300.21 code question

[lesaew]

My question is on Electrical sub panels in the interior of buildings. Usually in storage rooms with suspended ceilings. Do conduit penetrations through ceiling tiles need to be sealed with fire blocking? I have a fire marshal wanting this done. Ceiling tiles are not considered fire rated ceilings ware they?


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[roger]

Some lay in ceilings can be rated, you would have to see the original designs to know.

Roger

 

[Joe.B]

There are legitimate reasons that they could be requiring this.

 

[infinity]

I would ask for a code reference this sounds bogus. Do storage room even require ceilings?

 

[jim dungar]

There are legitimate reasons that they could be requiring this.

Yeah, like to reduce the spread of smoke.

 

[hbiss]

Do conduit penetrations through ceiling tiles need to be sealed with fire blocking?

I don't remember ever seeing a fire rated hung ceiling. There are lots of ceiling tile that are fire resistant, and that's to reduce the spread of flame as well as maintaining ceiling integrity as long as possible during a fire. Possibly that's what you are working with?

In most instances, the space above a hung ceiling is used for the HVAC environmental air return and as such there are open grills all over. If that's the case, openings around conduit penetrations are irrelevant.

-Hal

 

[DrSparks]

My question is on Electrical sub panels in the interior of buildings. Usually in storage rooms with suspended ceilings. Do conduit penetrations through ceiling tiles need to be sealed with fire blocking? I have a fire marshal wanting this done. Ceiling tiles are not considered fire rated ceilings ware they?


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Only if it's a fire rated ceiling.

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[lesaew]

There are legitimate reasons that they could be requiring this.

Maybe but I am just trying to filter out whether this Fire Marshal is just wet behind the ears and just pointing things out or whether he has a legitimate reason. But all I get out of him is penetrations need to be fire blocked. I am not an inspector but as an Electrician I am not used to seeing drop in ceiling panel penetrations fire blocked. I have 30 plus buildings that have similar penetrations and all the fire marshals before him never said a thing about it. I understand if it is a fireproof ceiling but I am not sure standard drop in ceilings are fireproof rated.


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[lesaew]

I don't remember ever seeing a fire rated hung ceiling. There are lots of ceiling tile that are fire resistant, and that's to reduce the spread of flame as well as maintaining ceiling integrity as long as possible during a fire. Possibly that's what you are working with?

In most instances, the space above a hung ceiling is used for the HVAC environmental air return and as such there are open grills all over. If that's the case, openings around conduit penetrations are irrelevant.

-Hal

These spaces are used as return air. There are return air grills in the halls.


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[Joe.B]

What's the scope of work? New construction?

 

[roger]

These spaces are used as return air. There are return air grills in the halls.


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Then they definitely are not fire resistant or rated. As mentioned in Jim's post #5, maybe in the rooms where these panels are located there is a concern of smoke spread and he is just wanting them draft stopped.

Roger

 

[lesaew]

Then they definitely are not fire resistant or rated. As mentioned in Jim's post #5, maybe in the rooms where these panels are located there is a concern of smoke spread and he is just wanting them draft stopped.

Roger

Is there a code requirement for that? Just asking out of curiosity.


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[roger]

Is there a code requirement for that? Just asking out of curiosity.


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In some instances there are codes requiring certain areas or suites isolated and sealed, but with that said, IMO if he is asking for it he should be professional enough to give you the code and section he is trying to enforce. You might be right that he is wet behind the ears and just thinks he has the authority to have you do something he wants with no actual substantiation.

Roger

 

[DrSparks]

Fire stopping is required when penetrating a fire barrier, plain and simple. Some ceiling grids are rated to be and uses as a fire barrier. If it's not, you should not need any fire stop.

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