Fire barrier on exterior wall between consecutive floor smoke compartments?

[Adolfo Samudio]

Hello,

I'm a panamanian architect working with european contractors on a project in Panama for a hospital. My question is the following, and help would be much appreciated:

If we have two different smoke compartment zones on consecutive floors in that hospital, is it required to place a fire barrier on the exterior wall to separate both zones? In other words, would we have to consider, for instance, a 1 meter tall 1-hour wall over the slab under the window sill? According to my european colleagues, that's the norm in europe.

I already checked NFPA 101 chapter 8 - Features of Fire Protection and 18 - New Health Care Occupancies and found nothing about this.

I already consulted a local CFPE and he told me this is not required by NFPA.

I want to be 100% on this, though. Thanks again.

 

[Coug Dad]

Welcome to the board.

Is this a curtain wall condition? Normally, the exterior wall does is not required to be rated but any gaps or annular spaces are required to resist the passage of fire or smoke.

 

[cda]

You do not do it when you have one dividing a floor into two comapartments, so why would be needed if you add more??

Are they thinking actual fire walls???

And welcome to the international world of code confusion

 

[AegisFPE]

In the US we are accustomed to sprinkler protection, in which case exterior flame barriers are not required (per Exception 2 to the applicable code provision).

The subject provisions addressing flame barriers at exterior walls are under the heading Vertical Separation of Openings in 2009 IBC Section 705.8.5.

 

[Adolfo Samudio]

Thanks to all for the prompt responses.. yes, CW condition.

 

[Adolfo Samudio]

You do not do it when you have one dividing a floor into two comapartments, so why would be needed if you add more??Are they thinking actual fire walls???

And welcome to the international world of code confusion

Hhaha Thanks glad to be here..

 

[Adolfo Samudio]

In the US we are accustomed to sprinkler protection, in which case exterior flame barriers are not required (per Exception 2 to the applicable code provision).The subject provisions addressing flame barriers at exterior walls are under the heading Vertical Separation of Openings in 2009 IBC Section 705.8.5.

Thanks! We are too having sprinklers, so I'll have to look into that Exception 2... and my IBC copy tomorrow. I'll let you all know what we end up doing. Thanks again.

 

[mtlogcabin]

Thanks to all for the prompt responses.. yes, CW condition.

Are your floor systems fire rated?

714.4 Exterior curtain wall/floor intersection.

Where fire resistance-rated floor or floor/ceiling assemblies are required, voids created at the intersection of the exterior curtain wall assemblies and such floor assemblies shall be sealed with an approved system to prevent the interior spread of fire. Such systems shall be securely installed and tested in accordance with ASTM E 2307 to prevent the passage of flame for the time period at least equal to the fire-resistance rating of the floor assembly and prevent the passage of heat and hot gases sufficient to ignite cotton waste. Height and fire-resistance requirements for curtain wall spandrels shall comply with Section 705.8.5.

714.4.1 Exterior curtain wall/nonfire-resistance-rated floor assembly intersections.

Voids created at the intersection of exterior curtain wall assemblies and nonfire-resistance-rated floor or floor/ceiling assemblies shall be sealed with an approved material or system to retard the interior spread of fire and hot gases between stories .