Excerpts from 2000 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE®

711.3 Fire-resistance-rated walls.

Penetrations into or through fire walls, fire barriers, smoke barrier walls, and fire partitions shall comply with this section.

711.3.1 Through penetrations.

Through penetrations of fire-resistance-rated  walls  shall  comply  with Section 711.3.1.1 or 711.3.1.2.

Exception: Where the penetrating items are steel, fer- rous or copper pipes or steel conduits, the annular space between the penetrating item and the fire-resistance- rated wall shall be permitted to be protected as follows:

1. In concrete or masonry walls where the penetrating item is a maximum 6-inch (152 mm) nominal diameter and the opening is a maximum 144 square inches (0.0929 m2), concrete, grout or mortar shall be permitted where installed the full thickness of the wall or the thickness required to maintain the fire-resistance rating; or

2. The material used to fill the annular space shall prevent the passage of flame and hot gases sufficient to ignite cotton waste where subjected to ASTM E 119 time temperature fire conditions under a minimum positive pressure differential of 0.01 inch (2.49 Pa) of water at the location of the penetration for the time period equivalent to the fire-resistance rating of the construction penetrated.

711.3.1.1 Fire-resistance-rated assemblies.

Penetrations shall be installed as tested in an approved fire-resistance-rated assembly.

711.3.1.2 Through-penetration firestop system.

Through penetrations shall be protected by an approved penetration firestop system installed as tested in accordance with ASTM E 814, with a minimum positive pressure differential of 0.01 inch (2.49 Pa) of water and shall have an F rating of not less than the required fire-resistance rating of the wall penetrated.

711.3.2 Membrane penetrations.

Membrane penetrations shall comply with Section 711.3.1. Where walls and partitions are required to have a minimum 1-hour fire-resistance rating, recessed fixtures shall be installed such that the required fire resistance will not be reduced.

Exceptions:

1. Steel electrical boxes that do not exceed 16 square inches (0.0103 m²) in area provided the total area of such openings does not exceed 100 square inches (0.0645 m²) for any 100 square feet (9.29 m²) of wall area. Outlet boxes on opposite sides of the wall shall be separated as follows:

1.1. By a horizontal distance of not less than 24 inches (610 mm);

1.2. By a horizontal distance of not less than the depth of the wall cavity where the wall cavity is filled with cellulose loose-fill or mineral fiber insulation;

1.3. By solid fire-blocking in accordance with Section 716.2.1; or

1.4. By other listed materials and methods.

2. Membrane penetrations for listed electrical outlet boxes of any material are permitted 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.

3. The annular space created by the penetration of a fire sprinkler provided it is covered by a metal escutcheon plate.

711.3.3 Ducts and air transfer openings.

Penetrations of fire-resistance-rated walls by ducts and air transfer openings that are not protected with fire dampers shall comply with this section.

711.3.4 Dissimilar materials.

Noncombustible penetrating items shall not connect to combustible items beyond the point of firestopping unless it can be demonstrated that the fire-resistance integrity of the wall is maintained.