Ccarlson32
Member
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- Master electrician
I have surfed the forums with multiple opinions as this pertains more to IBC than NEC.
I have a fire rated floor/ceiling assembly that a customer would like recessed lights installed in.
To maintain the fire rating of the ceiling, would using a canless wafer light rated for 2 hours comply? And if we are installing recessed lighting that does not reduce the fire resistance of the fire wall can have multiple lights installed and not follow the maximum 16 sq in within 100sq ft exception correct? (ie, we can have 2 or 20 of these fire rated lights and not have to worry about the size of the penetrations because we are replacing it with listed fixture will not reduce the fire resistance.)
For the purposes of this thread, I was looking as using RAB FWAFER6. All FWAFER models have been tested to UL 263 and ASTM E119 standards for 2-hour fire resistance.
The other option would be to install 'fire hats' above non rated can/canless lights, or drywall box out the penetrations if I understand the code correctly.
Thanks
Section 714.4.2 addresses membrane penetrations into fire rated walls.
714.4.2 Membrane penetrations.
Penetrations of membranes that are part of a horizontal assembly shall comply with Section 714.4.1.1 or 714.4.1.2. Where floor/ceiling assemblies are required to have a fire-resistance rating, recessed fixtures shall be installed such that the required fire resistance will not be reduced.
Exceptions:
I have a fire rated floor/ceiling assembly that a customer would like recessed lights installed in.
To maintain the fire rating of the ceiling, would using a canless wafer light rated for 2 hours comply? And if we are installing recessed lighting that does not reduce the fire resistance of the fire wall can have multiple lights installed and not follow the maximum 16 sq in within 100sq ft exception correct? (ie, we can have 2 or 20 of these fire rated lights and not have to worry about the size of the penetrations because we are replacing it with listed fixture will not reduce the fire resistance.)
For the purposes of this thread, I was looking as using RAB FWAFER6. All FWAFER models have been tested to UL 263 and ASTM E119 standards for 2-hour fire resistance.
The other option would be to install 'fire hats' above non rated can/canless lights, or drywall box out the penetrations if I understand the code correctly.
Thanks
Section 714.4.2 addresses membrane penetrations into fire rated walls.
714.4.2 Membrane penetrations.
Penetrations of membranes that are part of a horizontal assembly shall comply with Section 714.4.1.1 or 714.4.1.2. Where floor/ceiling assemblies are required to have a fire-resistance rating, recessed fixtures shall be installed such that the required fire resistance will not be reduced.
Exceptions:
- 1.Membrane penetrations by steel, ferrous or copper conduits, pipes, tubes or vents, or concrete or masonry items where the annular space is protected either in accordance with Section 714.4.1 or to prevent the free passage of flame and the products of combustion. The aggregate area of the openings through the membrane shall not exceed 100 square inches (64 500 mm2) in any 100 square feet (9.3 m2) of ceiling area in assemblies tested without penetrations.
- 2.Ceiling membrane penetrations of maximum 2-hour horizontal assemblies by steel electrical boxes that do not exceed 16 square inches (10 323 mm2) in area, provided the aggregate area of such penetrations does not exceed 100 square inches (44 500 mm2) in any 100 square feet (9.29 m2) of ceiling area, and the annular space between the ceiling membrane and the box does not exceed 1/8 inch (3.2 mm).
- 3.Membrane penetrations by electrical boxes of any size or type, that have been listed as part of an opening protective material system for use in horizontal assemblies and are installed in accordance with the instructions included in the listing.
- 4.Membrane penetrations by listed electrical boxes of any material, provided such boxes have been tested for use in fire-resistance-rated assemblies and are installed in accordance with the instructions included in the listing. The annular space between the ceiling membrane and the box shall not exceed 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) unless listed otherwise.
- 5.The annular space created by the penetration of a fire sprinkler, provided it is covered by a metal escutcheon plate.
- 6.Noncombustible items that are cast into concrete building elements and that do not penetrate both top and bottom surfaces of the element.
- 7.The ceiling membrane of 1- and 2-hour fire-resistance-rated horizontal assemblies is permitted to be interrupted with the double wood top plate of a wall assembly that is sheathed with Type X gypsum wallboard, provided that all penetrating items through the double top plates are protected in accordance with Section 714.4.1.1 or 714.4.1.2 and the ceiling membrane is tight to the top plates.
