Fire Stopping Inspection
Learn how to inspect fire stopping, check it against the test evidence and record what you find.
Learning Style
Time Limit
Duration
Outcome
Total excl. VAT
425
1 licence
Buying for a team? Volume discounts apply automatically.
Cost per licence: 425
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Course aims
Explain how fire and smoke spread through buildings, and how compartmentation and fire stopping limit that spread
Explain the legal duties and guidance that apply to fire stopping, including who is responsible for it and what competence an inspector needs
Describe how a fire stopping system works as a whole, and why fire resistance comes from the tested system rather than an individual product
Interpret test and classification evidence, including field of application and third-party certification, to judge whether it supports what is installed on site
Plan and carry out non-destructive visual inspections of fire stopping, identifying defects, taking key measurements and recognising what a visual inspection can and cannot establish
Evaluate and record findings consistently, and make proportionate, evidence-based recommendations to the people responsible for the building
Who it’s for
This course is for individuals who are responsible for inspecting fire stopping, either in-house or for clients, in new-build and occupied buildings.
Fire safety consultants
Fire risk assessors
Building safety managers
Building, estates and facilities managers
Clerks of works and site quality managers
Health and safety professionals
This course does not have any prerequisites.
Where it can take you
The NSA Fire Stopping Inspection course gives you the knowledge to inspect fire stopping and report on its condition, in buildings under construction and in occupied buildings where records are often missing.
What can I do?
Successful learners will be able to confidently take on non-destructive fire stopping inspections in-house or for clients, and know when a finding needs further investigation.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes — all successful learners receive a digital certificate on passing, confirming 20 hours of CPD in fire stopping inspection. Hard copy certificates are available on request for a fee.
Keep developing
You may also be interested in our Fire Door Inspection course if you would like to expand your knowledge further.
Your learning journey
Welcome
A welcome to the course, academic malpractice policies, and the fire safety landscape in England and Wales.
Block 1 | What is fire?
How fires start, develop and spread: the fire tetrahedron, the stages of fire growth and the dangers of fire and smoke to people in buildings.
Block 2 | What is fire stopping?
How compartmentation protects life and property: fire-separating elements, what fire stopping is, and why a single unsealed gap can undermine an entire compartment.
Block 3 | Legislation and guidance
Fire safety law, the duties of the Responsible Person and key legislation such as the Building Regulations, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and the Building Safety Act 2022.
Block 4 | Fire stopping systems
How fire stopping products work with the services and the wall or floor around them, covering pipes, cables, ducts and dampers, linear joints and cavity barriers.
Block 5 | Testing and evidence of performance
How fire stopping is tested and classified, field of application, third-party certification, and how to tell whether the evidence supports what’s installed.
6 learning blocks
Assessment 1 | Knowledge test
A 60-minute, 30-question test of technical knowledge and scenario-based application.
Block 6 | Carrying out fire stopping inspections
Plan and conduct non-destructive inspections: safe access, common defects, key measurements and evaluating what you find.
Block 7 | Record-keeping and reporting
Clear, consistent documentation: photographic evidence, the golden thread and using the NSA Fire Stopping Inspection Record.
Block 8 | Putting it into practice
Apply your learning: setting inspection frequencies and managing fire stopping in occupied buildings, reinforced by three case studies.
3 learning blocks
Assessment 2 | Fire stopping inspection
A virtual inspection of fire stopping installations in two buildings, completed in your own time over 4 weeks. You’ll work from site photographs, inspection notes and the documentation available, then record your findings and recommendations on the NSA Fire Stopping Inspection Record, just as you would on a real job.
ID Verification
A quick identity check before your certificate is issued.
ID Verification
Certificate
Your digital certificate on successful completion.
Fees and Payment
Payment options to suit you.
Pay in full
VAT receipt issued by email immediately. Invoice with 30-day terms available for five licences or more.
Pay with Klarna
Klarna is a form of credit. Credit subject to status, UK residents aged 18+ only. Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may negatively impact your financial status and ability to obtain credit. Ts&Cs and late fees apply.
Pay with Affirm
Affirm is a form of credit. Credit subject to credit check. Terms apply. UK residents only, 18 and over with a bank account or a debit card. A down payment may be required. Missed payments could affect your financial status. National Safety Academy Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Affirm U.K. Limited, authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 1043144).
Additional charges may be incurred for resubmissions, late submissions, or course extension. See our policies for further detail.
How it's delivered and assessed
Learn from first principles
You’ll come away able to explain why and how, not just what. You study online in our learning portal at your own pace, through real-life examples, case studies, videos and e-learning written in everyday language.
There are two assessments. The first is completed mid-way through the course and the second once all the learning materials have been covered. There are also multiple opportunities for informal self-assessment throughout.
Knowledge test
60 minutes to answer 30 questions covering both technical knowledge and scenario-based application. You can resit as many times as you need.
Fire stopping inspection
A virtual inspection of fire stopping installations in two buildings, completed in your own time over 4 weeks. You’ll work from site photographs, inspection notes and the documentation available, then record your findings and recommendations on the NSA Fire Stopping Inspection Record, just as you would on a real job.
Not the right course for you? Maybe you’ll like…
Fire Door Awareness
Fire Door Inspection
Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment
Buying for a team?
Discount applies automatically
Choose the number of licences on any course page. Licences stay unassigned until you allocate them and remain valid for 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need previous experience to complete your courses?
There are no prerequisites for this course. However, some experience of fire safety within the workplace will help you to put what you have learnt into context.
What certificate will I receive?
Successful learners receive a digital certificate on passing. Hard copy certificates are available on request for a fee. Each course page shows the CPD hours you’ll receive.
Can I study online at my own pace?
Yes. Our online courses are self-directed distance learning, studied in our learning portal whenever suits you. Each course has a time limit, from 3 months for our shortest courses to 12 months for the Diploma.
Can I get a hard copy certificate?
Yes. Hard copy certificates are available on request for a fee.
What payment options are there? Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. You can pay in full, spread the cost with one of our payment plans, or use a third-party provider. Every option costs the same, and you choose at checkout.
What happens if I don’t pass an online assessment?
Don’t worry! If you don’t pass an assessment on your first attempt, you’ll usually receive feedback to help you understand where you went wrong – dependent on the nature of the assessment. Once you’ve paid the resubmission fee and revisited any relevant areas, you’ll be able to resubmit your work, although the number of attempts permitted may vary by course.
What is passive fire protection?
Passive fire protection is the parts of a building built to contain fire and smoke without needing to be switched on, such as fire doors, fire-resisting walls and floors, and fire stopping around services. It divides a building into compartments, giving people time to escape and limiting damage. Active systems, such as alarms and sprinklers, respond once a fire starts.
What is fire stopping, and who can inspect it?
Fire stopping seals the gaps where pipes, cables and ducts pass through fire-resisting walls and floors, so fire and smoke can’t spread through them. As with fire doors, there’s no mandatory qualification to inspect fire stopping, but whoever does it should be competent. Our Fire Stopping Inspection course teaches you how to inspect it and record what you find.
What is compartmentation?
Compartmentation divides a building into separate fire-resisting sections, using walls, floors, fire doors and fire stopping, so a fire is contained in the area where it starts. It slows the spread of fire and smoke, protects escape routes and supports evacuation strategies such as stay put in some residential buildings.
Are NSA’s courses accredited or recognised?
Several of our courses carry external recognition. Our Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment is an SCQF Level 10 qualification developed in line with BS 8674:2025, and our Fire Door Inspection course is recognised by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) as a Recognised Training Course. Each course page sets out the recognition and CPD hours that apply.
