The Ontario Building Code | Penetration by Wires, Cables and Outlet Boxes

3.1.9.3. Penetration by wires, Cables and outlet Boxes

(1) Optical fibre cables and electrical wires and cables in totally enclosed noncombustible raceways are permitted to penetrate an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2.

(2) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), totally enclosed nonmetallic raceways conforming to Article 3.1.5.20., optical fibre cables, and electrical wires and cables, single or grouped, with combustibleinsulationhttp://thehandyforce.com/insulation/" title ="Toronto home insulation">insulation, jackets or sheathes that conform to the requirements of Clause 3.1.5.18.(1)(a) and that are not installed in totally enclosed noncombustible raceways are permitted to penetrate an assembly required to have a fire-resistance ratingwithout being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the overall diameter of the single or grouped wires or cables, or the raceways is not more than 25 mm.

(3) Single conductor metal sheathed cables with combustiblejacketing that are more than 25 mm in overall diameter are permitted to penetrate a fire separation required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the cables are not grouped and are spaced a minimum of 300 mm apart.

(4) Combustibletotally enclosed raceways that are embedded in a concrete floor slab are permitted in an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the concrete cover between the raceway and the bottom of the slab is not less than 50 mm.

(5) Combustibleelectrical outlet boxes are permitted in an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating without being incorporated in the assembly at the time of testing as required by Article 3.1.9.2., provided the opening through the membrane into the box is not more than 160 cm².

(6) Noncombustible electrical outlet boxes that penetrate a fire separation or a membrane forming part of an assembly required to have a fire-resistance rating need not meet the requirements of Article 3.1.9.1. provided,

(a) they do not exceed,

(i) 100 cm²each in area, and

(ii) an aggregate area of 650 cm² in any 9.3 m² of surface area, and

(b) the annular space between the membrane and the box does not exceed 3 mm.

(7) Unless provided with a fire stop in accordance with CAN/ulc-S115, "Fire Tests of Firestop Systems", electrical outlet boxes on opposite sides of a vertical fire separation required to have a fire-resistance rating shall be,

(a) separated by a horizontal distance of not less than 600 mm, or

(b) installed in adjacent stud cavities.