load centers in rated walls

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mshields

mshields

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Boston, MA
An architect asked me this afternoon if there was a load center product out there that could be mounted recessed into a 1 hour rated wall.

I've never heard of such a thing. Have any of you?

thanks,

Mike
 
I'm not aware of a load center that has a tested fire rating. This creates a problem when dealing with a wall that is required to have a fire rating.

However, under the IRC or IBC, the wall between the garage and the house is not required to be a 1 hour rated wall. No specific time rating is given. The garage is required to be separated from the house by not less than 1/2" gypsum board. This then becomes a judgement call on the part of the AHJ. Is the load center less able to resist the spread of fire than 1/2" gypsum board?
 
mshields said:
An architect asked me this afternoon if there was a load center product out there that could be mounted recessed into a 1 hour rated wall.
Click to expand...

A quick check in the UL "white book" didn't turn up any "fire-resistant panelboards". There may be a panelboard listed for such use, but I am unfamiliar with it. I know that where walls are required to have a minimum 1-hour fire-resistance rating, membrane penetrations by panelboards, IMO, would be a breech of the required FRR and would reduce the effectiveness of the wall cavity. For additional info refer to the IRC at R317.3.2 Membrane Penetrations.

This condition that I raise is also related to the one about having a kitchen exhaust fan vent thru the FRR wall into the residential auto garage which is also prohibited because it breeches the wall's rating and allows fire to easily communicate from space to space.:)
 
I should also mention that NY State has enhanced our RCNYS (the IRC with our amendments) at Section R309 to require vertical and horizontal fire-resistance ratings/protection that is not required in the IRC. :cool:
 
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