10/11/2026
Data center construction is rarely static. As installation progresses, the number, size and arrangement of services passing through fire compartments can evolve, creating penetrations that differ significantly from the configurations covered by standard tested solutions.
The increasing complexity of data centers can make this challenge even greater. Multiple cables, cable trays, pipes, ducts and other services may share the same penetration, with variations in size, spacing, insulation and configuration. Finding a standard tested solution that directly reflects the conditions encountered on site can therefore be difficult.
These challenges often arise in an environment where construction programmes are tightly managed and decisions need to be made quickly. A firestopping issue identified during installation can become a significant coordination challenge, particularly when a non-standard penetration does not have an immediately available tested solution.
In these situations, the challenge is not simply to identify a product. The key question is whether there is sufficient technical evidence to justify a particular firestopping configuration — and, where there isn’t, how that gap can be addressed.
This is where Efectis can support projects on site. Drawing on knowledge of manufacturers’ tested systems and product catalogues, applicable guidelines and the specific characteristics of the penetration, Efectis can help design and assess potential solutions and provide engineering assessments where the available evidence allows. Where existing evidence is not sufficient, Efectis can also provide testing facilities to establish the performance of a specific configuration.
Facing a complex firestopping challenge on your data center project?
Contact Efectis to discuss your specific configuration and explore how our expertise in fire testing, engineering assessment and technical evaluation can support your project.
For more information, please contact: Nevra KAHYAOGLU