Firestop systems protect against the passage of flames, deadly gases and toxic smoke through openings that are created for penetrations, joints and gaps in fire-resistive walls, floors and floor/ceiling assemblies. The integrity of fire-rated assemblies is restored by firestop systems.  Building codes require third-party tested systems to be installed whenever fire-rated construction is compromised by such openings.

What is a firestop system? 

Firestop systems are combinations of products/materials, installed to a tested and rated specification, to prevent the passage of fire, smoke and gases between compartments of a building.

What is “Active” Fire protection?

Active fire suppression includes mechanical systems that are designed to control and/or extinguish fires after they have started, such as sprinklers.

What is “Passive” Fire Protection?

Passive fire protection functions to contain fires within the areas in which they start, preventing loss of life by preventing the products of combustion (smoke, hot gasses and flames) from spreading throughout a building.

Are both “Active” and “Passive” Fire Protection necessary?

Fire is a dangerous enough phenomenon that redundancy in fire protection is necessary.  Having passive protection in place helps assure building occupants that there will be time to exit before gasses, fire and smoke spread throughout the building.  Active systems do not control the movement of smoke and gases, the leading cause of death in fires.

What is a containment/compartmented space?

Firestop systems were developed to produce a containment/compartmented space, restricting fire, smoke and gases from entering the protected area. These spaces are protected by fire-rated wall and floor assemblies. All penetrations, gaps and joints in the assembly are sealed with tested and listed firestop systems to return the integrity to the rated wall or floor system.

What are “third-party” tested systems?

Building codes require that firestop systems be tested in accordance with ASTM E814, Third party testing facilities such as Underwriters Laboratories, perform those tests. Manufacturers specify the system to be tested, and if the system performs to the particular test standard, a system is published.

What is ASTM E814?

It is the recognized industry standard that evaluates through penetration firestop systems in fire-rated floor, wall or floor/ceiling assemblies. The test established ratings listed as “F”, “T” and “L” Ratings. The purpose of the test is to return the floor, wall or floor/ceiling assembly to its original fire rating.

What do the "F", "T" and "L" ratings mean? 

An "F" Rating indicates the amount of time that a firestop system can withstand fire before allowing the passage of flame through an opening. A "T" Rating indicates the amount of time it takes the temperature on the non-fire side of the assembly to exceed 3250 Fahrenheit above ambient temperature.  An "L" Rating indicates the amount of air leakage (in cubic feet per minute) through a penetration (this is the industry’s solution to "smoke sealing").