Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 780 CMR - STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS › Chapter 7 - Fire and Smoke Protection Features › Section 702 - DEFINITIONS › Subsection 702.1 - Definitions

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of
				  this chapter, and as used elsewhere in this code, have the meanings shown
				  herein.
ANNULAR SPACE.
The opening around the
				  penetrating item.
BUILDING ELEMENT.
A fundamental component of
				  building construction, listed in Table 601, which may or may not be of
				  fire-resistance-rated construction and is constructed of materials based on the
				  building type of construction.
CEILING RADIATION DAMPER.
A
listed
device installed in a ceiling membrane of a
				  fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assembly to limit
				  automatically the radiative heat transfer through an air inlet/outlet
				  opening.
COMBINATION FIRE/SMOKE DAMPER.
A
listed
device installed in ducts and air transfer openings
				  designed to close automatically upon the detection of heat and resist the
				  passage of flame and smoke. The device is installed to operate automatically,
				  controlled by a smoke detection system, and where required, is capable of being
				  positioned from a fire command center.
DAMPER.
See "
Ceiling radiation
				  damper
," "
Combination fire/smoke damper
,"
				  "
Fire damper
" and "
Smoke damper
."
DRAFTSTOP.
A material, device or construction
				  installed to restrict the movement of air within open spaces of concealed areas
				  of building components such as crawl spaces, floor/ceiling assemblies,
				  roof/ceiling assemblies and
attics
.
FRATING.
The time period that the
through-penetration firestop system
limits the spread of fire
				  through the penetration when tested in accordance with ASTM E 814 or UL
				  1479.
FIRE BARRIER.
A fire-resistance-rated wall
				  assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of fire in which
				  continuity is maintained.
FIRE DAMPER.
A
listed
device
				  installed in ducts and air transfer openings designed to close automatically
				  upon detection of heat and resist the passage of flame.
Fire
				  dampers
are classified for use in either static systems that will
				  automatically shut down in the event of a fire, or in dynamic systems that
				  continue to operate during a fire. A dynamic
fire damper
is
				  tested and rated for closure under elevated temperature airflow.
FIRE DOOR.
The door component of a
fire
				  door
assembly.
FIRE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
Any combination of a
fire door
, frame, hardware and other accessories that together
				  provide a specific degree of fire protection to the opening.
FIRE PARTITION.
A vertical assembly of materials
				  designed to restrict the spread of fire in which openings are protected.
FIRE PROTECTION RATING.
The period of time that
				  an opening protective will maintain the ability to confine a fire as determined
				  by tests prescribed in Section 715. Ratings are stated in hours or
				  minutes.
FIRE RESISTANCE.
That property of materials or
				  their assemblies that prevents or retards the passage of excessive heat, hot
				  gases or flames under conditions of use.
FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING.
The period of time a
				  building element, component or assembly maintains the ability to confine a
				  fire, continues to perform a given structural function, or both, as determined
				  by the tests, or the methods based on tests, prescribed in Section 703.
FIRE-RESISTANT JOINT SYSTEM.
An assemblage of
				  specific materials or products that are designed, tested and fire-resistance
				  rated in accordance with either ASTM E 1966 or UL 2079 to resist for a
				  prescribed period of time the passage of fire through joints made in or between
				  fire-resistance-rated assemblies.
FIRE SEPARATION DISTANCE.
The distance measured
				  from the building face to one of the following:
1. The closest interior
lot line
;
2. To the centerline of a street, an alley or public way;
				  or
3. To an imaginary line between two buildings on the
				  property.
The distance shall be measured at right angles from the face
				  of the wall.
FIRE WALL.
A fire-resistance-rated wall having
				  protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously
				  from the foundation to or through the roof, with sufficient structural
				  stability under fire conditions to allow collapse of construction on either
				  side without collapse of the wall.
FIRE WINDOW ASSEMBLY.
A window constructed and
				  glazed to give protection against the passage of fire.
FIREBLOCKING.
Building materials or materials
				  approved for use as fireblocking, installed to resist the free passage of flame
				  to other areas of the building through concealed spaces.
FLOOR FIRE DOOR ASSEMBLY.
A combination of a
fire door
, a frame, hardware and other accessories installed
				  in a horizontal plane, which together provide a specific degree of fire
				  protection to a through-opening in a fire-resistance-rated floor (see Section
				  712.8).
HORIZONTAL ASSEMBLY.
A fire-resistance-rated
				  floor or roof assembly of materials designed to restrict the spread of fire in
				  which continuity is maintained.
JOINT.
The linear opening in or between adjacent
				  fire-resistance-rated assemblies that is designed to allow independent movement
				  of the building in any plane caused by thermal, seismic, wind or any other
				  loading.
MEMBRANE PENETRATION.
An opening made through
				  one side (wall, floor or ceiling membrane) of an assembly.
MEMBRANE-PENETRATION FIRESTOP.
A material,
				  device or construction installed to resist for a prescribed time period the
				  passage of flame and heat through openings in a protective membrane in order to
				  accommodate cables, cable trays, conduit, tubing, pipes or similar
				  items.
MINERAL FIBER.
Insulation composed principally
				  of fibers manufactured from rock, slag or glass, with or without
				  binders.
MINERAL WOOL.
Synthetic vitreous fiber
				  insulation made by melting predominately igneous rock or furnace slag, and
				  other inorganic materials, and then physically forming the melt into
				  fibers.
PENETRATION FIRESTOP.
A through-penetration
				  firestop or a
membrane-penetration firestop
.
SELF-CLOSING.
As applied to a
fire
				  door
or other opening protective, means equipped with an device that
				  will ensure closing after having been opened.
SHAFT.
An enclosed space extending through one
				  or more
stories
of a building, connecting vertical openings in
				  successive floors, or floors and roof.
SHAFT ENCLOSURE.
The walls or construction
				  forming the boundaries of a shaft.
SMOKE BARRIER.
A continuous membrane, either
				  vertical or horizontal, such as a wall, floor or ceiling assembly, that is
				  designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke.
SMOKE COMPARTMENT.
A space within a building
				  enclosed by
smoke barriers
on all sides, including the top and
				  bottom.
SMOKE DAMPER.
A
listed
device
				  installed in ducts and air transfer openings designed to resist the passage of
				  smoke. The device is installed to operate automatically, controlled by a smoke
				  detection system, and where required, is capable of being positioned from a
				  fire command center.
SPLICE.
The result of a factory and/or field
				  method of joining or connecting two or more lengths of a
fire-resistant
				  joint system
into a continuous entity.
TRATING.
The time period that the penetration
				  firestop system, including the penetrating item, limits the maximum temperature
				  rise to 325°F (163°C) above its initial temperature through the
				  penetration on the nonfire side when tested in accordance with ASTM E 814 or UL
				  1479.
THROUGH PENETRATION.
An opening that passes
				  through an entire assembly.
THROUGH-PENETRATION FIRESTOP SYSTEM.
An
				  assemblage of specific materials or products that are designed, tested and
				  fire-resistance rated to resist for a prescribed period of time the spread of
				  fire
through penetrations
. The F and T rating criteria for
				  penetration firestop systems shall be in accordance with ASTM E 814 or UL 1479.
				  See definitions of "F rating" and "T rating."