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SA030 – Fire Stopping Installation

SA030 – Fire Stopping Installation

Help Prevent Fire Disasters in Single & Multiple Dwellings

Fire stopping failures are one of the biggest risks in modern buildings – especially where multiple trades are working in ceiling voids, risers and service routes.

The Smart Awards SA030 Fire Stopping Installation course at Utilities Training North West Training Centre is designed to make sure your team knows how to install, reinstate and check fire stopping correctly so that compartmentation isn’t compromised.

Fire stopping regulations in the UK are mandated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) and Building Regulations 2010, requiring gaps in fire-rated walls/floors—especially service penetrations—to be sealed to prevent fire spread. Responsible persons must conduct risk assessments, ensure materials are tested (e.g., BS EN 1366), and use competent contractors.

This nationally recognised Smart Awards qualification gives installers the practical skills, technical knowledge and safety awareness needed to carry out compliant fire stopping installations in line with current legislation and industry best practice.

Course Overview

On this course, delegates will learn how to:

  • Identify common types of fire stopping and where they’re used
  • Recognise the hazards and risks associated with fire when installing or disturbing services in buildings
  • Select appropriate fire-stopping products and fireproof fixings
  • Prepare openings, penetrations and service routes correctly
  • Install and reinstate fire stopping to maintain fire and smoke resistance
  • Work in line with manufacturer instructions, building regulations and relevant standards
  • Record installations and handover information to the responsible person

The focus is very much on real-world telecoms/utility environments – single and multi-dwelling units, risers, cupboards and service penetrations where multiple trades are working.

Who Is SA030 For?

This course is ideal for:

  • Telecoms and fibre engineers installing services in buildings
  • Utilities and civils operatives working in risers and service routes
  • Fire stopping installers and maintenance teams
  • Contractors and sub-contractors working in SDUs and MDUs
  • Supervisors who need confidence that work is being completed safely and compliantly

If your teams are drilling through walls, running cables/pipes, or altering existing fire-stopping, SA030 helps make sure they understand the right way to reinstate compartmentation.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of the SA030 Fire Stopping Installation course at Utilities Training North West, delegates will be able to:

  • Explain why fire stopping and compartmentation are critical to life safety
  • Identify different wall, floor and ceiling constructions and the impact on fire stopping
  • Recognise compliant and non-compliant fire stopping
  • Select suitable materials and fixings for different penetrations
  • Install fire stopping systems to manufacturer and industry requirements
  • Accurately label and record installations for future inspection and maintenance
  • Work safely around other trades and existing services in dwellings and multi-dwelling units

Frequently Asked Questions About

SA030 is a nationally recognised Smart Awards qualification that focuses specifically on the safe and compliant installation of fire stopping in buildings, particularly where telecoms and utility services are installed. It gives delegates the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to carry out this work safely and in line with industry standards.

This course is accredited by Smart Awards, a UK awarding organisation specialising in qualifications for the telecoms and utilities sectors.

There is no formal prerequisite for SA030 itself, but it is often taken alongside or after SA029 – Working Safely in a Single Dwelling Unit and before SA031 – Working Safely in a Multi Dwelling Unit, as these qualifications complement each other.

If you’re unsure which route is right for you or your team, our team at Utilities Training North West can advise.

SA030 is usually delivered as a 1-day course. Exact timings (start/finish) and any blended/remote components can be confirmed at booking stage for your chosen course date or group booking.

Yes. Smart Awards qualifications, including SA030, are widely recognised across the telecoms, fibre, utilities and contractor sectors and are routinely used as evidence of competence for installers working in dwellings and MDUs.

Many principal contractors and clients expect operatives to hold the relevant Smart Awards for their role.

Smart Awards does not publicly advertise a single mandatory expiry period for every qualification; refresh requirements are often set by employers, clients or schemes (such as site passport or competence schemes). As good practice, many organisations refresh key safety and installation training on a 3–5 year cycle, or sooner if there are significant changes in standards, products or roles.

If you need to meet a particular client or scheme requirement, please check their specific rules or speak to our team.

Assessment is carried out by an approved Smart Awards assessor and normally involves:

A knowledge assessment (e.g. written or multiple-choice questions)

A practical assessment, where delegates must demonstrate they can carry out safe and compliant fire stopping installation

All assessments are explained clearly at the start of the course so delegates know what to expect.

Yes. While there is essential classroom theory, the course includes practical elements so delegates can:

Handle example fire stopping materials

Practice installing/ reinstating fire-stopping in realistic scenarios

Identify non-compliant installations from examples/photos

This practical focus helps to build competence and confidence in real site situations.

Delegates should have basic health & safety awareness and be comfortable working on active sites.

Some experience in telecoms, utilities, FM or construction is strongly recommended.

Literacy and numeracy at a level suitable for completing written assessments and reading technical information.

(Where required, we can discuss specific learner needs and reasonable adjustments.)

Approved & Accredited Training Provider

Utilities Training Limited (www.utilities.training) is a leading UK vocational training provider based in the North West, delivering high-quality, industry-recognised courses across a wide range of sectors. Specialising in street works, confined spaces, IPAF, NPORS, EUSR, and Smart Awards, the company is committed to equipping individuals and businesses with the skills needed to work safely and compliantly. With experienced instructors, modern facilities, and a strong focus on practical, hands-on learning, Utilities Training Limited has built a reputation for excellence, reliability, and supporting workforce development across the utilities and construction industries.

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