Pipe penetration seals, cable penetration seals, mixed penetration seals

Penetration seals are used in fire-stopping and fire-sealing measures when services, such as pipes and cables, penetrate fire-resistant walls and/or ceilings. Penetration seals prevent the spread of fire, smoke and/or temperature (prevention of secondary fires) into other compartments, such as storeys, apartments or occupancy units.

The installation/application of the penetration seal is considered to be a construction technique from a regulatory perspective.

Regulatory framework

In this work area, DIBt grants national technical approvals (abZ) for penetration seal products and/or general construction technique permits (aBG) for the installation/application of the penetration seal. The installation/application of the penetration seal is regulated in a general construction technique permit because there are no conclusive technical rules regarding design and execution. It specifies the conditions under which the penetration seal needs to be installed, the construction products to be used and the manner in which it needs to be executed in order to meet the regulatory requirements for a defined fire resistance.

A national technical test certificate (abP) is sufficient for construction techniques which can be evaluated on the basis of generally recognised test methods (e.g. in accordance with DIN 4102-11:1985-12), cf. MVV TB Part C 4.

There are no recognised test methods in accordance with DIN 4102-11:1985-12 or conclusive technical rules for metal pipes penetrating fire-resistant components and connected to combustible plastic pipes on one or both of their ends ('mixed installations'). National technical test certificates can therefore not be granted. A general construction technique permit granted by DIBt serves as general verification of fitness for application for classified penetration seals for such mixed installations.

European Technical Assessments (ETAs) can also be issued for construction products that are components of penetration seals and are to be traded on the internal market. For these penetration seal products covered by an ETA, a general construction technique permit is required for the execution of the construction technique.

Please also refer to the relevant provisions of the federal states following the Model Administrative Provisions – Technical Building Rules (MVV TB).

Chapter A 2 'Saftey in case of fire' of the MVV TB further specifies the general fire protection requirements for structural works or parts thereof set out in the Model Building Code and the Model Ordinances on special buildings and structures and associated provisions, especially in terms of reaction-to-fire and fire resistance.

Section A 2.1.14 'Piping and ductwork, service ducts' of the MVV TB states the Technical Rule (no. A 2.2.1.8) that needs to be to be observed for services: it is the Model Guideline on fire protection requirements for services (MLAR, linked on the right).  Regarding the construction products and construction techniques used, reference is made to the Technical Rule no. A 2.2.1.2 'Regulatory requirements, assignment of classes, use of construction products, application of construction techniques' set out in Annex 4 of the MVV TB. Annex 4, Section 6 'Pipe and cable penetration seals' lays down the required fire resistance classes for the above-mentioned construction techniques.

The following European Assessment Document serves as the basis for European Technical Assessments (ETAs):

EAD 350454-00-1104 Fire stopping and fire sealing products - Penetration seals (52 pages ) Version: September 2017; OJEU 2017/C 435/07; EOTA

For the approval and permit procedures, tests and verifications should be carried out based on test plans prepared by DIBt on an application-specific basis.

Prüfgrundsätze für den Bereich feuerwiderstandsfähiger Abschottungen – Abschottungen für Rohrleitungen aus Kunststoff mit Rohrmanschetten (PG AR) (30 pages ) Fassung: 18. April 2024 Hinweise zu den neuen Bescheiden im Bereich der Abschottungen (3 pages ) Stand: August 2018 Hinweise und Informationen zum Antragsverfahren für feuerwiderstandsfähige Abschottungen (4 pages ) Stand: Mai 2018 Abschottungen – Formblatt N1 (2 pages ) Stand: Mai 2018; Beschreibung der Abschottung Abschottungen – Formblatt N1 (Beispiel) (2 pages ) Stand: Mai 2018; Beschreibung der Abschottung Abschottungen – Formblatt N2 Stand: Mai 2018; Begründung des beantragten Anwendungsbereichs/des Aufbaus der Abschottung Abschottungen – Formblatt N2 (Beispiel) Stand: Mai 2018; Begründung des beantragten Anwendungsbereichs/des Aufbaus der Abschottung Abschottungen – Formblatt ÄE1 (2 pages ) Stand: Mai 2018; Beschreibung der beantragten Änderungen und/ oder Ergänzungen Abschottungen – Formblatt ÄE1 (Beispiel) (2 pages ) Stand: Mai 2018; Beschreibung der beantragten Änderungen und/ oder Ergänzungen Abschottungen – Formblatt ÄE2 (1 page ) Stand: Mai 2018; Nachweise für die beantragten Änderungen/Ergänzungen Abschottungen – Formblatt ÄE2 (Beispiel) (1 page ) Stand: Mai 2018; Nachweise für die beantragten Änderungen/Ergänzungen Abschottungen – Formblatt R (1 page ) Stand: August 2023; Nachweise für die beantragten Änderungen/Ergänzungen Abschottungen – Formblatt R (Beispiel) (1 page ) Stand: Mai 2018; Nachweise für die beantragten Änderungen/Ergänzungen Anleitung zum Ausfüllen der spezifischen Formblätter im Antragsverfahren für feuerwiderstandsfähige Abschottungen (5 pages ) Stand: Mai 2018 Informationen zur Anfertigung von Anlagenzeichnungen für Abschottungen (13 pages ) Stand: Mai 2018 Erläuterungen zu den Begriffen im Bereich feuerwiderstandsfähiger Abschottungen (8 pages ) Stand: Mai 2018 Basic rules for minimum distances for cable and pipe penetration seals (7 pages ) Last update: May 2018

National procedure

A national technical approval (abZ) and/or oder general construction technique permit (aBG) is granted upon application (see Model Building Code (MBO), Sections 16a(2) and18(2) and (4)). This also applies to amendments and supplements to, or renewals of existing approvals and/or construction technique permits.

No formal requirements apply. The following information is needed: name and address of the applicant, description of the product and/or construction technique and its field of use or application, type of decision required (new decision, amendment or supplement to, or renewal of, an existing decision).

Please feel free to use the template below.

European Technical Assessment (ETA)

To start the ETA procedure, please submit the form below. We will then check if the prerequisites for issuing an ETA are met, i.e., in particular, if the product is not fully covered by an existing harmonised standard. If the prerequisites are met, we will check whether a European Assessment Document (EAD) covering the requested assessment scope already exists or still needs to be developed. If an EAD needs to be developed or amended, a complete technical file needs to be established before the procedure can begin.