Ducts shall not pass through which barrier?

Ducts shall not pass through which barrier?

• A. fire walls
• B. partitions
• C. ceilings
• D. floors

Answer: (A)

Ducts should not pass through fire walls because a fire wall is a primary barrier designed to stop the spread of fire and keep compartments separate. If ductwork goes through a fire wall, it can carry flames, heat, and smoke from one side to the other, defeating the wall’s purpose. The integrity of the fire wall must be preserved, which means avoiding penetrations unless a listed, through-penetration assembly is used that maintains the wall’s fire-resistance rating on both sides (typically with a fire-rated sleeve and a properly rated fire damper and fire-stopping). Ducts can pass through other barriers like partitions, ceilings, or floors with appropriate protection, but the fire wall itself should remain uncompromised.

Ducts should not pass through fire walls because a fire wall is a primary barrier designed to stop the spread of fire and keep compartments separate. If ductwork goes through a fire wall, it can carry flames, heat, and smoke from one side to the other, defeating the wall’s purpose. The integrity of the fire wall must be preserved, which means avoiding penetrations unless a listed, through-penetration assembly is used that maintains the wall’s fire-resistance rating on both sides (typically with a fire-rated sleeve and a properly rated fire damper and fire-stopping). Ducts can pass through other barriers like partitions, ceilings, or floors with appropriate protection, but the fire wall itself should remain uncompromised.