Fire stopping is one of the most important safety elements on any higher-risk building project. It affects compartmentation, escape routes, smoke control and ultimately life safety. Because of this, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) places heavy emphasis on evidence and verification, not just installation.
A common question on site is: who is actually responsible for signing off fire-stopping work? The short answer is: it depends on the role, but responsibility is shared and final accountability is structured.
This article explains the roles, responsibilities and best practice for signing off fire stopping on site in a way that stands up to BSR scrutiny.
A common question on site is: who is actually responsible for signing off fire-stopping work? The short answer is: it depends on the role, but responsibility is shared and final accountability is structured.
This article explains the roles, responsibilities and best practice for signing off fire stopping on site in a way that stands up to BSR scrutiny.
The Client: Ultimate Accountability
Under the Building Safety Act, the client is ultimately responsible for ensuring fire stopping is correctly installed, tested and evidenced. This means:
The client typically delegates day-to-day sign-off tasks, but they cannot delegate the accountability. If evidence is missing or work is unauthorised, the responsibility still legally sits with the client organisation.
Under the Building Safety Act, the client is ultimately responsible for ensuring fire stopping is correctly installed, tested and evidenced. This means:
- Fire stopping must be included in the approved documents submitted to BSR.
- Evidence that proves correct installation must be part of the Golden Thread.
- The client must be confident that their delivery team has captured clear, traceable records.
The client typically delegates day-to-day sign-off tasks, but they cannot delegate the accountability. If evidence is missing or work is unauthorised, the responsibility still legally sits with the client organisation.
Principal Contractor / Site Team: Operational Responsibility
On a live site, the principal contractor, site supervisors and foremen are responsible for ensuring that:
In practical terms, this means:
If these steps are not done properly, the work still happens, but evidence does not exist and BSR treats that the same as the work not being done.
On a live site, the principal contractor, site supervisors and foremen are responsible for ensuring that:
- Fire stopping is installed by competent operatives.
- Records are created at the right moment (before concealment).
- Evidence is clear, dated, and linked to location or drawing references.
In practical terms, this means:
- Supervisors confirm that fire stopping details match approved drawings.
- They organise site photos showing installations before walls, floors or ceilings are closed up.
- They log inspection and test outcomes in a traceable way.
If these steps are not done properly, the work still happens, but evidence does not exist and BSR treats that the same as the work not being done.
Competent Fire Stopping Installer / Specialist Subcontractor
The trade or subcontractor who installs fire stopping plays a key role in execution and evidence capture. Their responsibilities usually include:
However, their records are submitted through the main site team. The subcontractor does not hold final sign-off authority, that rests with the principal contractor or supervisor who controls the site delivery and Golden Thread records.
The trade or subcontractor who installs fire stopping plays a key role in execution and evidence capture. Their responsibilities usually include:
- Installing fire stopping according to the approved system and detail.
- Providing test data, certification and product information.
- Assisting with evidence such as labelled photos and sign-off records.
However, their records are submitted through the main site team. The subcontractor does not hold final sign-off authority, that rests with the principal contractor or supervisor who controls the site delivery and Golden Thread records.
Competent Person Checks and Inspection Sign-Offs
BSR expects that fire stopping is reviewed by a competent person before it is covered. This person does not have to be the installer, they can be:
The key is competence: someone who understands the fire stopping system, the approved detail and the verification criteria.
That competent person should:
This sign-off then becomes part of the evidence BSR reviews at Gateway 3.
BSR expects that fire stopping is reviewed by a competent person before it is covered. This person does not have to be the installer, they can be:
- Site quality manager
- Third-party inspector
- Specialist fire engineer
- Design sign-off authority
The key is competence: someone who understands the fire stopping system, the approved detail and the verification criteria.
That competent person should:
- Inspect the installed fire stopping
- Confirm it matches the approved detail
- Sign off (electronically or on paper) that it is compliant
- Ensure the record is stored as part of the Golden Thread
This sign-off then becomes part of the evidence BSR reviews at Gateway 3.
What Sign-Off Actually Means — In Practice
When people say sign off, they are usually referring to one or more of the following:
For BSR, it doesn’t matter whether the sign-off was on paper, tablet or app — it matters that:
Signed-off evidence that appears weeks later is far less credible than evidence captured in real time.
When people say sign off, they are usually referring to one or more of the following:
- A site photo package showing the installation before concealment
- A competency inspection record with date, location and inspector name
- A checklist entry that confirms detail match
- A written or digital confirmation saved in the project record system
For BSR, it doesn’t matter whether the sign-off was on paper, tablet or app — it matters that:
- It exists
- It’s traceable to the location
- It is linked to the approved detail
- It was created before concealment
Signed-off evidence that appears weeks later is far less credible than evidence captured in real time.
Common Pitfalls on Site
Here are some of the most frequent problems teams face when signing off fire stopping:
Here are some of the most frequent problems teams face when signing off fire stopping:
- Photos taken after walls or ceilings are closed
- Unlabelled images that cannot be traced to a drawing or location
- Installer sign-off without independent competency check
- Evidence stored on phones or WhatsApp without central record
- Changes made without controlled change process followed
These issues might feel minor at the time, but they often lead to delays and queries at Gateway 3.
Best Practice for Site Teams
To avoid ambiguity and strengthen fire stopping evidence:
When these steps become normal site practice, signing off fire stopping stops being an afterthought and becomes part of the daily routine.
To avoid ambiguity and strengthen fire stopping evidence:
- Plan for fire stopping inspections before concealment dates
- Use consistent naming and location references on photos
- Confirm product certification matches the approved system
- Assign one person to manage fire stopping evidence in the Golden Thread
- Ensure all records are time-stamped and easily retrievable
When these steps become normal site practice, signing off fire stopping stops being an afterthought and becomes part of the daily routine.
The Bottom Line
Fire stopping sign-off is not just a tick in the box. It is a record of safety-critical work that BSR will examine closely.
Responsibility is shared:
If you treat the sign-off process as an integral part of the work, not an add-on, you eliminate one of the most common compliance gaps.
Fire stopping sign-off is not just a tick in the box. It is a record of safety-critical work that BSR will examine closely.
Responsibility is shared:
- The client is accountable for overall compliance
- The site team manages execution and evidence
- The installer and competent person provide and verify details
- The Golden Thread record must retain all proof clearly
If you treat the sign-off process as an integral part of the work, not an add-on, you eliminate one of the most common compliance gaps.
Image © London Construction Magazine Limited
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Expert Verification & Authorship: Mihai Chelmus
Founder, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist |
