In the Taiwanese building market, firestopping, as a critical component in maintaining the integrity of fire compartments, has long been in a gray area due to the lack of standardized management and professional inspection mechanisms. In recent years, as building regulations for fire compartment breaches and restoration operations have become increasingly stringent, a comprehensive closed-loop mechanism is gradually taking shape. This mechanism is overseen by fire protection engineers as the ultimate responsible signatories, and integrates material suppliers, installers, and third-party inspection agencies to establish a full-process supervision system—from design to occupancy permit issuance.

1. Design and System Selection: Led by Material Suppliers

Every penetration or breach of a fire compartment must undergo project-specific design evaluation. Based on site floor plans and the conditions of penetrations (such as cables, pipes, ducts, etc.), firestopping material suppliers propose corresponding system solutions, including system numbers (such as UL, FM, or CNS-certified methods), product configurations, installation depths, and key installation points. The system selection at this stage not only forms the basis for subsequent construction and inspection but also ensures that the products used have a complete and qualified certification system.

2. Procurement and Installation: Executed by Installers

Firestopping installers follow the system recommendations from material suppliers, procure materials as specified, and arrange for on-site installation by personnel trained and certified by the material suppliers. All penetrations must be sealed according to the system’s structural details, with no unauthorized changes to the installation methods. The entire installation process must be documented with detailed records and images (such as before-and-after photos, batch number markings, installer records, etc.) for future review.

3. Documentation Review and On-site Inspection: Third-Party Firestopping Inspection Agencies

As an independent third-party inspection agency certified under ISO/IEC 17020, Liansuo Building Technology is responsible for two key tasks:

Documentation Review:
Reviews the system selection documents provided by material suppliers to confirm compliance and applicability. When no suitable certified method is available for on-site conditions, the material supplier issues an Engineering Judgment (EJ) to supplement the certified methods.

On-site Sampling Inspection:
Conducts field inspections of selected penetrations according to international and CNS standards such as ASTM E2174 (visual inspection) and ASTM E2393 (destructive testing), recording installation consistency, material compaction, system integrity, etc., and issuing ILAC internationally recognized third-party inspection reports.

These inspection reports serve as objective, professional, and traceable quality certifications, ensuring that the firestopping installation can withstand regulatory and disaster challenges.

4. Certification and Occupancy Permit: Completed by Fire Protection Engineers and Regulatory Authorities

After construction is completed, the project unit or general contractor compiles and submits a complete set of documents—including system selection documents, installation records, and the inspection report from the third-party firestopping inspection agency—to the fire protection engineer. The fire protection engineer reviews these documents (including Engineering Judgments) for compliance and completes the fire compartment certification process, confirming that all work meets the relevant regulations such as Article 85 and Article 85-1 of the Building Technical Regulations.

Ultimately, the building’s occupancy permit is issued by the regulatory authority after review, serving as official confirmation that the project meets fire safety standards.

5. Supervision Value in the Closed-Loop Mechanism

This system positions five roles—material suppliers, installers, third-party inspection agencies, fire protection engineers, and regulatory authorities—respectively in the five key stages: “design recommendation → execution and installation → technical inspection → compliance certification → regulatory approval.” This forms a true closed-loop mechanism from fire compartment breach to restoration:

• Material Suppliers: Provide professional system selection, ensuring materials and methods are certified.
• Installers: Implement installation details and bear primary quality responsibility.
• Third-party Inspection Agencies: Conduct documentation review and on-site sampling to ensure quality.
• Fire Protection Engineers: Act as legal certifiers, ensuring the authenticity of documents and compliance with regulations.
• Regulatory Authorities: Issue occupancy permits, confirming the final fire safety status of the building.

Conclusion

Firestopping is no longer just a “construction detail,” but a core system involving building life safety and regulatory responsibility. Through systematic collaboration and the involvement of professional third-party inspections, this closed-loop mechanism not only addresses past quality inconsistencies caused by lack of supervision but also transforms the integrity of fire compartments from “formality” to “substance.” In the future, only by continuously promoting the popularization and institutionalization of this closed-loop mechanism can Taiwan’s building fire safety standards align with international standards.