Hint: firewall failure
The lack of firestopping inside all of these sleeves could allow fire, smoke, and other products of combustion to easily spread to other areas of this building. This could result in increased property damage, injuries, and even loss of life. Section 300.21 clearly states that “openings around electrical penetrations into or through fire-resistant-rated walls, partitions, floors, or ceilings shall be firestopped using approved methods to maintain the fire resistance rating.” Apparently, these installers did not read this section of the Code. Not one sleeve was firestopped! For any Class 2 circuits, Sec. 725.3(B) requires the rules in Sec. 300.21 be followed. For any fire alarm cables, Sec. 760.3(A) requires installers to follow the firestopping requirements of Sec. 300.21. The informational note in Sec. 300.21 informs us that directories of electrical construction materials published by qualified testing laboratories contain installation methods needed to maintain the fire-resistive rating of wall, floor, ceilings, and other assemblies where penetrations or openings are made.
