Fire Fighting

 FACTORS AFFECTING THROUGH PENETRATION FIRESTOPPING

There are four major factors that determine the selection of a through-penetration firestop system or

assembly:

(1) The material and construction type (wall, floor, etc.) of the fire-resistant assembly being penetrated:

• Concrete

• Brick/block

• Gypsum

• Metal

• Wood.

 

(2) The type of penetrating item:

• Metallic pipes (insulated/uninsulated)

• Non-metallic pipes

• HVAC ducts (insulated/uninsulated)

• Cables

• Cable trays/busways/conduits

• Combinations of the above.

(3) 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 it passes through

(4) The required rating of the firestop system is determined by the rating of the penetrated assembly

• F rating (hours)

• T rating (hours)

• L rating (ft3/min/ft2).