ASTM E814 (ANSI/UL 1479) Standard Test Method for

Fire Tests of Through-Penetration Firestops was first published

in 1981 to address the fire safety implications of the
many architectural, electrical and/or mechanical system
openings that commonly become necessary in actual construction
through fire barriers (walls and floors) with a
required fire resistive rating. The ASTM E814, F rating
measures the time during which flame passage through the
firestop system is prevented, at which time it must be
accompanied by a successful hose stream test. In addition to
the F rating criteria, the T rating requires the temperature
rise on the unexposed surface of the wall or floor, on the
penetrating item, and on the penetration fill material to not
exceed 325 F (181 C) above ambient. A third criterion,
the L rating, determines the amount of air leakage. The IBC
Sections 711.3.1.2 and 711.4.1.2 specify the firestopping
requirements for through-penetrations in vertical and horizontal
assemblies by reference to ASTM E 814, and its F
and T ratings, in order to preserve the fire resistance ratings
of the associated assemblies.
The means by which fire protection of through-penetrations
is accomplished is called fire-stopping, which ASTM
E814 defines as specific construction of the materials that
fill the opening around penetrating items such as cables,
cable trays, conduits, ducts, pipes, and their means of support
through the wall or floor opening to prevent the spread
of fire. Another common term that is used in codes is fireblocking,
which is not the same as fire-stopping in penetrations.
Rather, fire-blocking means the prevention of free
passage of flames to other areas of a