Anybody know of a fireproof sealant for holes that the electricians and plumbers drill between floors? Specifically, I need to seal the holes where my Pex tubing comes up through the framing, but I was told not to use a petroleum-based product on Pex. Someone said to look for a fireproof form of rockwool called “firesafing”, but I can’t seem to find it. Help please.
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Replies
3M makes a line of products that might help you.
http://www.roancorp.com/3m.html
Check out the caulk isle in your local big box hardware store. Both HD and Lowes have the stuff you are looking for. The two brands I saw, both places had a selection, were 3M and RedDevil in an easy water clean up formula, might be good around plastics, that dries pink or red. It's about as expensive as a good caulk. Inspectors like to see the stuff used to fill holes in top and bottom plates.
Used to be inspectors would let you use silicon caulk. No great break there as the silicon is more expensive than this purpose built stuff. Any more the fire stop caulk is all they want to see.
3M Firecaulk at Home Depot is $9.97 a tube. Pink color. They also have a tube of yellow stuff at $6.97 but although it SAYS on the tube it's for firestopping I'll bet the inspectors want to see pink. Same price ($9.97) for a tube at Conspec, a local specialty sealant company. If there is a hole thru a plate, even if it's empty, the inspectors demand it be filled.
Have you checked the manufacturers specs for firestop istallation on Pex?..It isn't just a matter of laying a bead of caulk. You need clearance holes and backer rod for most penetrations, some situations you will need rock wool in addition to the caulk.
Quittintime
I used metacaulk on my duplex project to provide a 1 hour rating between floors. Wish I had tried this forum before I did all the research for my submitalls to the city inspectors.
If you are building a rated assembly (why else would this come up?) you'll need to submit spec sheets for each type of penetration.
The 3M products do require a 1/4" clearance hole around a plastic pipe. You then install a somewhat flexible collar around the pipe and tie it with wire. Since I didn't give any thought to this until after the plumber ran the PEX it would have required pulling all the pipe back out and re drilling the holes. This led to one of many sleepless nights. Oh the joys of owner-building.
Anyway, go to http://www.rectorseal.com/frstpn2.htm and check out their products. You can download all the spec sheets needed for your submittals and most penetrations are covered here. I found the product through their website at a local plumbuing supply house.