Where is firestopping required?

Author: Prof. Chelsey Lubowitz  |  Last update: Saturday, July 19, 2025

According to the International Building Code (IBC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code, the following structural features require firestopping: IBC: Penetrations in walls and horizontal assemblies, including penetrating ducts. Protective sleeves (e.g., around cables), inside and out.

What are four locations that require firestopping?

Firestopping is required at the following locations:
  • Pipe penetrations.
  • Joints.
  • Top of walls.
  • Curtain walls.
  • Slab edges.

Where are fire stops required?

states that fire blocking is required “at open- ings around vents, pipes, ducts, cables, and wires at ceiling and floor level, with an approved material to resist the free passage of flame and products of combustion.” This means you have to seal around all those wires, pipes, and ducts that run through top plates and ...

Where is fire stopping needed?

Fire stopping is required in multiple areas within a building, especially where there are potential risks for fire spread. These areas include: Joints and gaps in fire-rated walls and floors. Openings for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.

Where is fire caulking needed?

Around penetrations in fire-rated walls and floors:

Fire caulk is used to seal around penetrations in fire-rated walls and floors. Examples of penetrated openings include electrical wiring, plumbing, conduits, HVAC ducts, etc.

Where to firestop

Where is fire sealant required?

Key Areas Requiring Fire Caulking

Wall Penetrations: Walls often have penetrations for electrical outlets, plumbing lines, or HVAC systems. These openings can quickly become conduits for smoke and fire if not properly sealed.

What are the requirements for firestopping?

Through-penetrations shall be protected by an approved penetration firestop system installed as tested in accordance with ASTME 814, with a minimum positive pressure differential of 0.01 inch of water and shall have an F rating of not less than the required fire resistance rating of the wall penetrated."

Is fire caulk required on exterior walls?

Fire caulking is required in fire-resistance-rated buildings, including many commercial properties that carry a higher risk of great damage if a fire were to spread.

What is the BS standard for fire stopping?

BS 7671:2018 – Sealing of Wiring Installations

Whilst BS 7671:2018 states that fire stopping is a requirement, it does not detail how it should be carried out or who should do it. For this, it is important to seek further guidance from specialist contractors and manufacturers such as ClearView.

Where is fire exit hardware required?

For all doors that provide means of egress for rooms and spaces of assembly and educational (Group A and E) occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or more, if latching (or locking) hardware is installed, it must be panic hardware or fire exit hardware. This would include large assembly spaces in mixed-use buildings.

Do interior walls need fireblocking?

Practicing safe habits and removing flammable material is one thing, but you may be surprised how gaps/holes in the wall and ceiling allow fires to spread throughout a structure. In addition, the added airflow they have can feed into a fire. Fire blocking for interior walls is essential to help here.

What is the NEC code for FireStop?

National Electrical Code (NEC) Section 300.21 deals with firestopping of electrical installations in fire-rated assemblies. This section is almost verbatim in Section 770.26 for optical fiber cables and Section 800.26 for communication systems.

Where are fire pull stations required?

NFPA 72 requires a pull station within 60 inches of every individual exit, and for groups of doors that are more than 40 feet wide away from each other, there must be a pull station on both sides of the grouping. The placement of fire alarm pull stations is critical to ensuring they provide the protection intended.

Do you have to firestop both sides of a wall?

Hi Talal if you have a floor we would only need one layer of firestop, typically installed from topside (although we do have systems from bottom side install). If you are installing in a wall typically these would require firestopping on both sides of the wall to be firestopped.

What height walls require fire blocking?

Fireblocking is required at ceiling and floor levels, and between the top story and the roof space (provided by the wall plates in platform framing). 2. Walls furred off the foundation require fireblocking every 10 ft.

What is fire stopping and where is it required by the building code?

According to the International Building Code (IBC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code, the following structural features require firestopping: IBC: Penetrations in walls and horizontal assemblies, including penetrating ducts. Protective sleeves (e.g., around cables), inside and out.

Can anyone do fire stopping?

Fire stopping is a very specialised part of the building works which requires training, experience and a good knowledge of the relevant products. It is important that the product selected has been tested in the relevant scenario and is suitable for the application.

What is the BS standard for fire suppression?

A fire suppression system is normally needed in most cases to satisfy building control regulations. When the safety regulations are met, the project will be approved. If the fire suppression system does not comply with BS:8458, there's a high chance that building control will not approve the project.

What is the difference between fire blocking and firestopping?

Fire block is made to stop the draft air from fueling a fire while a fire stop is made to stop the fire from going any further with a certain amount of time resistance.

Where should you not caulk outside?

The bottom of siding boards should not be caulked

Water is meant to exit through the bottom of each board. While paint does tend to somewhat glue these pieces together, caulking them is never advised and can cause permanent damage. Also, avoid caulking tongue-and-groove siding boards together.

Do exterior walls need to be fire rated?

Exterior walls generally have a rating based solely on interior occupancy use and structural requirements. However, exterior walls that are 10 feet or less from the property line are required to have a fire resistance rating based on the proximity to adjacent buildings and interior occupancy conditions.

Can you paint over fire caulk?

Can Hilti fire caulk be painted over? Hello Jason, Water based, solvent free paints (Acrylics, PVA or Latex paints) can be used to paint over CP 606 and CP 620. Other products are a definite no regarding painting over...and some products are restrictive with the type of paint that can be used.

How much does firestopping cost per square foot?

On average, fire stopping costs range from $2.40 to $9.60 per square foot, which includes both materials and labor. Understanding these costs is crucial for effective budgeting and planning, ensuring that your project stays within financial constraints while meeting all necessary fire protection standards.

When to use fire stopping?

Once the integrity of a wall or floor has been compromised by hacking a hole allowing services to pass through, firestopping systems are required. Common services passing through walls and floors are electrical, mechanical, piping and junctions between fire-resistance-rated wall or floor assemblies.

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