MALL
TENANT SPACE
JOINT PROTECTION REQUIRED
FOR FLOORS OUTSIDE OF
MALL
FLOORS “WITHIN” THE MALL
DO NOT REQUIRE FIRE-RESISTIVE
JOINT PROTECTION
(Fig 4.7 Floor Joints Within a Mall)
When using the calculated fire-resistance provisions of Section
722.2.1.3 for joints between concrete precast wall panels, the code
states that the unprotected joints are to be included when determining
the percentage of openings allowed by Table 705.8. In addition, the
fact that the exception in Section 715.3 allows a joint to be tested
and fire-resistance-rated from only one side at 5 feet appears to
indicate the code intends joints to be considered as openings and
included within the percentage of wall openings allowed by Section
705.8. If non-sprinklered buildings are allowed nonrated joints at 5
feet by Item 7 in Section 715.1, then there would be no reason for
the exception in Section 715.3 to address the nonsymmetrical joints
with a fire separation distance greater than 5 feet unless the joints
are expected to be considered as either protected or non-protected
openings by Section 705.8.