9.10.9.8. Penetrations by Outlet Boxes or Service Equipment in Concealed Spaces

(1)

Except as provided in Sentences (2) to (5), 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 firestop that, when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, “Standard Method of Fire Tests of Firestop Systems,” has an FT rating not less than the fire-resistance rating of the fire separation. (See Note A-9.10.9.8.(1))

(2)

Except as provided in Sentence 9.10.9.6.(2), noncombustible outlet boxes that penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating need not conform to Sentence (1), provided

(a)

they do not exceed

(i)

0.016 m2 in area, and

(ii)

an aggregate area of 0.065 m2 in any 9.3 m2 of surface area, and

(b)

the annular space between the membrane and the noncombustible outlet boxes does not exceed 3 mm.

(3)

Except as provided in Sentence 9.10.9.6.(2), combustible outlet boxes that penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating need not conform to Sentence (1), provided

(a)

the outlet boxes are

(i)

separated from the remainder of the space within the assembly by an enclosure of not more than 0.3 m2 in area made of fire block material conforming to Article 9.10.16.3., or (See Note A-9.10.9.8.(3)(a)(i))

(ii)

located in a space within the assembly that is filled with preformed fibre insulation processed from rock or slag conforming to CAN/ULC-S702.1, “Standard for Mineral Fibre Thermal Insulation for Buildings, Part 1: Material Specification,” and having a mass per unit area of not less than 1.22 kg/m2 of wall surface such that the exposed sides and back of the outlet box are encapsulated by the noncombustible insulation, and

(b)

the outlet boxes do not exceed an aggregate area of 0.016 m2 in any individual enclosure as described in Subclause (a)(i) or any individual insulated space as described in Subclause (a)(ii).

(4)

Noncombustible outlet boxes conforming to Sentence (2) are permitted to be located on opposite sides of a vertical fire separation having a fire-resistance rating and need not conform to Sentence (1), provided they are

(a)

separated from each other by a horizontal distance of not less than 600 mm,

(b)

separated from each other and the remainder of the wall space by an enclosure conforming to Subclause (3)(a)(i), or

(c)

located in an insulated wall space in accordance with Subclause (3)(a)(ii).

(5)

Combustible outlet boxes conforming to Sentence (3) are permitted to be located on opposite sides of a vertical fire separation having a fire-resistance rating and need not conform to Sentence (1).

(6)

Service equipment is permitted to penetrate a horizontal fire separation conforming to Sentence 9.10.9.12.(2), provided the penetration is sealed by

(a)

a firestop that, when subjected to the fire test method in CAN/ULC-S115, “Standard Method of Fire Tests of Firestop Systems,” has an FT rating not less than the required fire-resistance rating for the fire separation,

(b)

a firestop conforming to Clause 9.10.9.6.(1)(a), where the service equipment is located entirely within the cavity of a wall assembly above and below the horizontal fire separation having a required fire-resistance rating, or

(c)

a firestop conforming to Clause 9.10.9.6.(1)(a), where the penetration is

(i)

contained within the concealed space of a floor or ceiling assembly having a fire-resistance rating,

(ii)

located above a ceiling membrane providing a horizontal fire separation, or

(iii)

contained within a horizontal service space conforming to Sentence 9.10.9.12.(2) that is directly above or below a floor or ceiling.