Introduction

This chapter describes firestopping regulations, testing, materials and methods, and guidelines for selecting a firestopping system. It primarily addresses the United States and Canada. Other countries should consult their local authorities for similar practices.

Worldwide, fire kills thousands of people, injures hundreds of thousands, and destroys billions of dollars in property each year. In commercial and residential buildings, more property damage, injuries, and deaths result from smoke and toxic gases than from the fire itself.

Building codes establish strict requirements and regulations designed to safeguard life and property from fire hazards. In the United States, telecommunications distribution designers and contractors must adhere to federal, state, and local codes for new construction and renovation projects. These codes are based on accepted fire protection principles.

The most common fire protection principle is compartmentation constructing fire-resistant barriers to contain a fire to the area where it starts. Fireresistant means that a material or structure can withstand fire and the passage of flame, smoke, or gases for some known period of time. Fire-resistant barriers can be floors, floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies, and walls. These barriers include other components (e.g., fire doors, penetration seals, and fire dampers) that help maintain the fire resistance of the floor, ceiling, roof, and wall assemblies.

Penetrations in fire barriers used or made by a telecommunications cabling installer to place cable must be properly sealed or firestopped. Firestopping is the process of installing specialty materials into penetrations of fire-rated barriers to reestablish the integrity of the barrier. A penetration...