Penetrations In Stairwells

[jar546]

Do the landings in stairwells that are clearly open and visible from the different levels within the stairwell have to be fire caulked when they are penetrated by conduit or other pipe? The stairwells are already open from top to bottom so why would a vertical pipe that is in the corner of a landing inside the stairwell have to be fire caulked?

 

[RLGA]

No. Landings are not considered horizontal assemblies.

 

[jar546]

No. Landings are not considered horizontal assemblies.

Can you please elaborate?

HORIZONTAL ASSEMBLY. A fire-resistance-rated floor or roof assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of fire in which continuity is maintained.

As I understand it, the landings are already open, therefore not required to be fire resistant rated.

 

[princeofpen]

The landing is not the fire-resistive assy , the walls etc are. Penetrations "floor to floor" inside the shaft have no requirements other than structural and construction type

 

[tmurray]

Same here in Canada. Landings are located in a fire separation, but do not form part of a fire separation.

 

[RLGA]

Can you please elaborate?

HORIZONTAL ASSEMBLY. A fire-resistance-rated floor or roof assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of fire in which continuity is maintained.

As I understand it, the landings are already open, therefore not required to be fire resistant rated.

Obviously, landings cannot "restrict the spread of fire"; thus, they are not horizontal assemblies. Interior stairway enclosures are essentially shafts, and anything running vertically within a shaft is not required to be treated as a through penetration at openings at floor levels.