Fire Safety Gaps: US vs. Europe on Plastic Pipes in Walls

What would you say if you saw a 5” diameter plastic pipe through a gypsum wall and nothing more than drywall mud around the annular space and I told you that was code compliant? In the US, you would say I had lost my mind. Fire safety gaps like these highlight the differences in code requirements and practices between regions.

In the US, you would say I had lost my mind.  You know that even a small ½” pex line requires expanding/intumescent firestop sealant and larger pipes require a belt of intumescent product or even a collar or sleeve.

In some parts of Europe you can find a 5” plastic pipe or conduit and you wont fine a spec of intumescent product and no one worries.

US companies building in other countries may want to take a closer look at the passive fire protection elements. Fire safety gaps can emerge when aligning with more rigorous fire test standards and code requirements.

In some countries they try to mesh the IBC and European codes and standards and this is shocking to me. It’s like using lemons to make orange juice or using metric tools and standard bolts. It just won’t work out well unless you are prepared to make some adjustment along the way, and you know what adjustments to make.

Just a little something to think about.

If you would like more information, we should talk.