APA Approval Sheets for 2015 IRC Section R302.13 Fire Protection Application - Boise Cascade & Kuiken Brothers NJ NY

Kuiken Brothers Boise Cascade APA I Joist Fire Protection Application  ICC R302.13 Fire Protection of Floors Clarification Change Summary Kuiken Brothers Boise Cascade p 2-43

Boise Cascade has created an easy to reference brochure which shows the installation instructions and APA Approval Sheets for each of the installation methods which can be used to be in compliance with the 2012 IRC R501.3 and 2015 IRC Section R302.13. It is recommended that these forms be submitted to your local municipality during the time of filing for a building permit to minimize the potential for jobsite inspection delays.

Download the Boise Cascade Fire Protection Application Brochure

Download the ICC Fire Protection of Floors Clarification Change Summary

For quick reference, here is a summary from the ICC on clarification of the R302.13 Fire Protection of Floors.

Change Type: Clarification

CHANGE SUMMARY: The provisions for fire protection of floors have been relocated from Chapter 5 to the fire-resistant construction provisions of Section R302. New language clarifies that the code does not regulate penetrations or openings in the fire protection membrane. 2015 Code: R501.3 R302.13 Fire protection of floors. Floor assemblies, that are not required elsewhere in this code to be fire-resistance rated, shall be provided with a ½-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wallboard membrane, 5/8-inch (16 mm) wood structural panel membrane, or equivalent on the underside of the floor framing member. Penetrations or openings for ducts, vents, electrical outlets, lighting, devices, luminaires, wires, speakers, drainage, piping, and similar openings or penetrations shall be permitted.

Open web trusses (pictured above) and engineered wood I-joists are now required to have a protective membrane in first floor applications.

Open web trusses (pictured above) and engineered wood I-joists are now required to have a protective membrane in first floor applications.

CHANGE SIGNIFICANCE: Fire protection of floors first appeared in Section R501.3 of the 2012 IRC. The provisions call for installation of ½-inch gypsum board, 5/8-inch wood structural panel, or other approved material on the underside of floor assemblies of buildings constructed under the IRC. The application of gypsum wallboard or other approved material intends to provide some protection to the floor system against the effects of fire and delay collapse of the floor. This provision primarily is aimed at light-frame construction consisting of I-joists, manufactured floor trusses, cold-formed steel framing, and other materials and manufactured products considered most susceptible to collapse in a fire. Solid-sawn lumber and structural composite lumber perform fairly well in retaining adequate strength under fire conditions, and floors framed of nominal 2x10s or larger of these materials are exempt from these fire protection requirements. Fire protection also is not required if sprinklers are installed to protect the space below the floor assembly.

Screws in Kuiken Brothers Engineered Lumber Building Code Fire Resistant I-Joists drywallRT

In the 2009 IRC, there was an effort to organize all of the fire-resistance provisions into a single section to make the code more user-friendly. Because the installation of the code-prescribed membrane intends to provide some limited protection against the effects of fire to the floor system, the requirements have been relocated to the fire-resistant construction provisions of Section R302.

Similar to the fire separation requirements for an attached garage in Section R302.6, the membrane applied to the underside of the floor system does not form a fire-resistant-rated assembly. The membrane acts to shield light-frame floor systems from the heat of a fire originating in the space below the floor. The intent is for the floor system to perform similarly to unprotected 2×10 solid-sawn lumber floor joists and to delay structural collapse of the floor system. For that reason, the code does not require any special treatment of joints, penetrations, or openings in the ceiling membrane. For example, the taping of the gypsum board joints is not required and penetrations for electrical boxes and plumbing pipes do not require any firestopping materials. The added language intends to simply clarify that the code does not regulate openings and penetrations in the membrane applied to the underside of the floor system.

We know that the benefits of Boise Cascade Engineered Wood Products are significant as they help reduce callbacks by eliminating squeaks and vibration. They are readily available at Kuiken Brothers locations in NJ & NY (view our Boise Cascade EWP stock list) and easy to install, especially for long spans, including continuous spans over intermediate supports. Plus, builders have many options when it comes to constructing code-compliant I-joist floor assemblies. With the addition of the approved assembly options above, we are certain that you will be able to continue using these products without disruption. For additional information, view this article on I-Joist Fire Assemblies posted on the APA – The Engineered Wood Association’s website feature document downloads and a 26 minute video webinar.

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Kuiken Brothers maintains a significant inventory of Boise Cascade Engineered Wood products ready to supply your commercial or residential projects in NJ & NY with short lead times. View our Boise Cascade Engineered Lumber stock list.

If you have any questions regarding Boise Cascade Engineered Wood Products for an upcoming residential or commercial project, please feel free to give us a call (201) 652-1000, or complete the Contact Us Form and one of our associates will follow up with you right away.


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