A. Standard outlet boxes are simply a box installed between the wall studs to keep valves out of the way yet accessible. These are not rated for use in areas that require fire retardant materials. Fire retardant gas outlet boxes are designed to be used in conjunction with fire retardant building materials to maintain the performance of the fire retardant construction. The outlet boxes on this page are not only constructed of a fire-retardant resin, but they also feature intumescent pads, which is a kind of fire stop putty designed to retard heat transfer in the event a fire reaches the pad, which can help keep a fire from spreading further.