Replies

1. 
   seeyou | May 13, 2009 12:31pm | #1

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2. 
   IronHelix | May 13, 2009 01:42pm | #2

   What do your local building codes require? These codes vary from city to city!

   What system of building are you using? Stairwell design? HVAC details?

   Please fill out your profile so we know where you live.

    

   .......Iron Helix

3. 
   john7g | May 13, 2009 02:07pm | #3

   IIRC IRC 2006 says (I might be forgetting something so the real answer comes from your BI)

   if your floor is open web trusses make the areas no larger than 1000ft²

   stud wall cavities taller than 10ft

   walls to ceilings (usualy intact top plates cover this but let someone hack the top plate to get their mechanicals run through there and you then have to come up with a solution)

   soffits/tray ceilings that let the flame bypass the top plates mentioned above (DW or 1/2" ply scraps with seams breaking on studs/joists covers that)

   penetrations through ceilings & floors (incl top & bottom plates) (fire stop caulk works good for the smaller gaps, ply shaped to the intruder and then caulk for larger gaps)

   tops & bottoms of stair runs that have rock attached to the bottoms of the stringers but this is usally covered by traditionally built stairs where the stringer rests on the joists of the upper floor and sits on a the floor or landing of the lower floor. 

   and then their's chimneys which I don't stay familiar with.

   To help me find the places that need attention befroe the BI points them out to me I figure I have to prevent/slow/contain the spread of the flame through the walls into the ceilings or other floors and to protect the paths of escape during a a fire. 

   try this for your tall stud cacities to speed up the process

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4. 
   MSA1 | May 13, 2009 03:29pm | #4

   My understanding of firestopping is no in wall floor to floor penetrations left open.

   I cant imagine it would change for a three floor building.

    

   Family.....They're always there when they need you.

5. 
   JohnFinn | May 13, 2009 05:31pm | #5

   R602.8 Fireblocking required.

   Fireblocking shall be provided to cut off all concealed draft openings (both vertical and horizontal) and to form an effective fire barrier between stories, and between a top story and the roof space. Fireblocking shall be provided in wood-frame construction in the following locations.

   1. In concealed spaces of stud walls and partitions, including furred spaces and parallel rows of studs or staggered studs; as follows:

   1.1. Vertically at the ceiling and floor levels.

   1.2. Horizontally at intervals not exceeding 10 feet (3048 mm).

   2. At all interconnections between concealed vertical and horizontal spaces such as occur at soffits, drop ceilings and cove ceilings.

   3. In concealed spaces between stair stringers at the top and bottom of the run. Enclosed spaces under stairs shall comply with Section R311.2.2.

   4. At openings around vents, pipes, ducts, cables and wires at ceiling and floor level, with an approved material to resist the free passage of flame and products of combustion.

   5. For the fireblocking of chimneys and fireplaces, see Section R1003.19.

   6. Fireblocking of cornices of a two-family dwelling is required at the line of dwelling unit separation.

6. 
   Huck | May 13, 2009 06:05pm | #6

   I believe the criteria is to block air flow between vertical (wall) and horizontal (ceiling) assemblies, and between floors.

   edited to add: I think Tim Uhler wrote an article on this (fireblocking) in JLC recently.

   "...craftsmanship is first & foremost an expression of the human spirit." - P. Korn

   bakersfieldremodel.com

   
   

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   Edited 5/13/2009 11:07 am by Huck

7. 
   Piffin | May 13, 2009 06:31pm | #7

   The point made about checking your local jurisdiction interpretations is good.

   For instance, I have worked where any stud wall over 8' tall needs to be broken with FS blocking, but the code quoted here is only walls over 10' tall

    

    

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1. 
   frammer52 | May 13, 2009 08:43pm | #8

   but the code quoted here is only walls over 10' tall>>..

   We failed an inspection because our inspector in one town said it was 9".

   We did it and asked him for the reference, this was 5 yrs ago, and he still hasn't got back to us.>G<

1. 
   Piffin | May 13, 2009 09:01pm | #9

   Now that I think of it, this was on condos. I wonder it it varies for multifamily dwelling units rather than a single family home. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   frammer52 | May 13, 2009 09:06pm | #10

   Can't answer that.  I know we use the same codes.  Only thing different is we follow OSHA rules better because condos are a little more high profile!

2. 
   JohnFinn | May 13, 2009 11:13pm | #11

   R-2 is primarily the same per 2006 IBC (below). Forgot to reference in my previous post the code listed is 2006 IRC (one and two family dwellings).717.2 Fireblocking.In combustible construction, fireblocking shall be installed to cut off concealed draft openings (both vertical and horizontal) and shall form an effective barrier between floors, between a top story and a roof or attic space. Fireblocking shall be installed in the locations specified in Sections 717.2.2 through 717.2.7.
   717.2.2 Concealed wall spaces. Fireblocking shall be provided in concealed spaces of stud walls and partitions, including furred spaces, and parallel rows of studs or staggered studs, as follows: 1. Vertically at the ceiling and floor levels. 2. Horizontally at intervals not exceeding 10 feet (3048 mm)