Concrete, grout and mortar have
traditionally been accepted for
protecting the annular spaces
in penetrations of concrete and
masonry walls due to both test-
ing and empirical experience
and because these materials
form a hard barrier that remains
in place and does not contract
or open up during fire exposure.
When using this part of the ex-
ception, code users should re-
member that provisions such
as IPC Section 305.2 require
piping to be installed to prevent
damage to the system that
may occur from building move-
ment or the expansion and con-
traction of the piping system.
Therefore, if the penetrating
item is expected to move during
the life of the building, then pro-
visions should be made to ac-
commodate that movement so
that neither the firestop nor the
piping is damaged. This may
involve changes in the piping
design, so it can move and not
place stresses on the pipe, or
pull it away from, or break the
surrounding concrete, mortar or
grout protection.
Item 2 provides a number of options but may not be as easy to
comply with as some people believe. While Item 1 provides a spe-
cific listing of acceptable materials to fill the annular space, Item
2 can allow virtually any material if tested as specified. And, while
it limits the penetrants to steel, ferrous or copper pipes, tubes or
conduits, it does not restrict the size as in Item 1. Item 2 does, how-
ever, impose a specific performance requirement and therefore the
designer would need to submit evidence that the material used to
fill the annular space adequately prevent the passage of flame and
hot gases sufficient to ignite cotton waste.