What happened
A loft conversion final inspection found that none of the service penetrations through the fire-rated new floor had been fire-stopped.
How it was discovered
The inspector spot-checked one penetration, saw bare timber, and asked to see the rest. None had been done.
The consequences
Every penetration opened up, fire-stopped to the correct rating, photographed, and re-inspected. Two weeks delay and a four-figure remedial cost.
What homeowners can learn
Fire-stopping is invisible work that nobody photographs unless somebody insists. Insist.