SECTION 706 FIRE BARRIERS

706.1 General. Fire barriers installed as required elsewhere in this code or the International Fire Code shall comply with this section.

706.2 Materials. Fire barriers shall be of materials permitted by the building type of construction.

706.2.1 Fire-resistance-rated glazing. Fire-resistance- rated glazing, when tested in accordance with ASTM E 119 and complying with the requirements of Section 706, shall be permitted. Fire-resistance-rated glazing shall bear a label or other identification showing the name of the manufacturer, the test standard and the identifier “W-XXX,” where the “XXX” is the fire-resistance rating in minutes. Such label or identification shall be issued by an approved agency and shall be permanently affixed to the glazing.

706.3 Fire-resistance rating. The fire-resistance rating of fire barriers shall comply with this section.

706.3.1 Shaft enclosures. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating building areas from a shaft shall comply with Section 707.4.

706.3.2 Exit enclosures. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating building areas from an exit shall comply with Section 1020.1.

706.3.3 Exit passageway. The fire-resistance rating of the separation between building areas and an exit passageway shall comply with Section 1021.1.

706.3.4 Horizontal exit. The fire-resistance rating of the separation between building areas connected by a horizontal exit shall comply with Section 1022.1.

706.3.5 Atriums. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating atriums shall comply with Section 404.5.

706.3.6 Incidental use areas. The fire barrier separating incidental use areas shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than that indicated in Table 508.2.

706.3.7 Control areas. Fire barriers separating control areas shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than that required in Section 414.2.3.

706.3.8 Separation of mixed occupancies. Where the provisions of Section 508.3.2 are applicable, the fire barrier separating mixed occupancies shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than that indicated in Section 508.3.2 based on the occupancies being separated.

706.3.9 Single-occupancy fire areas. The fire barrier or horizontal assembly, or both, separating a single occupancy into different fire areas shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than that indicated in Table 706.3.9.

706.4 Exterior walls. Where exterior walls serve as a part of a required fire-resistance-rated shaft or exit enclosure, such walls shall comply with the requirements of Section 704 for exterior walls and the fire-resistance-rated enclosure requirements shall not apply.

Exception: Exterior walls required to be fire-resistance rated in accordance with Section 1023.6.

706.5 Continuity. Fire barriers shall extend from the top of the floor/ceiling assembly below to the underside of the floor or roof slab or deck above and shall be securely attached thereto. Such fire barriers shall be continuous through concealed spaces, such as the space above a suspended ceiling. The supporting construction for fire barrier walls shall be protected to afford the required fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier supported, except for 1-hour fire-resistance-rated incidental use area separations as required by Table 508.2 in buildings of Type IIB, IIIB and VB construction. Hollow vertical spaces within a fire barrier shall be fire blocked in accordance with Section 717.2 at every floor level.

Exceptions:

1. The maximum required fire-resistance rating for assemblies supporting fire barriers separating tank storage as provided for in Section 415.6.2.1 shall be 2 hours, but not less than required by Table 601 for the building construction type.

2. Shaft enclosures shall be permitted to terminate at a top enclosure complying with Section 707.12.

706.6 Exterior walls. Where exterior walls serve as a part of a required fire-resistance-rated enclosure or separation, such walls shall comply with the requirements of Section 704 for exterior walls, and the fire-resistance-rated enclosure or separation requirements shall not apply.

Exception: Exterior walls required to be fire-resistance rated in accordance with Section 1014.5.1 for exterior egress balconies, Section 1020.1.4 for exit enclosures and Section 1023.6 for exterior exit ramps and stairways.

706.7 Openings. Openings in a fire barrier wall shall be protected in accordance with Section 715. Openings shall be limited to a maximum aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall, and the maximum area of any single opening shall not exceed 156 square feet (15 m2). Openings in exit enclosures and exit passageways shall also comply with Sections 1020.1.1 and 1021.4, respectively.

Exceptions:

1. Openings shall not be limited to 156 square feet (15 m2) where adjoining fire areas are equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

2.  Fire doors serving an exit enclosure.

3. Openings shall not be limited to 156 square feet (15 m2) or an aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall where the opening protective assembly has been tested in accordance with ASTME 119 and has a minimum fire-resistance rating not less than the fire-resistance rating of the wall.

4. Fire windows permitted in atrium separation walls shall not be limited to a maximum aggregate width of 25 percent of length of the wall.

706.8 Penetrations. Penetrations of fire barriers shall comply with Section 712.

706.8.1 Prohibited penetrations. Penetrations into an exit enclosure or an exit passageway shall be allowed only when permitted by Section 1020.1.2 or 1021.5, respectively.

706.9 Joints. Joints made in or between fire barriers shall comply with Section 713.

706.10 Ducts and air transfer openings. Penetrations in a fire barrier by ducts and air transfer openings shall comply with Section 716.

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