Identification Sign in Accessible Concealed Space
This type of marking is only required where access to the concealed
space is available through, for example, an access opening or a
suspended acoustical tile ceiling system. If the concealed space
is not accessible (such as in situations where a gypsum ceiling
is installed directly to the bottom of floor joists in a floor/ceiling
system), then the marking is not required since the assumption
is that people will be unable to enter the space and poke holes
through the assembly. Section 703.7 does provide specific lettering
sizes, wording and locations to draw attention to the wall protection
requirements.
One last code section to discuss is the maintenance requirements
for fire-resistance-rated assemblies from Section 703.1 of the
International Fire Code (IFC). This section requires that the fire-
resistance rating of the construction “including … firestops … and
fire-resistant joint systems” is to be maintained. The requirements
further state, “such elements shall be visually inspected by the
owner annually and properly repaired, restored, or replaced where
damaged, altered, breached or penetrated.” This requirement for
annual inspection is not applicable if the penetrations are in an area
that is concealed and not accessible. This would coordinate with
the logic from Section 703.7, which assumes that, if the space is
not accessible, people have not gotten into the area and poked any
additional holes or penetrations through the assembly.
IFC Section 703.1 requires if the annual inspection finds additional
holes have been made, “openings made therein for the passage
of pipes, electrical conduit, wires, ducts, air transfer openings and
holes made for any reason shall be protected with approved methods
capable of resisting the passage of smoke and fire.”