Packing (firestopping)
Encyclopedia
Packing is the process and/or the materials used in filling both service
penetrations
and building joints
with backer materials as approved components within a firestop
.
s that would, on their own, be consumed by the fire
. Lesser packing, such as foam
backer rod or fibreglass are used simply to hold up materials that can survive fire test
ing on their own. In both cases, the packing is placed in such a way as to control the exact depth of the materials that top off the seal.
. If the packing surface is not straight enough, the thickness of the caulking will be wrong.
If firestopping takes place on plumbing
pipe
s that have not yet been tested, packing can move the pipes and interfere with the plumbing. It is thus important for the work to be co-ordinated between plumbers and firestoppers.
Penetrant
Penetrants, or penetrating items, are the mechanical, electrical or structural items that pass through an opening in a wall or floor, such as pipes, electrical conduits, ducting, cables and cable trays, or structural steel beams and columns...
penetrations
Penetration (firestop)
A penetration, in firestopping, is an opening, such as one created by the use of a cast-in-place sleeve, in a wall or floor assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating, for the purpose of accommodating the passage of a mechanical, electrical or structural penetrant. The penetration may or...
and building joints
Joint (building)
A building joint is a junction where building elements meet without applying a static load from one element to another. When one or more of these vertical or horizontal elements that meet are required by the local building code to have a fire-resistance rating, the resulting opening that makes up...
with backer materials as approved components within a firestop
Firestop
A firestop is a passive fire protection system of various components used to seal openings and joints in fire-resistance rated wall and/or floor assemblies, based on fire testing and certification listings....
.
Purpose
Packing with inherently fire-resistive materials, such as rockwool or ceramic fibre is intended to protect sealantSealant
A sealant may be viscous material that has little or no flow characteristics and stay where they are applied or thin and runny so as to allow it to penetrate the substrate by means of capillary reaction...
s that would, on their own, be consumed by the fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
. Lesser packing, such as foam
Foam
-Definition:A foam is a substance that is formed by trapping gas in a liquid or solid in a divided form, i.e. by forming gas regions inside liquid regions, leading to different kinds of dispersed media...
backer rod or fibreglass are used simply to hold up materials that can survive fire test
Fire test
A fire test is a means of determining whether or not fire protection products meet minimum performance criteria as set out in a building code or other applicable legislation. Successful tests in laboratories holding national accreditation for testing and certification result in the issuance of a...
ing on their own. In both cases, the packing is placed in such a way as to control the exact depth of the materials that top off the seal.
Special care
Proper packing is particularly important with self-leveling sealants. If the packing is not tight enough, the expensive caulking will drip out of the holePenetration (firestop)
A penetration, in firestopping, is an opening, such as one created by the use of a cast-in-place sleeve, in a wall or floor assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating, for the purpose of accommodating the passage of a mechanical, electrical or structural penetrant. The penetration may or...
. If the packing surface is not straight enough, the thickness of the caulking will be wrong.
If firestopping takes place on plumbing
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
pipe
Piping
Within industry, piping is a system of pipes used to convey fluids from one location to another. The engineering discipline of piping design studies the efficient transport of fluid....
s that have not yet been tested, packing can move the pipes and interfere with the plumbing. It is thus important for the work to be co-ordinated between plumbers and firestoppers.
See also
- FirestopFirestopA firestop is a passive fire protection system of various components used to seal openings and joints in fire-resistance rated wall and/or floor assemblies, based on fire testing and certification listings....
- Mineral woolMineral woolMineral wool, mineral fibers or man-made mineral fibers are fibers made from natural or synthetic minerals or metal oxides. The latter term is generally used to refer solely to synthetic materials including fiberglass, ceramic fibers and stone wool...
- Annulus (firestop)Annulus (firestop)The Annulus, or annular space, is the space between a penetrant and whatever surrounds it, such as the sides of an opening or a sleeve, as the case may be.Sometimes an annulus can be "offset", meaning that the penetrant is not centred...
- Penetration (firestop)Penetration (firestop)A penetration, in firestopping, is an opening, such as one created by the use of a cast-in-place sleeve, in a wall or floor assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating, for the purpose of accommodating the passage of a mechanical, electrical or structural penetrant. The penetration may or...
- Fire testFire testA fire test is a means of determining whether or not fire protection products meet minimum performance criteria as set out in a building code or other applicable legislation. Successful tests in laboratories holding national accreditation for testing and certification result in the issuance of a...
- Passive fire protectionPassive fire protectionPassive fire protection is an integral component of the three components of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. PFP attempts to contain fires or slow the spread, through use of fire-resistant walls, floors, and doors...
- SealantSealantA sealant may be viscous material that has little or no flow characteristics and stay where they are applied or thin and runny so as to allow it to penetrate the substrate by means of capillary reaction...
- CaulkingCaulkingCaulking is one of several different processes to seal joints or seams in various structures and certain types of piping. The oldest form of caulking is used to make the seams in wooden boats or ships watertight, by driving fibrous materials into the wedge-shaped seams between planks...
- Annulus (firestop)Annulus (firestop)The Annulus, or annular space, is the space between a penetrant and whatever surrounds it, such as the sides of an opening or a sleeve, as the case may be.Sometimes an annulus can be "offset", meaning that the penetrant is not centred...