Penetration (firestop)
Encyclopedia
A penetration, in firestop
ping, 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 may not contain a firestop system. A penetration is not a penetrant. A penetration may or may not include a penetrant.
. Whereas penetration seals or penseals only dealt with openings made to accommodate penetrant
s, firestops now also include Joint (building)
.
communications, to differentiate between the opening, whether sealed or not, and the penetrant
s, which are optional components of a penetration, as sometimes openings (penetrations of the fire barrier) are created for future use, especially in electrical service rooms. A firestop, after all, tends to be easier to remove than concrete
, which requires coredrilling equipment, cooling water, etc. A firestopped penetration may also be referred to as a firestop, as a firestop, by definition, is a system
. Therefore, the terms firestop and penetration can at times be deemed to be interchangeable.
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....
ping, is an opening, such as one created by the use of a cast-in-place sleeve
Sleeve (construction)
In construction, a sleeve is used both by the electrical and mechanical trades to create a penetration.-Materials:Sleeves can be made of:* sections of steel pipe* plastic* sheet metal* proprietary devices that are listed firestop components...
, in a wall or floor assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating
Fire-resistance rating
A fire-resistance rating typically means the duration for which a passive fire protection system can withstand a standard fire resistance test. This can be quantified simply as a measure of time, or it may entail a host of other criteria, involving other evidence of functionality or fitness for...
, for the purpose of accommodating the passage of a mechanical, electrical or structural penetrant
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...
. The penetration may or may not contain a firestop system. A penetration is not a penetrant. A penetration may or may not include a penetrant.
Old terminology
The nuclear industry in particular used to refer to firestops as "penetration seals" or "penseals". These terms are superseded by the term firestopFirestop
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....
. Whereas penetration seals or penseals only dealt with openings made to accommodate penetrant
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...
s, firestops now also include Joint (building)
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...
.
Why the term "Penetration (firestop)"?
It is useful to have clarity in constructionConstruction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
communications, to differentiate between the opening, whether sealed or not, and the penetrant
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...
s, which are optional components of a penetration, as sometimes openings (penetrations of the fire barrier) are created for future use, especially in electrical service rooms. A firestop, after all, tends to be easier to remove than concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
, which requires coredrilling equipment, cooling water, etc. A firestopped penetration may also be referred to as a firestop, as a firestop, by definition, is a system
System
System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole....
. Therefore, the terms firestop and penetration can at times be deemed to be interchangeable.
External links
- Penetration seals (firestops) treatise by Warrington labs
- Penetration seals (firestops) treatise by Nuclear Regulatory CommissionNuclear Regulatory CommissionThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
- Penetration seal (firestop) vendor listings by Thomas Register