Therefore, it is important to find a perimeter fire containment system
that has been evaluated using the same conditions as those in
the actual construction. It is also important to find a system that
describes a curtain wall attachment method consistent with what is
being constructed. The attachment method has proven to be one of
the most critical factors relating to the performance of the system.
The floor requirements of Section 715.4 are split into two parts.
Section 715.4.1 applies to situations where the floor assembly does
not have a fire-resistance rating, while Section 715.4 deals with rated
floor assemblies. The code expects the voids to be filled regardless
of whether the floor is rated or not, but the primary difference is that
the code expects a tested system to fill the void where a rated floor
system is used (see Section 715.4), while Section 715.4.1 for non-
rated floors will only require an “approved” material or system.
Where a fire-resistance-rated floor or floor/ceiling assembly is used,
any void between the floor and an exterior wall must be protected
using a perimeter fire containment system that has been tested to
the ASTM E 2307 standard and provides an F rating that is equal
or greater than the fire-resistance rating of the floor. The ASTM E
2307 test is titled the Standard Test Method for Determining Fire-
resistance of Perimeter Fire Barriers Using Intermediate-Scale,
Multistory Test Apparatus.
This test standard was developed specifically to evaluate the ability
of a perimeter fire containment system to prevent the passage of
flame and hot gases at the interface between a fire-resistance-rated
horizontal assembly and a non-fire-resistance-rated exterior curtain
wall. Figure 5.6 shows the details of the test furnace used with the
ASTM E 2307 test. One item to be aware of is that the test was
developed to address the void space between the interior surface of
the wall assembly and the adjacent edge of the floor.
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