Schofields Building
Inspections

The sealant that looks identical and does nothing

Rated or not rated, and no way to tell by eye.

Schofields 2762 · 5 February 2026

Fully licensed & accredited

  • NSW Fair Trading NSW Fair Trading
  • Australian Society of Building Consultants Australian Society of Building Consultants
  • Strata Community Association Strata Community Association
  • Building Dispute Practitioners Society Building Dispute Practitioners Society

In short: Fire rated sealant at a service penetration on a Schofields build.

The problem a penetration creates

A fire separating wall works because it is continuous. Every pipe or cable through it is a hole in that continuity.

What reinstates it

A sealant tested and rated for the assembly, applied to the required depth. Nothing else does the job.

What we recorded

Fire rated sealant at a service penetration on a Schofields lock-up inspection, at the stage where it can still be verified.

Why this is hard for owners

Rated and unrated products look the same once applied. The only practical check is at the time, against the specification.

What is at stake

The fire resistance the wall was approved with, on a wall shared with someone else's home.

Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Schofields. Licensed building practitioners.

Guides

More new construction stage inspections guides for Schofields

All guides →

Book a building inspection in Schofields

Instant online pricing for Schofields, or contact the booking team.

FAQ

Questions Schofields owners ask about this

Is this a Code requirement?

Yes, tied to the fire separation the dwelling was approved with, and therefore to the occupation certificate.

Can it be checked afterwards?

Not without opening the wall. Which is why it belongs on a lock-up inspection and nowhere else.

Does it apply to freestanding houses?

Rarely in the same way. It is a feature of attached and multi dwelling construction.

Who is responsible?

The builder during construction, and the body corporate for the wall afterwards.

Get a Free Quote