Fire barriers, partitions, and horizontal assemblies are the three basic types of fire-resistant rated assemblies. Fire barriers are continuous walls that extend from the floor to ceiling and have fire resistance ratings. They separate different occupancies. Fire partitions also separate occupancies but are less restrictive than barriers. Horizontal assemblies include floor/ceiling assemblies. Openings in rated assemblies like walls must also be rated.

1. FIRE AND SMOKE
RESISTANT ASSEMBLIES
BARRIERS, ASSEMBLIES AND PARTITIONS

2.  Three basic types of rated assemblies:
 Fire barriers
 Fire partitions
 Horizontal assemblies

3.  Fire barriers are walls that a fire resistant rating
and in most cases must be continuous and extend
vertically from the bottom to the top of the
floor/ceiling assembly
 Additional fire blocking is required at the intersection
with other rated elements
 Openings are limited
 Opening assemblies need to be rated

4.  Floor/ceiling assemblies are horizontal assemblies
 Limited openings
 Openings and penetrations must be rated as well

6.  Fire partitions are similar to fire barriers but less
restrictive
 Separate exit access corridors, tenant spaces in malls,
dwellings and /or sleeping units
 Allowed to stop at the rated ceiling system
 Not required to be a full enclosure
 Rating of at least one hour

7.  Ratings depends on purpose, occupancy
classification and if space has sprinklers
 Openings required to be protected but not limited

9.  Fire enclosures separates occupancy types
 Not required between similar hazardous
occupancies

10.  Multiple tenants of different occupancies in the
same building
 Single user with multiple occupancies or uses within
the same structure

14.  Tenant separations in malls required to be rated
 Dwelling and sleeping units in residential
occupancies to be separated by fire partitions
 Some incidental accessory occupancies to be
separated

15.  Required for vertical shaft enclosures as elevators,
dumbwaiters, mechanical chases, etc.
 Smoke barriers provide protection form movement
and passage of smoke and fire gases
 Barriers are usually rated
 Partitions are not required to have fire resistance
rating

16.  Complete opening assemblies in rated barriers are
required to be also rated
 Although ratings of opening assemblies – doors,
windows, and other penetrations – is lower than the
assembly – the quantity and dimensions are limited
 Opening assemblies include the door, the frame, and
other required hardware.
 All rated doors are required to have a self closing
device that will close the door after each use. Not
necessary for it to be automatic (usually electrically
activated)

18.  Glazing products in rated assemblies must:
 Stay in place during a fire
 Resist thermal shock – by a hose stream
 Strength from human contact
 Resist heat transfer to unexposed side

19.  Codes allow the use of glass in some rated
partitions – type, size, and quantity is limited
 Wired glass – wire mesh sandwiched between two
layers of glass
 Safety resists impact
 Nonsafety does not resist impact
 Only type of glass addressed by codes for use in
rated opening protectives

20.  Specialty tempered glass – treated for fire
resistance
 Some can be used in 1 hr rated walls
 Cannot be used near sprinklers since it does not pass
the hose stream test
 Glass block
 Can be used in some 1 hr rated partitions – glass rated
to 45 minutes

21.  Clear ceramics
 High resistance
to heat
 Resists thermal
shock
 20mins to 2hr.
 Up to 23s.f. can
be used
 Sometimes has
more distortion
and tint

22.  Laminated glass

23.  Firestops and smokestops
 F-rated and T-rated
 T is stricter than F as it
includes a maximum
temperature resistance

24.  Fireblocks and Draftstops
 Restrict the spread of smoke and
fire through concealed spaces
 Fireblocks – small spaces
 Draftstops – large spaces
 Damper systems
 Interrupts air flow through ducts
going through rated assemblies

25. QUESTIONS

26.  An active fire-protection system is sometimes referred to
as a prevention system.
A. True
B. False
 The fire-resistance rating of a floor/ceiling assembly is
controlled only by the construction type of the building.
A. True
B. False

27.  All fire-protected doors must have an automatic dosing
device.
A. True
B. False
 The fire rating of a through-penetration is typically
lower than the fire rating of the construction assembly it
is penetrating.
A. True
B. False

28.  A fire-protected door can also be used as a
smokestop door.
A. True
B. False
 Fire barriers are typically used to create
compartments within a building.
A. True
B. False

29.  Occupancy separation walls and demising walls are
the same thing.
A. True
B. False
 Doors with fire-protection ratings are not allowed to
have glass lites as part of the door.
A. True
B. False

30.  __________Walls are used to create a continuous
vertical separation within a building or between two
different buildings.
 Fire/Party
 A door assembly typically consists of a door, frame,
and _____________.
 hardware

31.  What is the typical fire-resistance rating of a tenant
separation wall?
A. 2 hour
B. 1 1/2 hour
C. 1 hour
D. No rating is required.

32.  Which of the following statements is true about
firestops?
A. They are required at through penetrations in fire
barriers.
B. They are a means of restricting the passage of smoke,
heat, and flames in concealed spaces.
C. They can have two different ratings: a T-rating and a
stricter F-rating.
D. a and c only
E. All of the above

33.  A wall assembly with a 2-hour fire-resistance rating
is typically required for which means of egress
component?
A. Exit access
B. Public way
C. Exit discharge
D. Exit

34.  Which of the following devices is used to prevent
the movement of air, smoke, gases, and flame
through large, concealed spaces?
A. Firestops
B. Draftstops
C. Fireblocking
D. Dampers

35.  Which of the following types of glass is typically
considered to have a fire-protection rating?
A. Wired glass
B. Tempered glass
C. Glass block
D. a and c only
E. All of the above

36.  Which of the following statements about fire-protected
doors is correct?
A. The quantity of hinges is regulated but the type of
hinge is not.
B. Sills used at fire-rated doors do not typically need to
meet accessibility requirements.
C. Fire-rated doors are available as flush doors and
panel doors.
D. A variety of rated glazing can be used as lites in fire
rated doors as long as they are within a certain size
range.

37.  Which of the following is typically considered a fire
partition by the International Building Code?
A. A wall between two guest rooms in a hotel.
B. A wall between an office space and an exit access
corridor.
C. A wall between two tenants in a shopping mall.
D. a and c only
E. All of the above

38.  Which of the following can be used to help control
smoke during a fire?
A. Smoke barriers
B. Pressurized exits
C. Sprinklers
D. a and b
E. A and c

39.  Which type of through-penetration is required in a
duct that extends through a rated floor assembly?
A. Draftstop
B. Fire damper
C. Ceiling damper
D. None of the above

40.  Which of the following statements about smoke
dampers is NOT correct?
A. Smoke dampers are typically used in ducts that
penetrate smoke barriers.
B. Smoke dampers are usually installed with a smoke
detector.
C. Smoke dampers are typically installed adjacent to a
duct.
D. Smoke dampers can be classified in one of four
classes.
E. All of the above are correct.

41.  Which of the following would compromise the rating
of a 1 hour fire-resistant wall assembly?
A. Using a building material differently than
specified by the manufacturer
B. Not using rated caulk at the seams and joints
C. Installing an electrical box in the wall cavity for a
switch
D. a and b only
E. All of the above