Automating Fire Stopping for a Safer, Smarter Digital Workflow

Fire stopping protects compartmentation, limits the spread of fire and smoke, and safeguards both buildings and the people within them. Yet the process of identifying, coordinating, and scheduling penetrations has long been slow, fragmented, and dependent on manual checks. 

At BIM Technologies, we set out to change that. 

Fire-stopping schedules are too critical to sit in disconnected spreadsheets or to rely on time-intensive model interrogation. We developed an automated workflow in Autodesk Navisworks that reads model geometry alongside fire strategy data in a single coordinated environment. The goal was clear: replace days of manual review with a precise digital method that strengthens compliance and reinforces the Golden Thread. 

The result is our Fire Stopping Automation Add-in. 

Embedding Structure into the Model Environment 

The add-in applies structured data principles aligned with ISO 19650 and uses a rules-based engine to classify penetrations and generate schedules instantly. Information is processed directly within federated models. Service routes and penetrations are extracted, project-specific rulesets are applied, and gaps or conflicts are identified immediately. 

This creates a reliable single source of truth. Designers, coordinators and fire specialists work from the same structured dataset. Ambiguity is reduced. Rework decreases. 

Intelligent clash logic combined with automated schedule generation ensures consistency across projects of any size or complexity. Fire compartmentation and service interactions are visible earlier, allowing teams to coordinate with clarity and confidence while maintaining alignment between design intent and construction delivery. 

Strengthening Compliance and Traceability 

Under the Building Safety Act, information must be accurate and traceable across a building’s lifecycle. Fire-stopping data is central to that requirement. 

By embedding rule-based checks and automated validation within the workflow, the add-in improves traceability and reduces the risk of missed penetrations or late-stage amendments. The process is transparent and repeatable, supporting construction coordination and providing clients with structured information they can depend on for ongoing safety management. 

From Days to Hours 

A process that previously took three to four days now takes two to four hours. Contractors and fire specialists receive coordinated information earlier in the programme. The risk of omissions or compliance gaps is lowered. 

The add-in is now deployed across multiple projects, improving efficiency, reducing coordination costs, and raising the standard of fire-stopping information produced by BIM Technologies. 

A Better Way to Manage Critical Information 

Fire stopping will always demand rigour. The difference now lies in how it is managed. 

By embedding the workflow within a structured BIM environment, we have created a faster, more dependable and fully compliant process. Design intent remains connected to delivery. Information remains clear and accessible. 

For BIM Technologies, digital innovation must address real coordination challenges and strengthen compliance throughout a building's life. 

The Fire Stopping Automation Add-in does exactly that.