Fire and Smoke Resistant Assemblies – Passive Systems
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75% of all codes deal with fire and life safety
Prevention
•Passive
•Active
•Exiting
Early
Detection
•Smoke Alarms
•Fire Alarms
Suppression
•Extinguishers
•Sprinklers
Interior fire-related codes focus on protecting the
occupant allowing time to evacuate during a fire.
 The ultimate goal is to contain a fire to the room of
origin.
 Fire codes include provisions for both fire protection
and smoke protection.
 More people die from asphyxiation due to smoke
than from burns.
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Focus on prohibiting and containing fires
Also known as prevention systems
Once in place, nothing else has to occur from them to be part of the
control of a fire.
 Fire and smoke barriers and partitions
 Horizontal Assemblies (floors, ceilings)
 Opening Protective (windows, doors)
 Through-penetration (Firestops, dampers)
 Finishes and furniture
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These systems are considered active because
they have to be activated in order to work.
Once called suppression systems, they are
now called extinguishing systems
 Detection systems
 Extinguishing and suppression systems
 Emergency lighting
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Elements of a space or building that assists
and direct occupants to a place of safety
 Means of egress (corridors, exits, stairs, ramps)
 Exit Communication systems (signage, audible,
visual communication)
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California
Boston
Massachusetts
New York City
Florida
New Jersey
New York State
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The overall concept of a Passive fireprotection method
Separation of areas in a building to control
fire and smoke by the use of:
 Wall Assemblies
 Floor Assemblies
 Ceiling Assemblies
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Compartments are created by fire-resistance-rated
assemblies which include:
 Fire walls
 Fire barriers
 Horizontal assemblies
 Fire partitions
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As a result, the fire can spread only a limited area
before meeting resistance from rated assemblies.
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Equally important is the use of smoke
barriers.
Fire resistant ratings do not automatically
control the spread of smoke.
Smoke barriers are discussed later in this
chapter.
When required, these assemblies become
part of the compartmentation of the space or
building.
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The use of a sprinkler system will affect the
requirements for compartmentaiton.
Some of the fire-ratings may be reduced if
the building has an automatic sprinkler
system installed.
You should determine if a sprinkler system is
going to be installed prior to doing your
codes research.
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Fire walls are used either within or between
buildings creating two or more separate buildings.
Each “building” has a separate foundation.
Fire walls are not usually “added” to an existing
building.
Also know as a party wall if it falls on the lot lines
Provides complete vertical separation of areas in a
building.
Extends from the slab to the roof and from exterior
wall to exterior wall.
Parapet is a fire wall that extends above the roof.
Rated 3 or 4 hours typically. Minimum is 2 hrs.
See table 706.4 for rating by occupancy (page 222)
Avoid penetrating a fire wall!
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Fire Barriers are walls that have a fireresistant rating and must be continuous from
floor to ceiling assembly. (extends thru a
suspended ceiling). Joints are sealed and the
number of doors, windows are limited.
Horizontal assemblies serve the same
function as fire barriers and extends
horizontally from one rated wall to another.
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Where horizontal
and vertical
assemblies meet,
the joints must be
sealed. Also
openings are
limited and must
be sealed.
Fire partitions are similar to
fire barriers but have less
restrictive requirements. It
does not always have to be a
full enclosure from floor to
ceiling above.
 Typically 1 hour rating
 Example is an exit access
corridor
 See figure 5.3 page 225
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2009 IBC requires that fire walls, fire barriers
and partitions as well as smoke barriers and
partitions be marked in the field.
In new construction, this marking must:
 Indicate the type (barrier, partition, etc.)
 Hourly rating
 Located above the finished ceiling
 Spaced approximately 30’ apart
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When more than one occupancy exists in a
building it is considered a mixed or multiple
occupancy.
Each occupancy must be separated from the
other by a fire barrier or horizontal assembly.
In the past, all occupancies were typically
required to be separated by at least a 1-hour
fire rating; however, beginning in 2006, only
dissimilar risks factors to be separated by a
fire barrier or horizontal assembly.
Refer to figure 5.6 page
231
Example: Page 230
Business adjacent to
Assembly required 2
hour occupancy
separation wall (nonsprinklered)
What if a storage (S-2)
occupancy was located
below the business
occupancy?
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Codes no longer require a rated separation
between tenants of the same occupancy
Referred to as a demising wall
Exceptions: Tenants within a covered mall
(stores and restaurants) are required to be
separated by a fire partition.
Typically required to
be separated by fire
partitions
 Hotels, dormitory,
apartment buildings
 Typically 1 hour
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Machine rooms and laundry rooms are
considered incidental use rooms.
Must be enclosed by fire barriers
No longer a requirement: Storage rooms
over 100 sq. feet are required to be separated
by a fire barrier with a rating of 1 hour or to be
sprinklered.
See table 5.8 page 235.
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Elevators, dumbwaiters, mechanical chases,
stairwells
Rating is determined by the number of floors
Typically 1 or 2 hour rating
Exit stair of 3 stories or less are 1 hour while 4
or more stories are 2-hour rated.
These walls are typically continuous from
floor to underside of the roof deck.
See figure 5.9 page 236
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Exit Stairs: 1 hour (3 or less floors)
Exit Stairs: 2 hours (4 or more floors)
Horizontal Exits: 2 hours and wall must
extend to exterior walls
Area of refuge: 1 hour min.
Exit Access Corridors: ½ to 1 hour
Exit passageways: 2 hours
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Another type of passive fire protection
system
Barriers provide higher degree of protections
than smoke partitions
Barriers restrict the movement or passage of
smoke and gases
Barriers must be continuous and sealed
completely at all joints
Smoke barriers use automatic
release door closures and smoke
dampers in mechanical ducts.
Cannot install recessed lighting,
speakers, etc in ceilings.
 Smoke partitions can terminate at
suspended ceilings and
penetrations such as speakers and
recessed lighting are allowed
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An opening protective is a
rated assembly that
prevents the spread of fire
or smoke through an
opening in a rated wall.
Typically a door or window
Doors are assigned fireprotection ratings.
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Codes regulate when an opening can be used
in a rated assembly.
Some state no opening will be allowed
When allowed, size of the opening will be
limited to a % of the total size or wall area.
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Door Assemblies consists of door, frame and
hardware and is tested as an entire unit.
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Solid Core or Hollow Metal
Self-closing (closer)
Rated from 20 min. to 3-hour
Fire exit hardware similar to panic bar
Window assemblies consist of the frame, rated
glazing, and hardware.
 Glazing has the ability to stay in place under pressure
of hose streams and the ability to resist heat transfer
 Hollow metal frames are typical
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Fire Exit Hardware that is tested and rated
Panic hardware
Assemblies and Educational Occupancy
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Wire glass (safety-wired) Laminated with a filmimpact resistant
Tempered glass – used in 1 hour walls and should
not be used near sprinkler heads due to impact.
Glass block- used in walls with a maximum of 1 hour
rating.
Laminated glass – two pieces of glass laminated
together – good for impact resistance and can be
sand blasted to create decorations
NOTE: check code requirements for size limitations
of glazing
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An opening that pierces the entire thickness
of a construction assembly such as a wall or
floor/ceiling assembly.
Most common are Firestops and smokestops
Achieved by using noncombustible materials:
 Fire-rated caulk
 Silicone foam
 Mortar
 Mineral wool
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Restricts movement of fire and hot gasses
through openings made in the fire resistancerated walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling
assemblies
 Plumbing pipes
 Electrical conduit
 HVAC ducts
 Communication cables
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Restrict the spread of
smoke through
concealed spaces should
a fire occur
 Used at dropped ceilings if the wall
stops to the underside of the ceiling
 When double stud walls are
constructed to conceal pipes and
mechanical ducts or for acoustical
separation.
 Raised flooring – plenum spaces
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A type of opening protective specifically for
HVAC systems
 Duct passes through a rated assembly
 Specified by a mechanical engineer
 It will automatically interrupt the flow of air
during an emergency so that it restricts the
passage of smoke, fire and heat
 Rated 1 ½ - 3 hours
Fire Protection Systems (Active systems)
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Overall aim of the fire-protection system is to
detect a fire in a building or space, warn the
occupants, and suppress the fire until the fire
department arrives.
 Detection Systems (Initiating devices – heat and
smoke)
 Alarms Systems
 Extinguishing Systems
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Do not play heavily in the development of fire
protection systems
ADA does require the designer to plan
 fire alarms and accessible warning systems
 Accessible mounting heights for alarms and other
devices
 Avoid projections in egress path
 Signage, type and location
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Collaboration with an electrical engineer is
necessary to coordinate these systems with
the rest of the design
Detection systems must also be integrated
into other systems within the building,
including the electrical system.
Detection systems rely on electricity as their
main power source, and in most cases require
an emergency source of power as well.
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Smoke detectors
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Battery operated are not allowed
30 feet apart and at least 4” from wall
900 sq. feet
Wall or ceiling mounted
Keep away from vents and return units
Heat detectors (changes in heat)
Manual fire alarms
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Adjacent to each required exit
Maximum of 60” from Latch side of door
42-48” AFF
Must be red in color
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Used to make occupants aware that
something unusual is occuring
 Fire
 Toxic spills
 Sever weather
 Bomb threats
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Alarms must use both
visual and audible
notification methods
 Visual alarms are required by ADA
(strobes)
 Visual alarms are provided in all public
use areas such as restrooms, corridors,
lobbies, meeting rooms, break rooms,
examination rooms and classrooms.
 Audible alarms are installed in the natural
path of travel and at each required exit
from the building
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Once known as suppression systems
 Fire extinguishers
 Standpipes
 Fire hoses
 Sprinkler systems
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Surface mounted or recessed in the wall for ADA
compliance
Required in commercial kitchens, breakrooms,
buildings under construction, computer rooms,
generator rooms.
No occupant can be more than 75 feet from a fire
extinguisher
Located along normal path of travel
Must be mounted within ADA reach ranges
Refer to page 292 and 293 for placement and height
requirements
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Glass enclosed cabinet with a folded fire hose
Large diameter pipes with connections for
fire hose hookup.
Heat sensitive
Newer systems are zoned
Building codes and the LSC will specify when an
automatic sprinkler system is required.(see page
296)
 Required for assemblies, healthcare, and
hazardous
 Covers 90 – 200 sq. foot per head
 12 – 15 feet apart
 Engineers will determine the type and layout
 Allow 18” clearance below the sprinkler
deflector.
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When water should not be used:
 Grease fires
 Near large electrical equipment
 Computer/telephone equipment rooms
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Examples:
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Wet-chemical
Dry-chemical
Foam
Carbon dioxide
Halon (no longer used in new buildings)
Plumbing and Mechanical Requirements
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Interior projects that include major plumbing
or mechanical work will usually require
collaboration with a professional engineer.
Smaller project such as adding a break room
sink or moving a supply vent will only require
a licensed plumbing or mechanical
contractor.
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Table 403.1 on page 314 identifies the
number of: (based on occupancy loads)
Round any fractions up
 Water closets
 Lavatories
 Bathtubs or showers
 Drinking fountains
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School with 680 occupants
Divide in half: 340 male and 340 female
Refer to educational (E ) occupancy in the
table
Table states: water closets and lavatories are
1 per 50
340 / 50 = 6.8 – round up to 7
Drinking fountains are 1 per 100 680/100 =
6.8 or 7
1 service sink is required
Male / female ratios: if not specified, divide the
number equally
 You can combine restroom into one common
room as long as path of travel does not exceed
500 feet; 300’ in covered malls
 Private bath facility cannot be deducted from
requirement
 Unisex allowed in smaller sq. footages and
occupancies and must be accessible.
 Can provide two separate toilet facilities for
employees and customers
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Required for every floor.
Elongate bowl with
hinged seat and open
front
Min. of 15” to side wall
and at least 21” in front of
bowl (non-accessible)
Accessible toilets require
at least 18” (range of 16 –
18”)
Toilet height is 17 – 19
inches
Typical accessible space is
60 x 56”
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Not required for every occupancy
Typically found in schools, restaurants, clubs,
lounges, transportation terminals,
auditoriums, theaters and churches.
When used, they are substituted for one or
more of the required water closets
Privacy panels are required when more than
one urinal is used.
Provide a 30 x 48 space in front of accessible
urinal
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Codes require fewer
lavatories than toilets.
Sensor-type help reduce
water consumption
Level handles, push type or
automatic
One lavatory must be
accessible on each floor
Accessible space 30 x 48”
Hot water pipes must be
covered with a removable
panel
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Include service sinks, utility sinks, kitchen
sinks, laundry basins
Most occupancies require a janitors sink
which does not have to be accessible.
Breakroom sinks should be accessible: 34”
AFF, 25” deep max with a 30 x 48” front
approach and 19” deep kneespace
Can nor use doors that open and provide
clearance with covered pipes.
6 ½ “ deep sink for ADA
Required on each floor of a building
Some allow water coolers to substitute – verify
with the code official first.
 Cannot be inside a public toilet room or the
vestibule leading to the toilet
 Usually located in the hallway outside the
restroom area
 Caution: protruding object rule: Not more than
4” into path of travel
 Alcoves must be a minimum of 36” wide and
provide at least 30 x 48” clear floor space
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Most common in hotels, dormitories,
apartment buildings and institutional
facilities
Showers can be used to replace a tub
Accessible tubs require hand-held shower
sprays (60” hose), a seat, grab bars, clear
floor space of 30 x 48”
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Used in hotels, and institutional facilities as
well as gymnasiums, health clubs, and in
some manufacturing plants where people are
exposed to skin contamination.
Accessible showers are either transfer or rollin type
Transfer: 36 x 36 minimum with 36 x 48 clear
floor area and a fixed or folding shower seat.
Roll-in: 30 x 60” with 36 x 60” clear floor
space (seats are optional)
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Privacy from outside is required – should not
be able to look directly into a toilet facility
Use a vestibule or walls to provide privacy.
Doors must have a closure
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Must be accessible
Doors swinging into
accessible restrooms or
stalls cannot reduce the
clear floor space required
at the sink or interfere
with the turning space.
Always draw in the clear
floor space and turning
circle to indicate
compliance.
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Stalls must be used
At least one stall must be accessible
Six or more, at least two are accessible – one
ambulatory stall and one W.C. stall.
There must be a 60” turning circle in the
room and clear 30 x 48” floor space at all
areas (lavatory, urinal, and accessory units.)
Refer to page 336 for floor plan.
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Includes a shower or bathtub.
A certain percentage will be required to be
accessible
Floor drain may be required in multiple toilet
facilities
See pages 339 and 340 for examples
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Smooth, hard, non-absorbent surfaces
 Floor surfaces should extend up the wall at least
4”
 Walls must have smooth, hard, nonabsorbent
finishes around urinals, toilet fixtures, tubs and
showers.
 Stalls should be impervious such as laminate,
stainless steel, solid surface, painted metal.
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Regulated by ADA
Mirrors, dispensers, receptacles, disposal units, air
hand dryers, vending machines, etc.
All accessories must be accessible in single-toilet
rooms.
At least one of each type should be accessible in
multi-fixture rooms.
4” limit on projections in circulation path
Work within accessible reach ranges
Grab bars require at all accessible toilets, showers and
tubs. 33” – 36” AFF
Refer to page 344 for installation heights of
accessories
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Installation heights for
accessories
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Required by code
Non-accessible
facilities should have
sign indicating the
location of the
accessible stall
International symbol
of Accessibility should
be use and on the stall
door that is accessible.
Locate signs between
48 – 60” AFF on the
latch side of the door