Cable Firestopping Installation Guide

Author: 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.

free image

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

********** ****** ******* ********* ** * ******** ************ *****. ******* to ******** **** * *********** *** ***** ***** *** **** to ******, ***** *** ** ****** ** ** *********.

************* *** ***** *** ******* **** ** ******** ******** *** be *** ********** ******* ******** *********** **** *** ***** ********* cables *** ******** * ******* ****** *****.

free image

** **** ***** ** *******:

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

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

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

* ******** ** * ******* **** ** ******** ************ ** prevent *** ****** ** **** *** ***** *** * ***** period ** **** (*** ** ** ******** **** *** ******** of ******* ******* **** *** ***** **** **** **** ****). Firewalls *** ***** *********** **** ******* ******** ********* **** ** concrete *****, *******, ** ******** "**** **" ******. **** *** given * ******** **** ****** **** **** *** ** ******** in ******* **** **** **** *** ***** ****** ***** ***********.

** ****** ************, ********* *** ********* ***** *** * ** 4 *****, ****** ** ****** ******* *** ***** ********** ** many *****. **** **** *** ***** **** ** * ******** is * **** ****. ** ** ****, *** *********** **** Code ******** ***** ***** ** ******* ******* **** ******* ******** their ******, ** ***** ***** **', *** *******:

***** *** **** ****** ** ***** ** ********* ****, *** hole, **** * ***** **** * *** ****** ** ******** used *** * ***** ******, ***** ******** ** *** ****** for *****, *****, ** **** **** ** ****** ** * facility.

******* ** ****, ************ **** *** *****, ********, ** ***** systems *** *********, *** ***** ************ **** ** ******** ****** to **** *****, ****, *** ***** **** *********, **** * system ***** ** **** ** ****** *** ****** ** *** wall.

Firestopping ** *********

** **** ******, ************ ** ******** ** ****. *** **** is ** * **** ****** *****, *** ** ** **** typically *** ***. ******* ** ******** ***** ******* ****** ** seal ************ ***** *** ****, **** ******** *** ***** **** been ******, *********** ********** *****, ** ****** ** ***** *** subject *** ********** **********(*) ** ******** ********* ** **** ** damage **** ****.

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

********** ****** ** ******** **** ***** ********** ** ************, **** as************* **** ****, *** ***** ***** ******* **** *********** ** ********, *** which ******** ****** ** **** ** *** **** ****** ** installed. ******* ** ****, ** ** ********* ****** ** **** approval **** ** *** **** ** ******* ** ********* *** apply ***** ***** ** ***** *************.

***** **** *** **** ******, ********, ** ****** ********* *************** of ***** ***** *** ****** ** **** **** ** ********* material ****. ************, **** ********** **** ******* "** ************ *** any ******" ****** **** **** ** ********, **** ** *********** appropriate ********* *****.

*** ***** *********, ********* ********* ** **** *********** *** **** approved ******** ************ ********* **** **** ** ****, ** **** must ** ********* ** ******, ******* ***********. ** ***** ********* requirements *** ** *****, ********** *** *********** ***** ** **** regardless ** ****, ***** ***********, ** **********.

System ********

************ ******** ***** ***** * "******" **** ******* ******* *** parts ** *** ***********. ********** **** *** **** ** *** hole, ** *** ***** ** ********/********** ******* ** *****, ** how **** ***** ** ******* ** ****** ** *****. ********** cannot ****** *** *** ***** *********, **** **** ***** *********, and **** * ********* ********.

*** ******* ********* *** ******** ********** ** ******** ***** ** "mandatory **********" *** ******** ************ *******:

Common *******

**** ******** *** ** *********** ***** *** ** ******* *******:

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

***** ****** ******* **** ******** ************* ********* ***** ******* *** recommended *** ***** ***********, ****** ********* **** ******* ** ********* preference, ** **** *** ** **** *********** **** ********* *******.

***** ********* *** ********** ** **** *****:

Caulk / *****

************, *** *** **** ****** ******* ** ************ **** **** using ***** ** *****, ***** *** ******* *******.

*****, ******** ** ******** *** ******* *********** ****** **** *** ***, **** ******* **** * ***** ** caulk ******* **** * *** (*****):

firestop caulk filling large opening

** ***** ** ****** ****** ****** ** *** (***** ****):

firestop putty formed to fit

***** ***** ******* *** **** ******, **** **** *** ***** done *****. ************ ************ *** *** ****** ** **** **** and ********* ** *****/***** ***** *** **** ********. *******, ********* users **** ***** ****** ***** *** ******* *** **** ** "good ******" ** ** **** *** *******, *** **** *** quickly **** ** **** ** * ****. ******* ** ****, we ********* ***** ***-********** ********* (*****, *******, *** ********) ******** possible, ** **** ****** *** *********** ** **** *****.

************, ***** ** *** **-*********. ******* *** ******** **** ** add ****** ******** ***** ** ******* *** ******* **********. ******* may ** ********, *** ***** ****** ***** **** ***** ************, as **** *** *** *** *** *** ****** ********* **** time.

***** *** ***** *** ****** *********, ***** ~$** *** * tube ** ******, ***** ** ****** ** ***** ******* *******, depending ** ****.

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

******* ** ***** ***** ** ***** **** **** *** **** error, ************* **** ***** ******** ***-****** ***** ** *** ******* sizes ** *******. ***** ***** *** **** ** *** ***** to ******** ******, **** ****** **** *** ******* ******. ** cables **** ** ***** *****, *** **** *** ****** ** removed *** ***********.

firestop conduit plug

******** ***** **** *** ~$**-** ****, ********* ** ****.

Engineered *******

*** ************* **** ******* ** *** *****, ***** ****** ******** pre-engineered *******. ***** ******* ******* ** * ***** ******* ***************************** (******** ***** ******* **** ******), ********* ********** ** *** various **** ******. ***** ******* *** **** ***** ********, **** to ** ********* **** ** **** ** *** ********** ****** as ******.

************, ********** ******* *** **-**********, **** ***** ****** ******* *** cables ******* *** ****** **** ********, *** ** **-******* ** re-installation ********.

pre-engineered firestop sleeves

********** ******* ***** ** ***** $***-*** *** * *" ******, with ****** *** ****** ** ****** ****** ********** ** $***-***.

Engineered ********

***** ****** ****** *** ******, ** **** ***** *** thick, ******** *** *******. ***** ******* ******* **** * ***** hole ***** ** *** *** *******, ***** ** ******* ****** cable(s) *** ****** **** *** **** ** **** *****. ********** cables *** ** ***** ****** ** ******** *** ******** *** grommet ****** *** *****(*).

pre-engineered firestop grommets

**** **** ** ****** ** ***********, ********* **** **** $** each, *** **** ******** *** ******** ****** ** ******, ********* <4 *****/* *** ******.

Blocks / ******

** ******** ***** ********, **** ** ******* *** ***** *****, options **** ** ****** *** ****** *** ****.

  • ****** *** ****** * ***** ***** ** *********** ******** ***** may ** ******* *** ********** ** *** ******* ** ****** openings. *******, **** *** *** *********** *** ***-****** ******** ** the ****** ** ******* ** *** *** ** ******.
  • ******** ****** *** * ***-********** ***** ** ********, ********* ***** metal, ***** *** *********** ***** ******* ** *** ****. **** may ** *** ***** ***** ****** ** *** ******** ******, such ** *** ***** **** *****.

firestop blocks sheets used on large openings

******** ****** *** ********** ***********, ~$*-* ****. *******, ***-*** ****** are *********, * *** ******* ******* *** **, **** ***** varying ** ****.

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

**** **** ******* ******** ******** *** ** ******** ****** ******** products *** ** ********* *** ********* *** **********. **** ******** are ********* ******, *** ************* *** *** ********* ***** *********** if ********* ** ********* *****. ******** ****** **** **** ********-*****, to **-**** ******** ********* *** ********* * ********* ******* ******* it ** ******, ********* ** *** ******** ************ *** ******* covered.

**** ** ***** ***** ******** ** ***********, **** ******** ********** ********** ** ******* ** ******** ***** firestop, ** *** ************ ** ********** ******** *** ** ****, with ******** ** **** **** ********.

Comments (7)

Undisclosed #1

03/07/19 12:17am

**, *** *** *** ****** **** ** ***'* **** ** remove ****-******** ****** ***** **********/********/********** ************ ** ***** * **** to *** ***** *** * ******* ***?

Undisclosed #2

03/06/19 06:57pm

**** ** * **** *** **** ****** *****. * ****** ask *** ****** **** *** ***** **** *** **** *** making ************, ****** ** ******** ********. **** **** ** ** the **** ** ***** *** *** **** *** ** ** redone.

Avatar

Kyle Folger

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

* ****** ** **** *** ** **** ** **** ** penetrations. ** **'* ******* ********, ******* * ****** ******.

*** ******* *****, ** ***** **** **** *** ******* ** seeing *** **** ** ***** *********** **** ****'* ******* **** if ** ***. ***** ** ****** ** ********* ********* ***** there **** ***** **********, *** *** ****** *** *** * small **** *** ****** ***** ***** *** ***** *******. ** always ****** *** ***** ** ****** ** ****, *** ***** pass *** ****** ******* ** ********* **** **** ****** ******** devices. *'** **** *** *** ******** *** ******* **** *****.

* *** ***** *** ******* **** * ******* **** * saw * *** *** *" ****** *** **** *******, *** the ***** *** ***** ***** *** **** *** ** *** cable **** **** ** *** ******. *'* *** **** *** effective **** ***** **. **** *** ** * ******* ******.

Avatar

Ed Robbins

03/11/19 03:17pm

** **** ****** **** ** * **********'* ***. ** **** an ******** ****** ** **** ********?

Avatar

Ethan Ace

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

**** ** *** *****? ****'* *** *'** ***** ****.

Avatar

Michael Silva

Silva Consultants | 03/11/19 07:00pm

**** ** * ***** ***** ** ***** *** *** **** does *** ******* ****** *********. * **** **** **** ****** including ***** ***** ********** **** *** *** *** **** ********** large (**"* **") ******** ** ****-***** ***** ***** ******** **** to **** *** ******* ** ***** **** *** **** ******.

** *** ************ ********* ****, ********** *** ** *** ******* in *** ***** ** * ******* ****** **** * *** working ****. ***** **' ** ** ****** *** *****, ***** would ** * **** ********** **** **** *** ** ** penetrated. *** ********** ******* *** ** ****** ********** ***** ***** using * ******* ***, *** ********** *** **** *** **** started ******* ***** ** *** ***** **** ***** ****. **** got * *** ******** **** **** ****** ******* *** **** and ****** **** *** *** * ******* ** ******** ******* up ** ****. **** *** * ***** *********, *** ****** the ***** **********, *** * ****** ******* **** **** *** the *** ** ** *** ****.

**** ****** *** ** ** * ****** ******* ** **** now *** ** *** **** ****** *** ***** **** **** that **** *** *******, *** *** ***** ***** **** **** they *** ********** ********** *** ****** ** **** ** ** approved ******.

Avatar

Kyle Folger

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

********* * **** ******** * **** ** *** **** ******* situation *** *********. ****’* **** **** **** ************ **** **** extended ***** ******** **** ** **** **** ** *** *******.

*** ***** ** **** ** **** *** *** **** *** costly ******* **** *** *******, ** *** ***** **** **** they *** **** ******* ***** ********* ** ** ** ****** a ****.

** **** *****, ****** ***** ***** *** ******* ** ** really ****** ** *** ******* ****** **** *********/******** *** ******** responsibility. **** ****** *********, ** ***** ** ********* ** * project ******* ** ** ******** *** *** ***** **********.

********* * *** ***** **********, ** ****** ** ** *** owner *** ********* **** ******** ** **.

** * ******* ****, *’* ******* ** ** ***** ***** where **** **** ** ************/******* *** ***** ** **********. ** attics, ** *** *** ***** **** *** ** ******** ****** in *-***** *** * **** **** ******* ** ** *** out ** *** *** ** **** *******. ** **** ****, all *** ***** ** ****** ** ******** ****** ** *** trussing. ***** ** ** ***** ** **** ******* ******** * poorly *** ***** *****.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Covert IP Camera Shootout - Axis, Hanwha, Hikvision, March, Vivotek on Mar 20, 2019
Covert cameras were one of the last holdout areas for analog cameras. However, in the past few years, IP / HD covert cameras have become...
Top Metrics For Ensuring Integrator Profitability - Statistics on Mar 20, 2019
How do integrators ensure the profitability of their projects? As part of our profitability study, 100+ integrators answered the following...
Genetec Security Center 5.8 Tested on Mar 19, 2019
Genetec has released Version 5.8. This comes after a wait of more than a year that caused frustrations for many Genetec partners. Our previous...
ONVIF Favorability Results 2019 on Mar 15, 2019
In the past decade, ONVIF has grown from a reaction to the outside Cisco-lead PSIA challenge, to being the de facto video surveillance standard...
Installation Course - Last Chance on Mar 14, 2019
This is the last chance to register for the March Installation course. This is a unique installation course in a market where little practical...
Church Technology Director Security Interview on Mar 07, 2019
With 40+ years of experience in IT from a wide array of verticals, including US and foreign military, and large corporate and industrial settings,...
Camera Pendant Mounting Guide on Mar 07, 2019
It is often necessary to suspend a camera from a high open ceiling. This is commonplace in retail, warehouse, industrial sites, hangars, and other...
Mobotix Move OEM Camera Line Tested on Feb 25, 2019
Mobotix has long been criticized for not offering integrated IR, mechanical cut filters, varifocal lenses, optical zoom and other features that...
Outdoor Camera Mounting Hardware Guide on Feb 21, 2019
Mounting cameras outdoors can be challenging, requiring understanding different types of equipment and methods. In this guide, we teach this...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Insurance Startup Coalition Profile on Mar 20, 2019
Many industry people believe cybersecurity insurance is not worth it, as the voting and debate in our Cybersecurity Insurance For Security...
Covert IP Camera Shootout - Axis, Hanwha, Hikvision, March, Vivotek on Mar 20, 2019
Covert cameras were one of the last holdout areas for analog cameras. However, in the past few years, IP / HD covert cameras have become...
Top Metrics For Ensuring Integrator Profitability - Statistics on Mar 20, 2019
How do integrators ensure the profitability of their projects? As part of our profitability study, 100+ integrators answered the following...
Avigilon Launches 'Renewed Products Program' on Mar 19, 2019
There are lots of 'pre-owned' cars but pre-owned IP cameras? While such programs are common in other industries, in video surveillance, they are...
Hanwha Tax Evasion Probe, Camera Division Implicated on Mar 19, 2019
A Hanwha group subsidiary was raided as part of a tax evasion probe. While a Korean news media report listed the raided entity as 'Hanwha...
Genetec Security Center 5.8 Tested on Mar 19, 2019
Genetec has released Version 5.8. This comes after a wait of more than a year that caused frustrations for many Genetec partners. Our previous...
Retired Mercury President Returns As Open Options President on Mar 18, 2019
Open Options experienced major changes in 2018, including being acquired by ACRE and losing its President and General Manager, John Berman who...
Large US University End-User Video Surveillance Interview on Mar 18, 2019
Schools have become targets in modern days of active shooters and terrorist fears. The need for video and access security is high. Universities...
Hikvision Favorability Results 2019 on Mar 18, 2019
Hikvision favorability results declined significantly in IPVM's 2019 study of 200+ integrators. While in 2017 Hikvision's favorability was...
ONVIF Favorability Results 2019 on Mar 15, 2019
In the past decade, ONVIF has grown from a reaction to the outside Cisco-lead PSIA challenge, to being the de facto video surveillance standard...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact