Cable Firestopping Installation Guide

By: IPVM Team, Published on Mar 06, 2019

Installing cables through firewalls is a critical installation issue. Failing to properly seal a penetration can cause smoke and fire to spread, which can be deadly in an emergency.

Understanding the parts and methods used to firestop properly can be the difference between spending significant time and money rerouting cables and creating a serious safety issue.

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In this guide we examine:

  • Firestop basics
  • AHJ approvals
  • System vs. single product approach
  • Applicable UL listings
  • Caulk and putty
  • Prefabricated plugs
  • Engineered sleeves
  • Engineered grommets
  • Blocks/sheets for large openings

********** ****** ******* ********* is * ******** ************ issue. ******* ** ******** seal * *********** *** cause ***** *** **** to ******, ***** *** be ****** ** ** emergency.

************* *** ***** *** methods **** ** ******** properly *** ** *** difference ******* ******** *********** time *** ***** ********* cables *** ******** * serious ****** *****.

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** **** ***** ** examine:

  • ******** ******
  • *** *********
  • ****** **. ****** ******* approach
  • ********** ** ********
  • ***** *** *****
  • ************* *****
  • ********** *******
  • ********** ********
  • ******/****** *** ***** ********

[***************]

Firestop ****** *** *******

* ******** ** * barrier **** ** ******** construction ** ******* *** spread ** **** *** smoke *** * ***** period ** **** (*** to ** ******** **** the ******** ** ******* devices **** *** ***** name **** **** ****). Firewalls *** ***** *********** from ******* ******** ********* such ** ******** *****, drywall, ** ******** "**** up" ******. **** *** given * ******** **** rating **** **** *** be ******** ** ******* with **** **** *** flame ****** ***** ***********.

** ****** ************, ********* are ********* ***** *** 2 ** * *****, though ** ****** ******* are ***** ********** ** many *****. **** **** not ***** **** ** a ******** ** * fire ****. ** ** 2015, *** *********** **** Code ******** ***** ***** be ******* ******* **** signage ******** ***** ******, at ***** ***** **', for *******:

***** *** **** ****** is ***** ** ********* fire, *** ****, **** a ***** **** * few ****** ** ******** used *** * ***** sleeve, ***** ******** ** big ****** *** *****, smoke, ** **** **** to ****** ** * facility.

******* ** ****, ************ made *** *****, ********, or ***** ******* *** permitted, *** ***** ************ must ** ******** ****** to **** *****, ****, and ***** **** *********, with * ****** ***** to **** ** ****** the ****** ** *** wall.

Firestopping ** *********

** **** ******, ************ is ******** ** ****. Not **** ** ** a **** ****** *****, but ** ** **** typically *** ***. ******* to ******** ***** ******* rework ** **** ************ after *** ****, **** ceilings *** ***** **** been ******, *********** ********** labor, ** ****** ** fines *** ******* *** installing **********(*) ** ******** liability ** **** ** damage **** ****.

Fire **** ****** ******** ******

********** ****** ** ******** with ***** ********** ** firestopping, **** *************** **** ****, *** ***** ***** specify **** *********** ** required, *** ***** ******** should ** **** ** how **** ****** ** installed. ******* ** ****, it ** ********* ****** to **** ******** **** an *** **** ** attempt ** ********* *** apply ***** ***** ** their *************.

***** **** *** **** looser, ********, ** ****** different *************** ** ***** which *** ****** ** lost **** ** ********* material ****. ************, **** facilities **** ******* "** penetrations *** *** ******" policy **** **** ** followed, **** ** *********** appropriate ********* *****.

*** ***** *********, ********* companies ** **** *********** may **** ******** ******** firestopping solutions **** **** ** used, ** **** **** be ********* ** ******, trained ***********. ** ***** stringent ************ *** ** place, ********** *** *********** bound ** **** ********** of ****, ***** ***********, or **********.

System ********

************ ******** ***** ***** a "******" **** ******* defines *** ***** ** the ***********. ********** **** the **** ** *** hole, ** *** ***** of ********/********** ******* ** cable, ** *** **** cable ** ******* ** sealed ** *****. ********** cannot ****** *** *** match *********, **** **** rated *********, *** **** a ********* ********.

*** ******* ********* *** commonly ********** ** ******** codes ** "********* **********" for ******** ************ *******:

Common *******

**** ******** *** ** firestopped ***** *** ** several *******:

  • *****/*****
  • ******/******
  • *****
  • ********** *******
  • ********** ********

***** ****** ******* **** firestop ************* ********* ***** methods *** *********** *** their ***********, ****** ********* also ******* ** ********* preference, ** **** *** be **** *********** **** different *******.

***** ********* *** ********** in **** *****:

Caulk / *****

************, *** *** **** common ******* ** ************ have **** ***** ***** or *****, ***** *** similar *******.

*****, ******** ** ******** are ******* *********** ****** **** *** ***, then ******* **** * layer ** ***** ******* with * *** (*****):

firestop caulk filling large opening

** ***** ** ****** around ****** ** *** (shown ****):

firestop putty formed to fit

***** ***** ******* *** most ******, **** **** are ***** **** *****. Manufacturer ************ *** *** amount ** **** **** and ********* ** *****/***** layer *** **** ********. However, ********* ***** **** often ****** ***** *** opening *** **** ** "good ******" ** ** gaps *** *******, *** this *** ******* **** in **** ** * fire. ******* ** ****, we ********* ***** ***-********** solutions (*****, *******, *** grommets) ******** ********, ** they ****** *** *********** of **** *****.

************, ***** ** *** re-enterable. ******* *** ******** seal ** *** ****** requires ***** ** ******* the ******* **********. ******* may ** ********, *** users ****** ***** **** their ************, ** **** may *** *** *** not ****** ********* **** time.

***** *** ***** *** priced *********, ***** ~$** for * **** ** either, ***** ** ****** to ***** ******* *******, depending ** ****.

Pre-Formed ******* *****

******* ** ***** ***** or ***** **** **** for **** *****, ************* have ***** ******** ***-****** plugs ** *** ******* sizes ** *******. ***** plugs *** **** ** the ***** ** ******** cables, **** ****** **** the ******* ******. ** cables **** ** ***** later, *** **** *** simply ** ******* *** reinstalled.

firestop conduit plug

******** ***** **** *** ~$30-50 ****, ********* ** size.

Engineered *******

*** ************* **** ******* do *** *****, ***** should ******** ***-********** *******. These ******* ******* ** a ***** ******* ********************* ******** (******** ***** ******* when ******), ********* ********** to *** ******* **** depths. ***** ******* *** also ***** ********, **** to ** ********* **** by **** ** *** additional ****** ** ******.

************, ********** ******* *** re-penetrable, **** ***** ****** pushing *** ****** ******* the ****** **** ********, and ** **-******* ** re-installation ********.

pre-engineered firestop sleeves

********** ******* ***** ** about $***-*** *** * 2" ******, **** ****** for ****** ** ****** models ********** ** $***-***.

Engineered ********

***** ****** ****** *** needed, ** **** ***** are are *******. ***** ******* require **** * ***** hole ***** ** *** the *******, ***** ** snapped ****** *****(*) *** pushed **** *** **** on **** *****. ********** cables *** ** ***** simply ** ******** *** snapping *** ******* ****** the *****(*).

pre-engineered firestop grommets

**** **** ** ****** is ***********, ********* **** than $** ****, *** also ******** *** ******** number ** ******, ********* <4 *****/* *** ******.

Blocks / ******

** ******** ***** ********, such ** ******* *** cable *****, ******* **** as ****** *** ****** are ****.

  • ****** *** ****** * solid ***** ** *********** material ***** *** ** stacked *** ********** ** fit ******* ** ****** openings. *******, **** *** not *********** *** ***-****** openings ** *** ****** of ******* ** *** gap ** ******.
  • ******** ****** *** * pre-fabricated ***** ** ********, generally ***** *****, ***** has *********** ***** ******* to *** ****. **** may ** *** ***** metal ****** ** *** specific ******, **** ** the ***** **** *****.

firestop blocks sheets used on large openings

******** ****** *** ********** inexpensive, ~$*-* ****. *******, pre-fab ****** *** *********, a *** ******* ******* and **, **** ***** varying ** ****.

Training ************

**** **** ******* ******** training *** ** ******** before ******** ******** *** be ********* *** ********* and **********. **** ******** are ********* ******, *** manufacturers *** *** ********* their *********** ** ********* by ********* *****. ******** ranges **** **** ********-*****, to **-**** ******** ********* and ********* * ********* trainer ******* ** ** person, ********* ** *** firestop ************ *** ******* covered.

**** ** ***** ***** training ** ***********, **** ******** ********** installers ** ******* ** properly ***** ********, ** the ************ ** ********** products *** ** ****, with ******** ** **** loss ********.

Comments (8)

Undisclosed #1

03/06/19 11:17pm

**, *** *** *** saying **** ** ***'* okay ** ****** ****-******** around ***** **********/********/********** ************ to ***** * **** to *** ***** *** a ******* ***?

Undisclosed #2

03/06/19 11:57pm

**** ** * **** and **** ****** *****. I ****** *** *** photos **** *** ***** when *** **** *** making ************, ****** ** existing ********. **** **** it ** *** **** of ***** *** *** work *** ** ** redone. 

Avatar

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | 03/07/19 03:05am

* ****** ** **** use ** **** ** make ** ************. ** it's ******* ********, ******* a ****** ******.

*** ******* *****, ** jokes **** **** *** reality ** ****** *** work ** ***** *********** that ****'* ******* **** if ** ***. ***** in ****** ** ********* buildings ***** ***** **** fires **********, *** *** easily *** *** * small **** *** ****** allow ***** *** ***** through. ** ****** ****** the ***** ** ****** we ****, *** ***** pass *** ****** ******* an ********* **** **** proper ******** *******. *'** used *** *** ******** and ******* **** *****.

* *** ***** *** perhaps **** * ******* when * *** * big *** *" ****** for **** *******, *** the ***** *** ***** stick *** **** *** in *** ***** **** next ** *** ******. I'm *** **** *** effective **** ***** **. This *** ** * college ******.

Avatar

Ed Robbins

03/11/19 03:17pm

** **** ****** **** on * **********'* ***. Is **** ** ******** method ** **** ********?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Ed Robbins | 03/11/19 03:32pm

**** ** *** *****? That's *** *'** ***** seen.

Avatar

Michael Silva

Silva Consultants
03/11/19 07:00pm

**** ** * ***** topic ** ***** *** one **** **** *** receive ****** *********. * have **** **** ****** including ***** ***** ********** have *** *** *** left ********** ***** (**"* 12") ******** ** ****-***** walls ***** ******** **** to **** *** ******* of ***** **** *** wall ******.

** *** ************ ********* case, ********** *** ** run ******* ** *** attic ** * ******* school **** * *** working ****. ***** **' or ** ****** *** attic, ***** ***** ** a **** ********** **** that *** ** ** penetrated. *** ********** ******* out ** ****** ********** small ***** ***** * drywall ***, *** ********** got **** *** **** started ******* ***** ** the ***** **** ***** feet. **** *** * big ******** **** **** kicked ******* *** **** and ****** **** *** saw * ******* ** students ******* ** ** them. **** *** * music *********, *** ****** the ***** **********, *** a ****** ******* **** went *** *** *** up ** *** ****.

**** ****** *** ** be * ****** ******* as **** *** *** to *** **** ****** the ***** **** **** that **** *** *******, but *** ***** ***** wall **** **** *** improperly ********** *** ****** to **** ** ** approved ******.

Avatar

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Silva | 03/12/19 05:22pm

********* * **** ******** I **** ** *** wall ******* ********* *** described. ****’* **** **** more ************ **** **** extended ***** ******** **** an **** **** ** got *******. 

*** ***** ** **** if **** *** *** made *** ****** ******* that *** *******, ** one ***** **** **** they *** **** ******* later ********* ** ** or ****** * ****.

** **** *****, ****** areas ***** *** ******* so ** ****** ****** on *** ******* ****** good *********/******** *** ******** responsibility. **** ****** *********, it ***** ** ********* on * ******* ******* to ** ******** *** all ***** **********.

********* * *** ***** situations, ** ****** ** to *** ***** *** generally **** ******** ** it.

** * ******* ****, I’m ******* ** ** attic ***** ***** **** work ** ************/******* *** cable ** **********. ** attics, ** *** *** cable **** *** ** accessed ****** ** *-***** and * **** **** cabling ** ** *** out ** *** *** of **** *******. ** this ****, *** *** cable ** ****** ** multiple ****** ** *** trussing. ***** ** ** place ** **** ******* touching * ****** *** alarm *****.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

02/02/20 05:36pm

*** ***** ** ******** in ****-**** *** ******** it *** **** *** nice ***** ****** ** the ******

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