Fire Stopping, Acoustic Sealing & CDM: What Your Demountable Partition RAMS Must Cover

Table of Contents

• Introduction: The Three Most Frequently Omitted Items
• Fire Compartmentation in Partition RAMS
• Acoustic Sealing and Performance Obligations
• CDM 2015 Duty Holder Obligations
• Building Safety Act 2022 Implications
• What Your RAMS Must Cover
• Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction: The Three Most Frequently Omitted Items

Demountable partitioning RAMS are rejected by principal contractors more often than almost any other fit-out trade document. The reasons are usually not the physical installation hazards — which are well understood — but the three compliance areas that go beyond the basic manual handling and working at height risks:

1. Fire stopping at the head track and service penetrations
2. Acoustic sealing to achieve specified Rw ratings
3. CDM 2015 duty holder obligations, including the pre-start briefing record

This guide addresses each of these in turn and explains exactly what your demountable partitioning RAMS must say to satisfy a competent principal contractor's review.

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Fire Compartmentation in Partition RAMS

The most serious compliance gap in partition RAMS is the failure to address fire stopping. Demountable partitions installed as fire compartment walls must achieve the specified fire resistance period — typically 30 or 60 minutes — and must do so at every penetration and junction, not just across the main panel face.

Your RAMS must specify:

• The partition system's tested fire resistance rating — reference the manufacturer's system certificate (e.g., tested to BS EN 1364-1) and confirm it matches the specification requirement
• The head track detail — the gap between the top of the partition and the structural soffit is the most common point of failure. Specify the fire stopping product (intumescent sealant, mineral wool, or proprietary seal), its tested classification, and the installation method
• Service penetrations — every cable, conduit, or pipe passing through the partition must be fire stopped. Specify who carries out this work (typically the M&E contractor) and confirm that the partitioning contractor will not leave unsealed penetrations
• Inspection and record — confirm how fire stopping will be inspected before the detail is closed with subsequent finishes and who will sign off the inspection record

Under the Building Safety Act 2022, fire stopping records form part of the Golden Thread for higher-risk buildings. For these projects, your RAMS should reference the project's Golden Thread management protocol and confirm that inspection records will be submitted to the principal contractor for retention.

Acoustic Sealing and Performance Obligations

Acoustic performance is a client requirement, but it also has safety documentation implications. Where partitions are specified to achieve a particular sound reduction class (Rw dB), your method statement must explain how that performance will be achieved and verified.

Acoustic performance is degraded by:

• Gaps at the perimeter of the head track or base track
• Incomplete sealing around door frames
• Unsealed service penetrations
• Incorrect panel installation (panels not pushed hard against perimeter seals)

Your RAMS should specify:

• The sealing product to be used at the head track and base track (typically acoustic mastic or pre-applied foam seal)
• The procedure for checking seal continuity before glazed panels are fitted
• Coordination requirements with the M&E contractor to seal penetrations before the partition is completed
• Whether post-installation acoustic testing has been specified and who is responsible for arranging it

Acoustic sealing is not strictly a health and safety obligation under CDM 2015, but principal contractors on high-specification commercial projects increasingly require it to be addressed in RAMS because failures are expensive to correct once the fit-out is complete.

CDM 2015 Duty Holder Obligations

A common misunderstanding is that small partitioning packages are exempt from CDM 2015 requirements. They are not. Under CDM 2015, any contractor working on a UK construction project must comply with duty holder obligations regardless of the size of their package.

As a contractor on a commercial fit-out project, your obligations include:

• Producing a project-specific RAMS — a generic company template is not sufficient. The RAMS must address the specific project, site, access methods, and coordination with other trades
• Pre-start briefing — you must brief all operatives on the content of the RAMS before work begins and retain attendance records as evidence. The principal contractor will ask to see these records
• Site induction — all operatives must complete the principal contractor's site induction before starting work on site
• Reporting obligations — near misses, incidents, and significant changes to the installation method must be reported to the principal contractor
• Cooperation — you must cooperate with the principal contractor and other trades as required by Regulation 8 of CDM 2015

Building Safety Act 2022 Implications

For partitioning work in higher-risk buildings (residential buildings over 18 metres or 7 storeys), the Building Safety Act 2022 introduces additional documentation requirements. Partition contractors working on HRBs must:

• Ensure that fire stopping inspection records are produced and handed over to the principal contractor
• Cooperate with the principal contractor's Golden Thread information management process
• Not conceal any structural or fire stopping detail without a documented inspection record in place

The Building Safety Act does not change the fundamental RAMS requirements, but it raises the stakes significantly for any deficient documentation.

What Your RAMS Must Cover

• Partition system type, fire resistance rating, and manufacturer certificate reference
• Fire stopping specification for head track and all service penetrations
• Acoustic sealing procedure and pre-panel installation check
• CDM pre-start briefing method and attendance record template
• Coordination protocol with M&E contractor for penetration sealing
• Golden Thread requirements (if HRB project)
• Working at height controls for head track fixing and high-level glazing
• Manual handling assessment for glazed panels
• Occupied building controls (dust, noise, segregation)
• Emergency procedures and nearest first aid location

Frequently Asked Questions

What fire stopping product should I specify in my RAMS?

The correct product depends on the tested system being installed. Many demountable partition manufacturers specify compatible fire stopping products as part of their tested system — if you substitute a different product, you may invalidate the system's fire resistance classification. Always refer to the manufacturer's tested system documentation and specify the exact product name, test reference, and installation method in your RAMS.

Is the partitioning contractor responsible for sealing M&E penetrations through the partition?

Generally no — penetration sealing for services passing through fire compartment walls is typically the responsibility of the M&E contractor. However, the partitioning contractor must not complete the partition installation while penetrations are unsealed, as this closes the ability to inspect and fire stop the penetration. Your RAMS and your pre-start coordination with the principal contractor should establish a clear protocol for this interface.

Do we need to update our RAMS if the partition layout changes during the project?

Yes. If the layout change results in new fire compartment boundaries, different access equipment requirements, or additional interface with other trades, the RAMS must be reviewed and updated. Submit the revised document to the principal contractor and do not start work in the affected areas until written approval is received.