FIRESTOP SYSTEMS

NOTES:
Canadian Code Requirements
CFAA Presentation:
Firestop Systems and Materials in  Overview:
Canadian Codes  Basic Principle of “Fire Resistant Construction”
 What is a Firestop System?
Tony Crimi, A.C. Consulting Solutions Inc.  Terminologies
 FRR & Compartmentation Principles
An Overview of Code Requirements for  Canadian vs. US Testing & Certification
Firestops & their Role in Fire and Smoke  Factors & Trends Affecting Installation
Containment  Unique Challenges in Complex Buildings – Examples
 Current Developments & Future trends

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Canada’s Code Development System Canada’s Code Development System

The National Research Council: The Canadian Commission on Building

– Canada’s primary science and technology institution and Fire Codes (CCBFC):
– NRC Institute for Research in Construction (IRC)
– NRC-IRC Canadian Codes Centre (CCC) – appointed by NRC
– members are volunteers
– represents regulators, construction industry and public
interest
Provides research and administrative
support to the overall system Oversees the code development system

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Code Development System

Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes Canada’s Code Development System

PTPACC CCBFC TG
Provincial/Territorial Policy Advisory Committee on Codes
The Provinces and Territories:
– constitutional role and responsibility
SC SC SC SC – Provincial/Territorial Policy Advisory Committee on Codes

Standing Committees (PTPACC)

(e.g. Standing Committee on Houses) • three subcommittees (building, fire, plumbing)
TG

Task Groups PTPACC advises the CCBFC on what the provinces and
(e.g. Task Group on FS Systems) territories need in the national codes.

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:
Canada’s Code Development System Canada’s Code Development System
Code Objectives
Objective-Based Codes
• Safety
• Spell out why we regulate building design and construction
• Health
– Objectives
• Describe what the design and construction of the building • Accessibility
must do to achieve the objectives – Functional Statements
• Fire and Structural Protection of Buildings
• Provide Acceptable Solutions to these objectives and
functional statements

Based on intent analysis conducted between

1997 – 2003 of every code provision

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Canada’s Code Development System

What do the new documents look like? Fire Resistance Ratings &
• Three Divisions – A, B, C Compartmentation

National Building Code in Two Volumes

• Volume Two contains the Appendix Notes
for Divisions A, B and C as well as the
index for both volumes

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Fire Separations
Fire Resistance Purpose of “Fire Separations”
A “fire separation” is a construction (a) Impede movement of fire in order to
assembly that acts as a continuous Limit the potential fire size and inhibit
barrier to the spread of fire and/or movement of smoke
smoke.
(b) Contain the fire long enough to evacuate
A fire separation may or may not need occupants and allow fire department to
gain access
to have a Fire Resistance Rating
(c) Act as components of a “fire
compartment”

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:

Fire Separations Fire Separations

Fire Compartments Evaluation of “Fire Separations”
Fire Resistance Rating – based on
Usually, several “fire
NATIONAL CAN/ULC-S101-M04
STANDARD

the assembly meeting the

OF CANADA

separations” are used acceptance criteria in the standard

in combination to CAN/ULC-S101-M, “Standard STANDARD METHODS OF

Method of Fire Endurance Tests of

FIRE ENDURANCE TESTS

surround a given
OF BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION AND

Building Construction and

MATERIALS

space to contain fire Materials”.

within it.
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Fire Performance Testing Fire Resistance Criteria

Generalized Acceptance Criteria (CAN/ULC-S101)

• No passage of flames or hot gases

• Temperature rise on the unexposed side limited to - 140º C
average or 180ºC individual.
• Assembly must remain in place & not collapse under design loads
• No through openings created during the fire or hose stream test
(up to 45 psi water pressure).
• Maximum temperature of steel structural supporting elements
(floors, ceilings, beams, columns) of 593ºC average, 704ºC indiv.
CAN/ULC-S101 Standard
Fire Exposure Curve

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FIRESTOP SYSTEMS FIRESTOP SYSTEMS

Definition of a “System”
Canadian Firestop Ratings  “An assemblage or combination of things or parts,
forming a complete or unitary whole…
(F,FT,FH,FTH) …..acting together according to certain natural
laws for some special purpose.”
(The Random House Dictionary of English Language)

B
A C
E D
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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:
FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
What is a Firestop System?

FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
 “An assemblage or combination of materials, forming a complex
 System Elements
whole or unit….  Performing Part(s) +
…..acting together in a specific construction to prevent the  Other Components =
spread of fire and smoke (?) through the openings in fire  Whole System
resistance rated floor or wall assemblies.”
 Typical Lab Directories identify all parts, but Certification
focuses on key parts

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FIRESTOP SYSTEMS Firestop Systems

Types of Firestop Systems & Materials
Common Terminology:
 Fire Resistance
 Time in minutes that a material or assembly withstands passage of flame, temperature and
retain structural integrity under conditions of CAN/ULC-S101 (ASTM E119) test

 Fire Protection Rating

 Time in minutes that a closure withstands passage of flame, and retain structural integrity
under Standard test conditions

 Fire Compartment
 In a building, an enclosed space separated by vertical & horizontal fire separations

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Firestop Systems
Firestop Systems
Firestop Terminology:
Firestop Terminology:
 Floor or Wall Assembly
 “Listed” fire-rated assemblies or generic fire rated floor or wall as determined by the National/Provincial  Intumescent
Building Codes
 Increase significantly in volume when exposed to heat, and harden into rigid material

 Batts and Blankets

 Endothermic
 Mineral Wool insulation, processed from rock and slag
 Minimum density of 81 kg/m3, and compressed minimum  Releases chemically bonded water, as temp rises, to afford protection
50 percent or as specified in the Design text.
 Ablative
 Erode and harden under fire. Elastomeric nature tolerates large SP gaps and joints, and some
mechanical movement

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
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FIRESTOP SYSTEMS FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
Types of Firestop Systems & Materials Types of Firestop Systems & Materials

 Caulks – applied around items w/caulk gun

 Composite Sheet – galvanized metal panels
 Putties – manually pressed into “larger” openings sandwiched around intumescent material (cut to size, for
larger openings)

 Wraps & Strips – typically wrapped around objects or

gaps  Plastic Pipe Devices – metal supporting collars holding
intumescent material in place around pipes

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FIRESTOP SYSTEMS FIRESTOP SYSTEMS

Types of Firestop Systems & Materials
Types of Firestop Systems

 Firestop Foam – applied similar to caulk, typically for small to  Firestop Sprays – typically elastomeric latex materials, sprayed or
medium “irregular” openings brushed, for curtain wall, HW, expansion joints (difficult to reach places)

 Firestop Pillows & Bags – used to fill large openings around  Firestop Mortar – plaster like material, troweled, poured or pumped into
large SP openings (good bonding adhesion)
pipes, ducts, cable trays, etc. in combination with putties or
caulks (removable and replaceable)

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Firestop Systems Firestop Systems

 Firestop Terminology: Firestop Terminology:

 Firestop System Components  Packing or Forming Materials

Materials used to prevent leakage of sealant
Materials that are proprietary in nature, identified in the Listing Design text


 (firestop system component)
 Preferably a non-combustible material (unless removed) or as indicated in the listing.
 “F”- Rating
 System remains in opening during entire rating period, without permitting passage  Cables and Cable Trays
of flame or openings
 The specific types and sizes as indicated in design texts

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:
Firestop Systems Firestop Systems
Membrane Penetrations:
 Firestop Terminology: Membrane Penetrations not specifically differentiated in NBC or OBC
Fire Blocking versus Firestopping
 Metallic and Non-Metallic Pipes
 The specific types and sizes as indicated in 3.1.9.1.Fire Stopping of Service Penetrations
design texts.
Except as required by Sentence (2), piping, tubing, ducts, chimneys, optical fibre
cables, electrical wires and cables, totally enclosed noncombustible raceways,
 Firestop System Components electrical outlet boxes and other similar building services that penetrate a fire
 Materials that are proprietary in nature, identified in the Listing Design text separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-
resistance rating shall be:
 Annular Space a) sealed by a fire stop system that, when subjected to the fire test method in
ULC-S115, “Fire Tests of Firestop Systems,” has an F rating not less than the
The void space surrounding the penetrating item (min & max usually specified)
fire-protection rating required for closures in the fire separation in conformance


with Table 3.1.8.4., or

b) cast in place (see Appendix A).

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Firestop Systems
Firestop Systems

 National Building Code of Canada 1995 Continuity of “fire separations”:

 3.1.9.1.(2) • 3.1.8.1. General Requirements
1) Any wall, partition or floor assembly required to be a fire
 Piping, tubing, ducts ….. that penetrates a firewall or a horizontal fire separation separation shall
that is required to have a fire resistance rating in conformance with 3.2.1.2., shall a) except as permitted by Sentence (2), be constructed as a
be sealed at the penetration by a fire stop system that, when subjected to the fire continuous element, and
test method in ULC-S115-M, “Standard Method for the Fire Tests of Firestop b) as required in this Part, have a fire-resistance rating as
Systems” has an FT Rating not less that the fire-resistance rating for the fire specified (see Appendix A).
separation
2) Openings in a fire separation shall be protected with closures,
shafts or other means in conformance with Articles 3.1.8.4. to
 In stark contrast to US Codes where F, T. & H Ratings used more 3.1.8.17. and Subsections 3.1.9. and 3.2.8. (See Appendix A.)
extensively
• Openings and gaps must be protected with a closure, or be effectively
fire stopped.

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Current Canadian Building Codes Requirements for Perimeter Barrier Firestops

Protection of Joints Firestopping at Slab Edges
 Any wall, partition or floor assembly required to be a fire Treated as “Joints” per Canadian test protocol (i.e. CAN/ULC-S115),
separation shall: but ……
a) … be constructed as a continuous element
• Most tested as horizontal slab-to-slab systems
b) … have a fire resistance rating as specified
• Can/should we use:
 Only real Code Basis for Joint FS & Perimeter Barrier FS
• ULC “PJ” systems (very limited in number)
systems is general continuity requirement in 3.1.8.1
• US based Floor-to-Wall type “Listings”
• US based “Perimeter Fire Containment Systems”
• Permit penetrating items in the Perimeter Joint?
• Most alternative systems not tested to CAN/ULC-S115 or
CAN/ULC-S101

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:
Firestop Systems
 National Building Code of Canada 1995 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
 3.1.9.4.(4) and 9.10.9.7.(3)
 Combustible drain, waste, and vent piping ... the piping
is sealed at the penetration by a firestop system that
has an F Rating … subjected to the fire test method in
ULC-S115-M, “Standard Method for the Fire Tests of
Firestop Systems” with a pressure differential of 50 Pa
Listings
between the exposed and unexposed sides

 OBC requires this for virtually All Combustible

Pipe

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FIRESTOP SYSTEMS FIRESTOP SYSTEMS

 FT Rating - in addition to meeting the F Rating
 F Rating - System must remain in opening without permitting requirement, no heat transmission such as to raise the
passage of flame through openings, or the occurrence of temperature of any thermocouple on the unexposed
flaming on any element of the unexposed side of the firestop surface more than 181ºC above its initial start
system.
temperature

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FIRESTOP SYSTEMS FIRESTOP SYSTEMS

FH Rating - In addition to F Rating requirement, must not
develop opening that would permit projection of water
 FTH Rating - must meet the requirements of F,FT and FH
from the hose stream beyond the unexposed side during
hose stream test. Ratings.
 Closest to a Fire Resistance Rating
 This equates to an “F” –Rating per UL 1479 & ASTM E814

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:
FIRESTOP SYSTEMS Firestop Systems
How Tough is the Testing ?

 Optional L Rating - air leakage rate expressed as Before:

Volume of Air/Cross sectional area of sample opening.

After:

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Lab Published FS & Joint Directory Information:

Firestop Certification Organizations 

 Alpha-alphanumeric identification systems for Service Penetration Firestop System

with or without penetrating items

 ULC – “SP” or “SPC” for combustible pipes at 50 Pa

 UL – F for floor, W for wall, or C for both

 WHI – P for penetrations, H - horizontal, V – vertical

 OPL - FS for firestops & suffix FA – floors or WA - Walls

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FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
Firestop Systems
 Lab Published FS & Joint Directory Information:

 Examples of Alphanumeric Identification systems for 2h rated

firestop system with single metallic conduit through floors and
walls, at less than 50 Pa, tested for Canada:
LARGE PENETRATING ITEMS
 ULC: (SP) (123)
 cUL: C(A-E)(J-N) 1123
 WHI: (XX)/(PHV) – (120–01)
 cOPL: (FS) (123) (FA) or (WA)

MULTIPLE PENETRATING
SINGLE PENETRATING ITEMS
ITEMS

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:
 Lab Published FS & Joint Directory Information: FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
 Joint Firestop Systems - construction joints, gaps and spaces Continuity of Fire Separations
within floors or walls, and intersections of floors and walls
 ULC: JF if within floors or walls, and PJ for  In NBCC, no explicit reference to Joint FS systems
perimeter joint, plus numeric designation  However, 3.1.8.1, General Requirement:
 cUL: combinations of F for floor, W for wall, H for
 Any wall, partition or floor assembly required to be a fire
top, B for bottom, CG for corner, or CW (S or D)
curtain wall plus number separation shall:
a) … be constructed as a continuous element
 WHI: PH is horizontal, PV is vertical plus number
b) … have a fire resistance rating when specified
 cOPL: F in floors, W in walls, H top of wall, P for
c) … have openings protected with closures
perimeter, and FW for floor-to-wall plus number

CAUTION: Canadian Codes very different from US in requirements

for Joints and Intersections

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Firestop Systems Factors that affect Field Performance

Other Significant Differences: ASTM E2174-04 & ASTM E2393-04 Highlights:
3.1.9.4.(4) and 9.10.9.7.(3) Outlines the inspection procedure for firestop inspectors including:
 Pre-construction meeting w/installing firm to review submittals, details, variances, and Inspection methods.
 Combustible drain, waste, and vent piping tested with a  Build mock-ups for destructive testing.
Arrange/schedule witnessed Inspection of 10 percent of installations,
pressure differential of 50 Pa between the exposed and 

 Forms provided for use by the inspector to assure uniformity.

unexposed sides
Destructive Testing
 Note: OBC requires this for All Combustible Pipe meet 50 Pa  Inspector performs destructive testing on 2 percent per 10,000 square feet of floor area, with a minimum of
one for each type of penetration.
 10 percent variance tolerance before inspector to stop and require that the contractor re -inspect

 Membrane Penetrations not specifically differentiated in Inspector Firm Qualifications

Option to use Inspection firms are hired by an "authorizing agency."
NBC


 Qualifications for the inspector are outlined

Inspectors can also be qualified by being acceptable to the "AHJ" or through implementation of ASTM E 699, a
Fire Blocking versus Firestopping Not Currently


 standard for inspector firms, but not specific to firestopping.

Differentiated Either Project Close Out Report

 Close out report includes critical information for retention by the building's engineering and management
personnel
 A deviation percentage Report is included
 “As built” tested system/engineering judgment documentation, any photographic record keeping, field report.
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Canada’s Code Development System

Firestop Systems
Changes include new Definitions for “Fire Blocks” and “Fire
Stops”
•- Fire block means a material, component or system that

Current restricts the spread of fire within a concealed space or from a

concealed space to an adjacent space.

Developments & •- Fire stop means a system consisting of a material,

component and means of support, used to fill gaps between fire

Future Trends separations or between fire separations and other assemblies, or

used around items that wholly or partially penetrate a fire
separation.

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:
Canada’s Code Development System Canada’s Code Development System
Chief among these are the following:
The Task Group on Combustible Penetrations of the Standing
Committee on Fire Protection 1. New definitions for "Fire Stop" & "Fire Block" - first ever

• Proposed Code changes related to Fire Stopping and Fire 2. Delineation between Fire Blocks and Fire Stops in the Code requirements
Blocking are currently being processed to the National Building 3. Recognition that Fire stopping and fire blocking have a role in preventing the
Code of Canada and undergoing public review. The deadline for free passage of smoke, and that even fire separations with a 0 FRR are
submission of public comments was November 23, 2007. intended to function as a smoke barrier/smoke partition
4. An expansion in the types of services which are required to be firestopped
• Current National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) contains 5. New requirements for electrical outlet boxes to be fire stopped, in line with
requirements for fire stops, but mixes the notion of “fire stops” and IBC requirements. The current NBCC does not have any limits on the quantity
“fire blocks” throughout. The Task Group reviewed the existing of electrical boxes which can be installed in a FRR wall without being fire
provisions, and developed numerous recommendations for stopped.
revision. 6. While the current NBCC typically only requires F-ratings, a few more
instances of FT-ratings are being proposed.
7. Clarification of the need for joint firestopping to provide continuity of fire
barriers.
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Current Developments & …. … Future Canadian Trends:

 Inclusion of Joint testing to CAN/ULC-S115
 Minimum sample size, splicing methods,  Aging/Environmental Exposure
thermocouple placements,  Revisions to the code and test standards to evaluate
movement/cycling effect of aging/durability on FS materials
 All pipes tested uncapped on cold side  Static and Dynamic Joints and FS Systems
 Concept of “open” vs. “closed” systems  Water-tightness (W) Ratings
 Firestop Contractor Certification (ULC  Begin discussion of perimeter joints
Certification Program or FM 4991)  CDN Standard similar to Perimeter Fire Barrier
 Announced by ULC Jan 2008 (ASTM E2307-04)
 Environmental Testing of FS and Joint  Inclusion of Membrane penetrations in
Materials (as in UL 1479) CAN/ULC-S115
 NRC SIG-SAFT “Best Practice” Guide  Social and environmental issues
 Air quality, energy conservation, mould growth,
odour control, water-tightness, vermin control

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Firestop Systems Firestop Systems

• NRC Special Interest Group- Suitable Acoustic and
NRC SIGSAFT Firestop Technologies (SIG-SAFT)
• 3 year project completed June 2007

Activity • The stated objective was;

•"To describe, using a synthesis of available data,
the technical solutions necessary to obtain, with
firestop systems and fire blocks, appropriate fire
and sound control in buildings.“
• Developed through “Broad-based” consensus of
contributors, including regulators

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 FIRESTOP SYSTEMS
NOTES:
Reaction-to-Fire Testing
Firestop Systems
 Smoke Production & Toxicity:
• The Best Practices Guide is not a Code document !  Canadian Codes limit smoke production of materials based
on “quantity” rather than composition/toxicity
• 232 pages in length  Currently use “Tunnel” tests in:
• Makes extensive reference to the NBCC as the source  CAN/ULC-S102

of requirements for firestops and fire blocks in Canada  CAN/ULC-S102.2

• Also illustrates many situations where Firestopping is  NBC Committees have identified in their intents that “fire hazard”
not "required" by the Canadian Codes, but "Best includes “fire & smoke”
Practice" dictates that appropriate firestopping methods  Some US Jurisdictions (i.e. NYC, FAA) have used smoke toxicity
criteria for many years
be employed.
 New & improved, toxicologically based Standards have been
• Available FREE online at: emerging over the past few years, from ISO and ASTM
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/fulltext/nrcc49677/  Improved tests for measuring toxic hazards from fire effluents by
simulating scenarios occurring in real fires are the German DIN
53436 furnace and the ISO/CD 19700 Purser furnace tests.
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FIRESTOP SYSTEMS

Thank You
QUESTIONS?
Contact Information: Tony Crimi,
A.C. Consulting Solutions Inc.
[email protected]
(905) 508-7256

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