(See Note A-3.1.9.)

1. Except as provided in Sentences (2) to (5) and Article 3.1.9.4., penetrations of a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating shall be
   1. sealed by a fire stop that, when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, "Fire Tests of Firestop Systems," has an F rating not less than the fire-protection rating required for closures in the fire separation in conformance with Table 3.1.8.4., or
   2. cast in place (see Note A-3.1.9.1.(1)(b)). (See also Article 3.1.9.5. for requirements regarding penetrations by combustible drain, waste and vent piping.)
2. Penetrations of a firewall or a horizontal fire separation that is required to have a fire-resistance rating in conformance with Article 3.2.1.2. shall be sealed at the penetration by a fire stop that, when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, "Fire Tests of Firestop Systems," has an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating for the fire separation.
3. Penetrations of a fire separation in conformance with Sentence 3.6.4.2.(2) shall be sealed by a fire stop that, when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, "Fire Tests of Firestop Systems," has an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating for the fire separation of the assembly.
4. Sprinklers are permitted to penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without having to meet the fire stop requirements of Sentences (1) to (3), provided the annular space created by the penetration of a fire sprinkler is covered by a metal escutcheon plate in accordance with NFPA 13, "Installation of Sprinkler Systems."
5. Unless specifically designed with a fire stop, fire dampers are permitted to penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without having to meet the fire stop requirements of Sentences (1) to (3), provided the fire damper is installed in conformance with NFPA 80, "Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives."

1. Except as permitted by Articles 3.1.9.3. and 3.1.9.5., pipes, ducts, electrical outlet boxes, totally enclosed raceways or other similar service equipment that penetrate an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating shall be noncombustible, unless the assembly was tested incorporating that service equipment. (See Note A-3.1.9.2.(1).)

1. Optical fibre cables and electrical wires and cables in totally enclosed noncombustible raceways are permitted to penetrate an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2.
2. Except as permitted by Sentence (3), totally enclosed non-metallic raceways conforming to Article 3.1.5.23., optical fibre cables, and electrical wires and cables, single or grouped, with combustible insulation, jackets or sheathes that conform to the requirements of Clause 3.1.5.21.(1)(a) and that are not installed in totally enclosed noncombustible raceways are permitted to penetrate an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the overall diameter of the single or grouped wires or cables, or the raceways is not more than 25 mm.
3. Single conductor metal sheathed cables with combustible jacketting that are more than 25 mm in overall diameter are permitted to penetrate a fire separation required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the cables are not grouped and are spaced a minimum of 300 mm apart.
4. Combustible totally enclosed raceways that are embedded in a concrete floor slab are permitted in an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the concrete cover between the raceway and the bottom of the slab is not less than 50 mm.
5. Combustible outlet boxes are permitted in an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the opening through the membrane into the box is not more than 0.016 m2.

(See Note A-3.1.9.4.)

1. Except as provided in Sentence (2), outlet boxes are permitted to penetrate the membrane of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating, provided they are sealed at the penetration by a fire stop that has an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating of the fire separation when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, "Fire Tests of Firestop Systems."
2. Except as provided in Sentences 3.1.9.1.(2) and (3), noncombustible outlet boxes that penetrate a vertical fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating need not conform to Sentence (1), provided
   1. they do not exceed
      1. 0.016 m2 in area, and
      2. an aggregate area of 0.065 m2 in any 9.3 m2 of surface area, and
   2. the annular space between the membrane and the noncombustible electrical outlet boxes does not exceed 3 mm.
3. In addition to the requirements of Sentence (2), outlet boxes on opposite sides of a vertical fire separation having a fire-resistance rating shall be separated by
   1. a horizontal distance of not less than 600 mm, or
   2. a fire block conforming to Article 3.1.11.7.

1. Combustible sprinkler piping is permitted to penetrate a fire separation provided the fire compartments on each side of the fire separation are sprinklered.
2. Combustible water distribution piping is permitted to penetrate a fire separation that is required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the piping is protected at the penetration with a fire stop in conformance with Sentence (4).
3. Except as permitted by Sentences (4) to (5), combustible piping shall not be used in a drain, waste and vent piping system if any part of that system penetrates
   1. a fire separation required to have a fire-resistance rating, or
   2. a membrane that forms part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating.
4. Combustible drain, waste and vent piping is permitted to penetrate a fire separation required to have a fire-resistance rating or a membrane that forms part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating, provided
   1. the piping is sealed at the penetration by a fire stop that has an F rating not less than the fire-resistance rating required for the fire separation when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, "Fire Tests of Firestop Systems," with a pressure differential of 50 Pa between the exposed and unexposed sides, with the higher pressure on the exposed side, and
   2. the piping is not located in a vertical service space.
5. Combustible drain, waste and vent piping is permitted on one side of a vertical fire separation provided it is not located in a vertical service space.
6. Combustible piping for central vacuum systems is permitted to penetrate a fire separation provided the installation conforms to the requirements that apply to combustible drain, waste and vent piping specified in Sentence (4).

1. A membrane ceiling forming part of an assembly assigned a fire-resistance rating on the basis of Appendix D is permitted to be penetrated by openings leading into ducts within the ceiling space, provided
   1. the ducts are sheet steel, and
   2. the number of openings and their protection conform to the requirements of Appendix D.

1. A ceiling assembly used as a plenum shall conform to Article 3.6.4.3.