firestop

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jxofaltrds said:
No but the walls are:
http://www.awc.org/Publications/dca/dca3/DCA3.pdf

R502.13 Fireblocking required.

Fireblocking shall be provided in wood-frame floor construction and floor-ceiling assemblies in accordance with Section R602.8.
R602.8 Fireblocking required.

Fireblocking shall be provided to cut off all concealed draft openings (both vertical and horizontal) and to form an effective fire barrier between stories, and between a top story and the roof space. Fireblocking shall be provided in wood-frame construction in the following locations.
1. In concealed spaces of stud walls and partitions, including furred spaces and parallel rows of studs or staggered studs; as follows:
1.1. Vertically at the ceiling and floor levels.
1.2. Horizontally at intervals not exceeding 10 feet (3048 mm).
2. At all interconnections between concealed vertical and horizontal spaces such as occur at soffits, drop ceilings and cove ceilings.
3. In concealed spaces between stair stringers at the top and bottom of the run. Enclosed spaces under stairs shall comply with Section R311.2.2.
4. At openings around vents, pipes, and ducts at ceiling and floor level, with an approved material to resist the free passage of flame and products of combustion.
5. For the fireblocking of chimneys and fireplaces, see Section R1001.16.
6. Fireblocking of cornices of a two-family dwelling is required at the line of dwelling unit separation.



FIREBLOCKING. Building materials installed to resist the free passage of flame to other areas of the building through concealed spaces.
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So can I use White Lightning caulk and Great Stuff foam or not?
 
Dave, in reality you could use mineral wool or even plane jane fiberglass insulation to stuff in the holes, but caulk or foam is not as itchy. ;)

Roger
 
jxofaltrds said:
How do we address 300.21?
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There are no fire rated walls in a single family dwelling except a wall that separates an attached garage wall.

jxofaltrds said:
R502.13 Fireblocking required.
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Building codes not something for an electrician but instead this would fall on the person who obtained a building permit.

readydave8 said:
Builder finished and got paid probably 50 years ago. Most of the holes were drilled by the original electrician, we changed out the wiring.
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Someone got a building permit for this job to open the wall I do hope. Being that the draft stop is a building issue it would fall on the one who bought that building permit not the one who is doing the electrical work.
Yes I understand that you drilled the holes and should be the one to do the repair but that is not what is in question. What is in question is can the electrical inspector hold your electrical inspection for the draft stopping and the answer is no or at least here it would be no.
 
The inspector does not care who patches the holes or who made them. He will simply tell you till the holes are patched he is not signing the job off. Now its back to you and who ever your getting your check from. Work it out and when fixed call inspector back. Give you a clue that the inspector will not fix them.
 
jwelectric said:

There are no fire rated walls in a single family dwelling except a wall that separates an attached garage wall.



Building codes not something for an electrician but instead this would fall on the person who obtained a building permit.



Someone got a building permit for this job to open the wall I do hope. Being that the draft stop is a building issue it would fall on the one who bought that building permit not the one who is doing the electrical work.
Yes I understand that you drilled the holes and should be the one to do the repair but that is not what is in question. What is in question is can the electrical inspector hold your electrical inspection for the draft stopping and the answer is no or at least here it would be no.
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Here they would not sign off. How else will he know they been fixed ? The job is not held up because of him. It is held up because job is not ready for drywall no matter who fixes the holes. Fix them or get GC to have them fixed.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
Here they would not sign off. How else will he know they been fixed ? The job is not held up because of him. It is held up because job is not ready for drywall no matter who fixes the holes. Fix them or get GC to have them fixed.
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Jim,
I am not totally sure about Florida but if memory serves me this would be a building issue down there and could be contested should some electrical inspector say one word about a hole drilled and not draft stopped. :-?
 
jwelectric said:
Jim,
I am not totally sure about Florida but if memory serves me this would be a building issue down there and could be contested should some electrical inspector say one word about a hole drilled and not draft stopped. :-?
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I had one go as far as placing stop work order on a 4 plex that needed draft register for AC. Luckily a friend so got him to first sign my work off so i get paid.

Another time job got stop work order cause pool started with no poermit.

They can play hard a--- when needed
 
jwelectric said:
Jim,
I am not totally sure about Florida but if memory serves me this would be a building issue down there and could be contested should some electrical inspector say one word about a hole drilled and not draft stopped. :-?
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That's not correct. Remember there wasn't a hole there until you drilled it, why should the carpenter be responsilbe for what you do?

Smoke alarms are not in the electrical code, but they are your responsibilty, as are exit lights and fire stopping. I won't sign your electrical off if the firestopping isn't done at rough electrical (where it's required).

Just because it's not in the electrical code doesn't mean you're not responsible.
 
cowboyjwc said:
That's not correct. Remember there wasn't a hole there until you drilled it, why should the carpenter be responsilbe for what you do?

Smoke alarms are not in the electrical code, but they are your responsibilty, as are exit lights and fire stopping. I won't sign your electrical off if the firestopping isn't done at rough electrical (where it's required).

Just because it's not in the electrical code doesn't mean you're not responsible.
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I agree,

Now it is easy for me as I am a combination inspector and wear lots of hats.:)

I would just switch to my building inspectors hat from my electrical inspectors hat.:D

Chris
 
jwelectric said:

There are no fire rated walls in a single family dwelling except a wall that separates an attached garage wall.



Building codes not something for an electrician but instead this would fall on the person who obtained a building permit.



Someone got a building permit for this job to open the wall I do hope. Being that the draft stop is a building issue it would fall on the one who bought that building permit not the one who is doing the electrical work.
Yes I understand that you drilled the holes and should be the one to do the repair but that is not what is in question. What is in question is can the electrical inspector hold your electrical inspection for the draft stopping and the answer is no or at least here it would be no.
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300.21 Electrical installations in hollow spaces, vertical shafts, and ventilation or air-handing ducts shall be made so that the possible spread of fire or combustion will not be substantially increased.

You say that the BI is responsible for this inspection correct? Does he inspect to see if the holes we drill through cold air returns are filled? Maybe, maybe not.
Isn't very important to fill these holes?

Back to the OP. Does the EI have the right to inspect this? I say yes.
 
As to not know codes other than your trade.

In a remodel I had only one place to set the panel. The HVAC contractor was going to mess up my clearance. Rather than getting into a peeing contest with him I made sure my panel was in and inspected before he finished this work.

Well he had to move his ductwork. The inspector made him responsible for knowing where his equipment was allowed to be installed.

Tough lesson. Yes. Next time try to work with other trades.
 
jxofaltrds said:
How do we address 300.21?
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That is a good point that is being missed here by some. The second sentence of that paragraph deals with fire rated construction and there isn't any in a typical single family home, but I don't seen anything in the first sentence that limits its application to fire rated construction. The first sentence is basically saying the same thing as the building code references, so the requirement that fire blocking be maintained is in the NEC as well.
 
raider1 said:
I agree,

Now it is easy for me as I am a combination inspector and wear lots of hats.:)

I would just switch to my building inspectors hat from my electrical inspectors hat.:D

Chris
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:D That works. We were doing a large multi family and the electrician told me I couldn't hold him up on the fire caulking as the building inspector would get it. I told him the building inspector had enough to look at and told him, what I said, the framer didn't drill that hole, you did.
 
cowboyjwc said:
:D That works. We were doing a large multi family and the electrician told me I couldn't hold him up on the fire caulking as the building inspector would get it. I told him the building inspector had enough to look at and told him, what I said, the framer didn't drill that hole, you did.
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Thats when you should give him the 3 hour inspection.
 
who does the firestopping/fireblocking then ?

who does the firestopping/fireblocking then ?

As the owner of a firestop specialist contracting company, I hope you all would hire me to do it :grin:

Seriously though, in every jurisdictional I know of codes do not designate who does what work, only how the work shall be done.

Locals laws might might limit who is allowed to do certain work by requiring individuals to be licensed for a particular trade (electrician, gas fitter etc), but those laws do not limit you to only acting as an electrician, you can also perform the firestoppnig/fireblocking (an unlicensed trade) if required.

And how would you be required? Your contract will tell you. If your the only trade on a job then it's hard to tell the inspector (or your client) you're not going to seal the entry (caulkers job) install the backboard (carpenters) or do the cut and patching (drywaller and painters work).

The inspector does not care who does the work only that the work is done.

So do as my 3 year old says and "suck it up buttercup", get out the can of goop or the mess in a tube and fill those holes. Fireblocking typically only needs to meet he ASTM E136 standard for non-combustibility and there are many products specifically design for the application.

It also gives you guys another optional line item to charge for on your quotes! $$$

Or better yet, look up someone like me you does it for a living. www.fcia.org is a great fireplace to find local contractors
 
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