Fire Protection of Construction Joints

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Question: Why So Much Concern About

Fire-Resistive Construction Joints?

Answer: Because
Joints Move and
may present a
weakness in fire
containment
Saving Lives and Property
Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Where Do I Find These Applications?

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Construction Joint Terminology

D

A Overall depth of concrete floor assembly

B Flute depth
C Joint width
D Minimum concrete depth
E - Valley

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Construction Joint Terminology

Assembly Rating
Movement
Nominal Joint Width
Extension
Compression
Percent (%) Extension / Compression
Mineral Wool Compression
Sealant Depth
Saving Lives and Property
Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Tests for Fire Resistance of

Building Joint Systems
Standards:

ASTM E 1966
UL 2079

Test Items:

Building Joint Systems Including:

floor-to-floor
floor-to-wall
head-of-wall
wall-to-wall

Report:
4 hours

Fire rating in hours, i.e., 1, 2, 3 or

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Tests for Fire Resistance of

Building Joint Systems
ASTM E 1966 & UL 2079
All Model Building Codes Now Require
Cycling per ASTM E 1399
Time temperature curve (ASTM E 119)
Must meet Assembly Rating (T Rating) criteria
250 F + ambient average (ASTM E 1966)
Any 1 thermocouple over 325 F + initial temp (UL 2079)
Hose stream applicable to walls and wall tops
Saving Lives and Property
Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Building Construction and

Materials Fire Tests:
Joint Systems (ASTM E1966, UL 2079)

ASTM E 119
UL 263
NFPA 251

Through-Penetration
Firestop: (ASTM E 814,
UL 1479)
Fire Inside

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

ASTM E 1399
Cyclic Movement and Measuring the Minimum and
Maximum Joint Widths of Architectural Joint Systems
No. of Cycles

Rate
(Cycles/Min.)

Thermal Expansion/Contraction

500

Seismic

100

30

Wind Sway

500

10

Combination

100
400

30
10

Joint Type

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Joints in Action

Floor/wall assembly
Backer (Mineral Wool)
Firestop

Minimum Joint Width:

Sealant Compressed - thickest
Mineral wool Compressed - most dense

Nominal Joint Width:

Sealant As installed
Mineral wool As installed
Maximum Joint Width:
Sealant Stretched - thinnest
Mineral wool Stretched
-least dense

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

How Firestop Joint Systems are

Listed
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
Letters

Numbers

FF - Floor to Floor

0000 - 0999 < 2

FW - Floor to Wall

1000 - 1999 < 2 < 6

HW - Head of Wall

2000 - 2999 < 6 < 12

WW - Wall to Wall

3000 - 3999 < 12 < 24

D - Dynamic

4000 - 4999 < 24

S - Static

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

For proper installation

practices, always refer to
manufacturers
installation instructions
and test laboratory
listing.
Saving Lives and Property
Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Fluted Deck with Sprayed-On Fireproofing

Concrete

Fireproofing

Wall Parallel
to Flutes
Mineral
Wool
Packing

Concrete

Firestop
Spray
Fireproofing

Firestop
Spray

Wall Perpendicular
to Flutes

Fire Rated
Block Wall

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

Mineral
Wool
Packing

2004 IFC

About the IFC

The International Firestop Council is a not-for-profit association of manufacturers,
distributors and installers of fire protective materials and systems.
IFC's mission is to promote the technology of fire containment in modern building
construction through research, education and development of safety standards and
code provisions.
Website - www.firestop.org
Email - Info@firestop.org
Voting Members

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC

Available educational seminars on

our website include..
Firestop 101 An introduction to firestopping
Perimeter Curtain Wall Fire Protection
Firestop System Selection
Flexible Duct Wrap Systems
Fire Protection of Construction Joints

Saving Lives and Property

Through Fire and Smoke Containment

2004 IFC