Frequently Asked Questions

Firestopping issues can be complex and are often fact specific. IFC does not warrant that the advice given will accurately fit your situation. Suitability of advice or recommendations must be determined by the user.

CHOOSE A TOPIC TO SEE RELATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

703.7 Marking and identification. Where there is an accessible concealed floor, floor-ceiling or attic space, fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers and smoke partitions or any other wall required to have protected openings or penetrations shall be effectively and permanently identified with signs or stenciling in the concealed space. Such identification shall:

1. Be located within 15 feet (4572 mm) of the end of each wall and at intervals not exceeding 30 feet (9144 mm) measured horizontally along the wall or partition.

2. Include lettering not less than 3 inches (76 mm) in height with a minimum 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) stroke in a contrasting color incorporating the suggested wording, “FIRE AND/OR SMOKE BARRIER—PROTECT ALL OPENINGS,” or other wording.

Section 703 of the International Fire Code (IFC) contains the requirements for the maintenance of firestop systems in existing buildings. It states:
703.1 Maintaining protection. Materials and firestop systems used to protect membrane and through penetrations in fire-resistance-rated construction and construction installed to resist the passage of smoke shall be maintained. The materials and firestop systems shall be securely attached to or bonded to the construction being penetrated with no openings visible through or into the cavity of the construction. Where the system design number is known, the system shall be inspected to the listing criteria and manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Similarly, under the general section 701 of the IFC, it states:
701.5 Maintaining protection. Materials, systems and devices used to repair or protect breaches and openings in fire-resistance-rated construction and construction installed to resist the passage of smoke shall be maintained in accordance with Sections 703 through 707.
701.6 Owner’s responsibility. The owner shall maintain an inventory of all required fire-resistance-rated construction, construction installed to resist the passage of smoke and the construction included in Sections 703 through 707. 
Such construction shall be visually inspected by the owner annually and properly repaired, restored or replaced where damaged, altered, breached or penetrated. Records of inspections and repairs shall be maintained. Where concealed, such elements shall not be required to be visually inspected by the owner unless the concealed space is accessible by the removal or movement of a panel, access door, ceiling tile or similar movable entry to the space.

Having said that, the International Building Code (IBC) does not mandate 3rd party inspection in every instance. IBC section 1705 states the following:
1705.17 Fire-resistant penetrations and joints. In high-rise buildings or in buildings assigned to Risk Category III or IV, special inspections for through-penetrations, membrane penetration firestops, fire-resistant joint systems and perimeter fire barrier systems that are tested and listed in accordance with Sections 714.4.1.2, 714.5.1.2, 715.3 and 715.4 shall be in accordance with Section 1705.17.1 or 1705.17.2.
1705.17.1 Penetration firestops. Inspections of penetration firestop systems that are tested and listed in accordance with Sections 714.4.1.2 and 714.5.1.2 shall be conducted by an approved agency in accordance with ASTM 2174.
1705.17.2 Fire-resistant joint systems. Inspection of fire-resistant joint systems that are tested and listed in accordance with Sections 715.3 and 715.4 shall be conducted by an approved agency in accordance with ASTM E2393.

Consequently, 3rd party inspection for installation or repairs under the I-Codes is mandated only for high-rise and Risk Category III and IV buildings. Other jurisdictions may adopt different, and more stringent, requirements for 3rd party inspections. For example, the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development has published their detailed rule-making on the qualifications that they will require in order to approve individuals to conduct special inspections of installed firestopping. The document is Policy Intent Notice (PIN) 67, effective 03/06/2017.

By their nature, outlet box penetrations are membrane penetrations rather than through-penetrations. IBC (2018) Sections 714.4.2 for wall assemblies, and 714.5.2 for Horizontal Assemblies does cover membrane penetrations by both metallic and non-metallic outlet boxes. Additional detail is provided on the options available for protection of outlet boxes.

The IFC has a publication that aims to clarify the IBC-mandated protection requirements and protection exemptions for recessed boxes. It can be downloaded free from this link:
Guide for Protection of Recessed Boxes in Fire-Rated Walls Using Firestop Putty Pads, Box Inserts, Cover Plate Gaskets and Endothermic Mats

UL has, over the years, issued various articles to address the confusion expressed by the Code Officials. Those publications can be downloaded from the following links:
UL Membrane Penetrations in Fire-Resistance Rated Walls
UL Question Corner

The IRC does not define the term “Combustible Construction”. However, the IBC does define Construction Types in varying degrees of “combustible” or “non-combustible” construction as follows:

602.2 Types I and II. Types I and II construction are those types of construction in which the building elements listed in Table 601 are of non-combustible materials, except as permitted in Section 603 and elsewhere in this code.

 602.3 Type III. Type III construction is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of any material permitted by this code. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with Section 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies of a 2-hour rating or less.

602.4 Type IV. Type IV construction (Heavy Timber, HT) is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of solid or laminated wood without concealed spaces. The details of Type IV construction shall comply with the provisions of this section. Fire-retardant-treated wood framing complying with Section 2303.2 shall be permitted within exterior wall assemblies with a 2-hour rating or less. Minimum solid sawn nominal dimensions are required for structures built using Type IV construction (HT). For glued laminated members the equivalent net finished width and depths corresponding to the minimum nominal width and depths of solid sawn lumber are required as specified in Table 602.4.

602.5 Type V. Type V construction is that type of construction in which the structural elements, exterior walls and interior walls are of any materials permitted by this code.

In order for the construction to be considered “non-combustible”, it is not simply a matter of looking at the walls versus the floors, but rather, to look at the entire structure.

Having said that, while 302.11 of the 2012 IRC does refer to “combustible construction” as you indicated, R502.13 addresses Fireblocking in Wood Floors specifically. It states the following:

SECTION R502 – WOOD FLOOR FRAMING

R502.13 Fireblocking required. Fireblocking shall be provided in accordance with Section R302.11.

Because you are using Steel Wall Framing, you can apply Section R603 to the wall condition. That section does not mention the need for Fireblocking within the steel stud walls. In contrast, Section R602 does require Fireblocking for Wood Wall Framing.

While the IRC may appear to be somewhat inconsistent, Section R102 clearly states the following:

SECTION R102 – APPLICABILITY

R102.1 General. Where there is a conflict between a general requirement and a specific requirement, the specific requirement shall be applicable. Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern.

In conclusion, based on IRC section R502, we would consider that Fireblocking is required in the wood floor. Similarly, based on R603, it does not appear that Fireblocking is required within the steel framed walls.