop you have used on a previous build may not be the answer.
With the huge range of fire protection products that are now required by building regulations, it can be difficult to understand which ones you need. The simple answer is, all of them. A functional firestop system is only made when a combination of products are all working together. Without the use of one single product, the rest of the fireproofing system could fail.