What is Thermo Firesleeve and How Does Fire Sleeve Work?

Date: 17/10/25

The cost of a thermo firesleeve from Sleeve It is almost always significantly less than the cost of the equipment that it’s fitted to, yet the level of protection that they offer is priceless. But what is a fire sleeve? What are fire sleeves made of, and how do fire sleeves work to keep your equipment and your people safe?

What is a Thermo Firesleeve? 

A thermo firesleeve is a protective sheath that is used to cover hoses, pipes, wires and cables to protect them from extremes of heat. Thermo firesleeves can also be used to protect people and nearby equipment from hot pipes or hoses.

A thermo firesleeve can either be slid on during manufacturing or installation, using standard Sleeve It Fire Sleeve or clipped on during retrofits, repairs and refurbishments, by using Sleeve It Fire Sleeve Hook and Loop.

What is a Thermo Firesleeve Made of?

Sleeve It thermo firesleeves can be manufactured in a choice of 32 widths to fit each element of your installation perfectly. It’s supplied in standard lengths of 15m or can be cut to length before dispatch for ease of use and waste reduction.

The Sleeve It thermo firesleeve is made of two distinct layers:

• Inner layer – woven from E-Glass yarn a type of alumino-borosilicate glass known for its excellent thermal properties

• Outer layer – coated with high grade silicon elastomer rubber in a choice of standard or bespoke colours

The Science Behind the Shield: How Does the Thermo Firesleeve Work?

The combination of E-Glass and silicone elastomer rubber delivers outstanding performance to meet a range of challenges:

• Thermal resistance – thermo firesleeves can protect equipment and operators from constant temperatures of 260°C, and molten splash at up to 1200°C, thanks to the properties of the E-Glass. The fibres themselves have a low thermal conductivity while the air trapped around them provides insulation, just like the fibres in your continental quilt.

• Fire protection – the outer layer of the thermo firesleeve protects equipment from fire because the silicone elastomer rubber melts to form a protective layer of Silicone Dioxide when exposed to flame. Silicon Dioxide is a non-flammable material with an incredibly high melting point of around 1600°C.

• Chemical resistance – the silicone elastomer layer on the thermo firesleeve also provides resistance to most oils, hydraulic fluids, fuels, acids and alkalis. The non-porous surface prevents contaminants from penetrating the spaces between the woven E-Glass fibres and reaching the pipes and wires beneath.

• Abrasion resistance – the tough chemical bonds in the silicone elastomer rubber outer coating resist the constant wear and tear than many machines are subject to. This prevents wires and cables from fraying and shorting and avoids degradation to pipes and hoses leading to leaks and bursts.

In fact, the Sleeve It thermo firesleeve performs so well, in so many different ways, that we could call them Thermo-Fire-Heat-Chemical-and-Abrasion Sleeves – but that wouldn’t fit on our order form!

The Science Behind the Shield: How Does the Thermo Firesleeve Work?

As discussed above, the multiple benefits of using Sleeve It thermo firesleeves, to protect your equipment and your people, far outweigh the costs of installation. Here are just a few of the key benefits of using the thermo firesleeve:

1. Workplace safety – prevents electrical fires, fuel and hydraulic line failure and other dangerous and costly incidents.

2. Extends equipment life – improved safety and protection extends the effective lifespan of both the machine itself and all associated equipment.

3. Reduces downtime – prevents equipment failures, leading to greater productivity lower repair and maintenance costs.

4. Enhances health and safety for workers – removes the risk of burns, scalds and other injuries associated with heat and fire, cutting accidents, reducing injuries and associated claims, and so cutting insurance costs.

5. Complies with current regulations – complies with the health and safety regulations in the UK, US and most other countries around the world.

Protect your equipment now

To find out more about the cost-effective, safety first benefits of the thermo firesleeve from Sleeve It check out the full technical specification here.  Alternatively, to find out how you can get your fire sleeve, your way, in a choice of fittings, colours and pre-cut lengths, get in touch with our team today.  

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