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Protected openings based on FSD?

Sifu

SAWHORSE
Joined
Sep 3, 2011
Messages
3,391
2018 IBC 602.1 does not require protected openings unless required elsewhere in the code. Does this apply to ONLY t601, or does it include t602. The way it is written I have trouble deciphering it. Commentary seems to only apply it to t601.
 
Table 601 would never require protected openings, as the fire-resistance rating is for the structure only. Intent being fire resilience of the building, not compartmentalization of the fire.

Table 602 however, does deal with limiting the spread of fire (building to building). Not directly fire compartmentalization, but spacing structures far enough apart to limit the spread of fire. Table 602 does not specifically address opening protectives however. To get to opening protectives, make your way to Ch. 7 and Section 705. Section 705.8 will establish the limits for allowable area of openings and the degree of opening protection, with protected openings further codified in Section 716.

IMHO, the 2018 was a bit of a difficult pathway. The 2021 IBC really cleaned this up a bit.
 
705.8 would not require the single opening to be protected as it does not exceed the table value, which is the direction I assumed, but the DP has protected some openings and not others, which made me wonder. Because section 602.1 contains the language about openings for t601, I wanted to make sure it wasn't a blanket allowance for t602 like that provided for t601 since both tables are referenced in section 602.1.

To me, the final sentence of 602.1 should identify that the elements being referred to are those found it t601. Seems like this might be better:
"The protection of openings, ducts and air transfer openings in building elements required to be fire resistance rated by t601 shall not be required unless required by other provisions of this code"...or something similar. But, maybe I just think too much, or not enough.
 
The last sentence of IBC 2018 s. 602.1 applies to openings, etc. in the "building elements". Building element ratings requirements are controlled by Table 601. Table 602 addresses the required ratings for "exterior walls". Therefore, the sentence: "The protection of openings, ducts and air transfer openings in building elements shall not be required unless required by other provisions of this code." applies only to those "building elements" of Table 601.
 
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