smacna_hvac_firestopping

8/3/2019 SMACNA_HVAC_Firestopping

1/28

Through-Penetration

Firestopping

Eli P. Howard, III

Group Director Technical Resources

SMACNA


2/28

Today's Program

Definition & Purpose

Background & Terminology

Codes & Regulations

Specification Responsibilities

Firestopping Selection Factors

Typical Details/Drawings


3/28

Definition

A through-penetration firestop system is a

specific field erected construction of an

assemblage of materials designed to prevent the

spread of fire and its by-products for a

prescribed period of time through openingswhich are made in floors and walls to

accommodate through penetrating items such

as ducts, metal and plastic pipes, electrical

conduit, cables, cable trays, etc.


4/28

Definition

A firestop system consists of three

components:1. A fire resistive assembly or fire barrier

(wall, floor, etc.);

2. The penetrating items (ducts, pipes,

conduits, etc.); and

3. The sealant material.


5/28

Purpose

Outline Considerations in Specifyingand Installing Through-Penetration

Firestop Systems


6/28

Terminology

Annular Space

The distance from the inside edge of the

opening to the outside of the penetrating

item.


7/28

Terminology

Area Separation

A wall of fire-resistance-rated

construction (expressed in hours), which

serves to divide the floor area of a

building into acceptable area limits as set

forth in the code having jurisdiction.


8/28

Terminology

Fire-Rated Partition

A partition having an assembly of

materials that will afford a given fire-

resistance rating (expressed in hours) to

impede the spread of fire from one area

to another.


9/28

Terminology

Fire Wall

A continuous (basement-to-roof) wallhaving adequate fire-resistance rating

(expressed in hours) with adequate

structural stability under fire conditionsto completely subdivide a building or

separate adjoining buildings to restrictspread of fire.


10/28

Terminology

F Rating

A rating, usually expressed in hours,

indicating a specific length of time that a

fire-resistive barrier can withstand firebefore being consumed or permitting the

passage of flame through an opening inthe assembly.


11/28

Terminology

Intumescence

A characteristic of certain fire barrierproducts that when exposed to heat,

expand, self-sealing and filling any voidin the penetration. When exposed to

flame, intumescent materials will form a

hard char.


12/28

Terminology

L Rating

A rating, usually expressed in cubic feet

per minute per square foot of opening,

determined by the air leakage test. It is a

measure of the ability of a fire-resistiveassembly to resist air or smoke

infiltration resulting from pressuredifferences. L ratings may be given for

ambient and elevated temperatures.


13/28

Terminology

T Rating

A rating, usually expressed in hours,

indicating the length of time that the

temperature on the non-fire side of a fire-

resistance-rated assembly exceeds 325

above its ambient temperature.


14/28

Codes & Regulations

Compliance to ASTM E119 & E814 Compliance to UL 263 & 1479

ICC Building Code

NFPA5000 Building Code

Local/State Code Authority


15/28

Specification

Responsibilities


16/28

Architects

It is Important that the Architect Clearly

Identify All Fire Resistant Assemblies

and their Hourly Ratings on the

Drawings


17/28

Engineers/Systems Designers

It is Important that the System Designers

Clearly Identify on the Project DrawingsAll Penetrations of Fire Resistive

Assemblies and the Details of theRequired Materials and Methods to be

Installed to Maintain the Fire Resistive

Integrity of those Assemblies.


18/28

Building/Code Officials

It is Mandatory that the Plans and

Specifications Completely Identify All Fire

Resistant Construction, Penetrations of those

Designated Fire Resistant Assemblies, and the

Details of How those Penetrations are to beProtected. It is the Responsibility of the Code

Official to Determine that the Required

Information is Contained in the Construction

Documents.


19/28

HVAC/Electrical Contractors

The HVAC and Electrical Contractors Are Not

Responsible for the Quantity, Location and theDetails of Producing or Maintaining the

Required Fire Resistance Ratings of Assemblies

which are Penetrated by the Materials and

Systems Installed by their Trades Except as

those Quantities and Details are Shown on theDrawings and in the Specifications.


20/28

Factors Determining the Selectionof a Through-Penetration Firestop

System


21/28

A. The Material and Construction Type(Wall, Floor, etc.) of the Fire Resistant

Assembly being Penetrated:

Concrete

Brick/Block

Gypsum

Metal

Wood


22/28

B. The Type of Penetrating Item:

Metallic Pipes (Insulated/Uninsulated)

Non-Metallic Pipes HVAC Ducts

Cables Cable Trays/Busways/Conduits

Combinations of the above


23/28

C. The Relative Geometry of the Opening

and the Penetrating Item:

Round Opening/Round Penetrant

(Sleeved/Unsleeved) Rectangular Opening/Rectangular

Penetrant/Round Penetrant/Combination

Penetrants

The Resulting Annular Space Between the

Item and the Assembly that it PassesThrough


24/28

D. The Required Rating of the FirestopSystem Determined by the Rating of the

Penetrated Assembly: F Rating (Hours)

T Rating (Hours)

L Rating (CFM/SQ. FT)


25/28


26/28


27/28


28/28