Fire Stops In Walls

Firestops are designed to maintain the fireproofing of a wall or floor assembly allowing it to impede the spread of fire and smoke.

Fire stops in walls.

Fire blocking is a blocking device inserted between the top plate of your exterior wall and the exterior masonry wall. The cables cable trays or conduits that make up the object creating the penetration. Fire stopping has three elements. Fire blocking isn t something you ll see at the home depot labeled fire stopping stuff or fire block.

It s purpose is to prevent the spread of smoke and flames from reaching the bottom of the 1st floor of your home from the basement area thereby burning through and spreading to the 1st floor of the home. All modern american building codes requires fire stopping devices be incorporated in certain walls floors and attics. 3m fire barrier blocks plugs planks and fire rated foam 4 3m fire barrier composite sheets mortar and pillows 7 3m fire barrier devices 19 3m fire barrier door window and fire rated safe gasket materials 3 3m fire barrier endothermic mat and associated products 9 3m fire barrier grease and air duct wrap products 4. These fire stops prevent fire from moving too easily up a wall to the room above or into another area of the house.

Fire blocking is needed when wood and steel stud walls only have drywall on one side because the fire is now able to go around the top plate and up into the framing above. If a fire starts within the wall the top block stops the fire from getting into the attic. It s just material drywall in my case that s nailed into the gap between your top plate of your framed walls and the foundation of your house. In a fire situation the sleeve expands to fill the available space between the service and the substrate.

A firestop or fire stopping is a form of passive fire protection that is used to seal around openings and between joints in a fire resistance rated wall or floor assembly. And the materials and methods used to seal the penetrations to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. We provide a comprehensive portfolio of fire smoke and sound resistant and watertight sprays caulks sealants and tapes for interior construction joint and perimeter curtain wall applications. It s important to add solid wood blocking as well if floor joists intersect a wall so that the fire can t go up a wall and then sideways in between floor or ceiling joists.

In modern residential home design this is most commonly achieved in walls by continuous 2x4 or 2x6 top and bottom plates that separate studs from the joists above. Most walls in a house have a double top plate and drywall on both sides so if fire gets inside the wall it can t get past the top plates these walls are naturally fire blocked.