1.3 Firestop systems
Firestop systems are designed and installed to impede the passage of fire and toxic smoke, with some systems designed to also restrict water and sound transmission, through construction openings in fire-rated assemblies( walls and floors).
Throughout a building, the fire-rated assemblies are breached to allow the passage of piping, conduits, cable trays and other building system components to extend from room to room. In addition, openings or gaps between the wall and floor surfaces of the fire rated assemblies might exist to allow for movement or deflection of the assembly. To restore the integrity of the fire rated assembly, all the openings or penetrations need to be sealed to maintain the original fire rating of the assembly.
• Through penetration firestop systems are used to restore the integrity of a fire-rated floor or wall assembly when a penetrating item passes through the assembly.
• Fire resistive joint systems are used to protect the joints or spaces installed within or between fire-rated assemblies.
• Membrane penetration firestop systems are used to restore the integrity of a fire-rated wall assembly when only one side of the wall is penetrated.
• Perimeter fire containment systems, which are specific constructions consisting of a floor with an hourly fire rating, an exterior curtain wall with no hourly fire rating, and material installed to fill gaps between the floor and the curtain wall to prevent the vertical spread of fire in a building.
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