Frequently Asked Questions about Firestopping

What is firestopping?

Required by most building codes and based on fire testing and certification listings, firestopping is a fire protection system of various components used to seal joints and openings made by penetrants in fire-rated walls or floors which restores the assembly to its original integrity.

Common fire-rated walls and floors are found in stair towers, elevator shafts, exit corridors and mechanical or utility rooms. Whenever a pipe, conduit, duct or other item penetrates a fire-rated wall or floor, the resulting gap is a potential entry point for destructive heat, smoke and toxic combustion products to spread dangerously throughout a building, threatening life, property and operations.

Building codes often emphasize the use of "approved methods," which means that acceptable firestopping products must meet nationally recognized standards when tested at a testing laboratory. Underwriter's Laboratories and Factory Mutual are two of the best-known third party testing facilities.

Not only is firestopping a part of total fire protection, it is a life safety item. (top)

What is fireproofing?

Fireproofing is a passive fire protection measure used to protect structural components of a building against losing structural integrity during a fire. Commonly applied incombustible materials include fire-retardant cementitious, fibrous or intumescent products which are used to protect steel beams, columns or decks of a building. (top)  

What is passive fire protection?

Passive fire protection systems compartmentalize and contain fires to both save lives and protect structures. Firestopping and Fireproofing are both examples of passive fire protection. (top)

What is active fire protection?

Sprinkler systems are a good example of active fire protection. However, they do not control the movement of flames, deadly smoke or toxic gasses. (top)

What factors affect fire stop performance?

The most obvious factors include:

• Size of opening
• Type of penetrating item (metal, plastic, insulated or glass pipe, insulated cable etc.)
• Floor or wall material (concrete, gypsum, wood frame, etc.)
• Thickness of floor or wall
• Length and intensity of fire (top)

What constitutes a fire stop system?

With many types of systems on the market today, a typical through-penetration firestop system requires installation of both a form and a fill material. (top)

(click article at left to open enlargement)

Why is firestopping necessary?

Perhaps the most well-known instance of fire stop neglect occurred November 21, 1980 when the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada experienced a fire on the main floor.

Smoke and gasses from the fire found their way to higher floors through seismic gaps, shafts and plumbing and electrical openings.

The fire immediately killed 84 people and injured 650, mostly from smoke inhalation.

Of the 84 who died that day, 67 deaths occurred on the 16th or higher floors although the fire itself never spread beyond the main floor.

(click article above to open enlargement)