Question 1

What is a curtainwall firestop and why is it needed?

Accepted Answer

A curtainwall firestop is a certified system that seals the gap between a curtain wall facade and the building's concrete floor slab. This gap — left intentionally to allow facade movement — acts like a chimney, allowing fire and toxic smoke to travel vertically from floor to floor. FiroBlock's curtainwall firestop seals this void with a tested perimeter barrier rated for up to 120 minutes, preventing vertical fire spread and ensuring safe evacuation.

Question 2

What is IS 18190 and is FiroBlock certified to it?

Accepted Answer

IS 18190 is the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) code that evaluates the performance of perimeter barrier systems in curtain wall assemblies — testing fire and smoke containment at the slab-to-facade interface. FiroBlock is the world's first and only curtainwall firestop system to receive IS 18190 certification, with a tested F & T rating of 120 minutes.

Question 3

What is the difference between a dry and wet curtainwall firestop system?

Accepted Answer

A wet system uses sealants or spray-applied materials that require curing time and careful site conditions. A dry system, like FiroBlock, uses pre-formed mineral wool and intumescent components that can be installed quickly and are more tolerant of site movement and deflection. Dry systems are increasingly preferred on Indian construction projects due to faster installation, flexibility, and consistent performance.

Question 4

Which standards does FiroBlock's perimeter barrier system comply with?

Accepted Answer

FiroBlock is tested and certified to IS 18190 (Indian Standard), ASTM E2307 (American Standard), and aligned with EN 1364-4 (European Standard). It also supports compliance with NBC 2016 requirements for fire compartmentation in curtain wall buildings.

Question 5

What is the fire rating of FiroBlock's curtainwall firestop?

Accepted Answer

FiroBlock's perimeter barrier system maintains fire and smoke integrity for 120 minutes (2 hours) in both F-rating (flame barrier) and T-rating (temperature transmission), as tested under ASTM E2307 and IS 18190. This ensures effective compartmentation during critical fire events.

Question 6

What is the leap-frogging effect in curtain wall buildings?

Accepted Answer

Leap-frogging is a fire spread phenomenon specific to glass facade buildings, where fire from one floor breaks through the glazing and jumps to the glass above on the next floor — bypassing the slab entirely. FiroBlock's three-product system — FiroBlock FS (firestop), FiroBlock MP (mullion protection), and FiroBlock SP (spandrel protection) — addresses both vertical fire spread through the slab gap and the leap-frogging effect.

Question 7

Can FiroBlock accommodate facade movement?

Accepted Answer

Yes. FiroBlock is specifically engineered to handle facade deflection and movement over the building's lifetime. The mineral wool-based system is flexible enough to maintain a continuous seal even as the curtain wall moves due to wind load, thermal expansion, or seismic activity — without cracking or leaving gaps.

Question 8

Does FiroBlock work with all curtain wall types?

Accepted Answer

FiroBlock is compatible with stick-built, unitised, and back-pan curtain wall systems. Our technical team assesses project-specific drawings and facade details to recommend the correct system configuration for each building. Contact us with your facade specifications for a tailored solution.

Question 9

What is a smoke seal in a curtain wall system?

Accepted Answer

A smoke seal is a passive fire protection component installed at the perimeter joint between a curtain wall facade and the floor slab. It prevents the passage of cold and hot smoke through the slab-to-facade gap — an often-overlooked fire risk in high-rise buildings. FiroBlock's smoke seal forms part of its certified perimeter barrier system, tested to IS 18190 and ASTM E2307.

Question 10

What is the difference between a smoke seal and a firestop sealant?

Accepted Answer

A firestop sealant is typically a chemical sealant applied to penetrations and construction joints to resist fire. A smoke seal, in the context of curtain walls, is a mineral wool or intumescent system designed specifically for the dynamic perimeter gap between facade and slab — a much larger and more complex void that requires a full system approach, not just a sealant. FiroBlock's smoke seal is tested as a complete system under relevant standards.

Question 11

Is a smoke seal required by the NBC 2016 in India?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The National Building Code of India (NBC 2016) requires fire compartmentation at the perimeter of floor slabs in curtain wall buildings to prevent vertical fire and smoke spread. A certified smoke seal system like FiroBlock, complying with IS 18190, satisfies this requirement and supports building approval from fire authorities.

Question 12

What materials are used in FiroBlock's smoke seal?

Accepted Answer

FiroBlock's smoke seal is manufactured using high-density non-combustible mineral (rock) wool with intumescent components. These materials are inert under normal conditions and expand or maintain their seal integrity under fire conditions. The system is non-toxic, does not produce harmful gases, and is designed for long-term performance in both sealed and dynamic gap conditions.

Question 13

How long does a smoke seal last?

Accepted Answer

FiroBlock smoke seals are designed for the life of the building. The mineral wool and intumescent components used are durable, non-degradable, and do not require replacement under normal conditions. FiroBlock recommends periodic inspection as part of your building's passive fire protection maintenance programme.

Question 14

What is a spandrel in a curtain wall and why does it need fire protection?

Accepted Answer

The spandrel zone is the section of curtain wall facade that covers the structural floor slab — typically filled with opaque glass, metal panel, or insulation. This zone is particularly vulnerable to the leap-frogging fire effect, where flames from a lower floor break through glazing and re-enter the building above the slab level. FiroBlock SP (Spandrel Protection) uses dense rockwool insulation to protect this zone and prevent fire from bypassing the compartment barrier.

Question 15

What is safing insulation and is it the same as spandrel protection?

Accepted Answer

Safing insulation is a mineral wool product placed in the perimeter slab gap in curtain wall construction to provide both thermal and fire protection at the slab edge. FiroBlock SP is a purpose-designed dense rockwool slab that acts as spandrel protection — specifically engineered to resist radiant heat and fire in the spandrel zone, working in combination with FiroBlock FS and MP for a complete three-part perimeter barrier system.

Question 16

What is FiroBlock SP?

Accepted Answer

FiroBlock SP (Spandrel Protection) is a dense rockwool insulation slab designed specifically for protecting spandrel zones in curtain wall facades. It is installed in the back-pan or spandrel area of the curtain wall to resist intense radiant heat and prevent fire from advancing through or around the facade at the floor level. It forms the third component of FiroBlock's three-part curtainwall firestop system.

Question 17

What is passive fire protection and how is it different from active fire protection?

Accepted Answer

Passive fire protection (PFP) refers to built-in, non-mechanical fire safety systems that contain fire and smoke within a defined compartment — without requiring power, activation, or human intervention. Examples include firestop systems, smoke seals, fire curtains, and fire-rated walls. Active fire protection includes systems like sprinklers and fire alarms that require activation. FiroBlock specialises exclusively in passive fire protection products for curtain wall and facade applications.

Question 18

Is FiroBlock a made-in-India product?

Accepted Answer

Yes. FiroBlock is proudly manufactured in India with a production capacity of over 1,000 m² per week. Backed by Super Creations, which has over two decades of experience in the construction industry, FiroBlock combines local manufacturing with international testing standards — offering architects and contractors a reliable, cost-effective, and fully certified alternative to imported firestop solutions.

Question 19

Which building types need a curtainwall firestop system?

Accepted Answer

Any building with a curtain wall or glass facade system requires a certified perimeter barrier and smoke seal at every floor level. This includes commercial office towers, IT parks, hospitals, airports, shopping malls, hotels, and mixed-use high-rise developments. FiroBlock serves all these sectors across India, with projects in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Pune.

Question 20

Does FiroBlock provide installation services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. FiroBlock offers end-to-end support — from initial drawing review and technical specification through to installation by trained teams and post-installation documentation. We coordinate with your construction schedule to ensure firestopping is completed without causing delays, and provide full audit-ready records for fire authority approvals.

Question 21

How can I get a quote or technical consultation from FiroBlock?

Accepted Answer

You can reach FiroBlock's technical team by calling +91 99491 77111 or +91 73373 95858, or by emailing hello@firoblock.com. For site-specific technical enquiries, write to yasir@firoblock.com. We offer free site surveys for qualifying projects across India.

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