3.1.9.3 — Penetration by Wires, Cables and Outlet Boxes

(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (2) and Articles 3.1.5.19. and 3.1.5.21., optical fibre cables and electrical wires and cables with combustible insulation, jackets or sheathes are permitted in a building required to be of noncombustible construction, provided, (a) the wires and cables exhibit a vertical char of not more than 1.5 m when tested in conformance with the Vertical Flame Test – Cables in Cabletrough in Clause 4.11.4. of CSA C22.2 No. 0.3, “Test Methods for Electrical Wires and Cables”, (FT4 Rating), (b) the wires and cables are located in, (i) totally enclosed noncombustible raceways, (ii) concealed spaces in walls, (iii) concrete slabs, (iv) a service room separated from the remainder of the building by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h, or (v) totally enclosed nonmetallic raceways conforming to Clause 3.1.5.20. (1)(b), or (c) the wires and cables are communication cables used at the service entry to a building and are not more than 3 m long. (2) The requirement in Clause (1)(a) is considered to be met where the wires and cables exhibit a flame-spread of not more than 1.5 m, a smoke density of not more than 0.5 at peak optical density and a smoke density not more than 0.15 at average optical density when tested in conformance with the Flame and Smoke Test in the Appendix to CSA C22.2 No. 0.3, “Test Methods for Electrical Wires and Cables”, (FT6 Rating).

(1) Except as provided by Subclause 3.6.4.3. (1)(a)(iv) and subject to limits on size for penetrations of fire separations as required by Sentence 3.1.9.3. (2), within a fire compartment of a building required to be of noncombustible construction, totally enclosed nonmetallic raceways not more than 175 mm in outside diameter, or an equivalent rectangular area, are permitted to be used to enclose optical fibre cables and electrical wires and cables, provided, where, (a) the wires and cables in the raceways meet or exceed the requirements of Clause 3.1.5.18. (1)(a), the nonmetallic raceways meet the requirements for at least an FT4 rating in, (i) CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 262, “Optical Fiber Cable and Communication Cable Raceway Systems”, or (ii) CAN/ULC-S143, “Fire Tests for Non-Metallic Electrical and Optical Fibre Cable Raceway Systems”, and (b) the wires and cables in the raceways do not meet or exceed the requirements of Clause 3.1.5.18. (1)(a), the nonmetallic raceways exhibit a vertical char not more than 1.5 m when tested in conformance with the Vertical Flame Test (FT4) – Conduit or Tubing on Cable Tray in Clause 6.16 of CSA C22.2 No. 211.0, “General Requirements and Methods of Testing for Nonmetallic Conduit”.

(1) Except as permitted by Articles 3.1.9.3. and 3.1.9.4., pipes, ducts, electrical outlet boxes, totally enclosed raceways or other similar service equipment that penetrate an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating shall be noncombustible unless the assembly has been tested incorporating that service equipment.