Ablative: Materials that provide fire resistance by gradually eroding to the flame front at a known or predictable rate.

ABS: Acronym for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene.  A combustible thermoplastic resin used in the manufacture of certain nonmetallic pipes used primarily for DWV applications.

Annulus: The opening around the penetrant.  For pipe Penetrations, the ring around the pipe where the fill material is applied.

ASTM:  Acronym of American Society of Testing and Materials.

ASTM E84:  Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.  This test evaluated the spread of fire along the surface of materials.  It is not a fire resistance test.

ASTM E119: Test Methods of Building Construction and Materials.  This test is used to evaluate the fire resistive construction that contains though-penetrations or joints.

ASTM E136:  Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C.  This test evaluates the ability of a material to be considered as non-burning.  Weight loss of the test sample and heat rise due to the flammable content of the sample are key criteria.  It is not a fire resistance test.  This standard is inappropriate for inclusion in fire stopping specifications because it favors inorganic, generally rigid or brittle materials.

ASTM E814:  Test Method for Fire Tests of Though Penetration Firestops.  Firestop Systems tested to this standard are subjected to a fire exposure followed by a hose stream test to establish the F rating.  Thermal conductivity is recorded to determine the T rating. UL1479 roughly equates to the test procedure.

ASTM E1399:  Test Method of Measuring the Minimum and Maximum Joint Widths of Architectural Joint Systems.  This test is used to condition a joint assembly prior to exposure to an ASTM E119 fire-test.

ASTME1966:  Test Method for Fire-Resistive Joint Systems.  This test is used to evaluate the performance of a joint after a cyclic movement test and fire-exposure test.  Ul2079 roughly equates to this test procedure.

Autobonding:  The ability of fresh material to adhere to previously installed (cured or dried) material of same type.

Butt Joint:  The point within the joint treatment where two or more lengths of a joint system or a joint system  component material are joined.

Classified:  UL terminology for products that in and themselves have no listing or approval.  Products that are UL classified have predictable ratings or performance only after installation in a construction condition similar to UL published designs.

Combustible Penetrants:  Pipes, cable, or other penetrants that may burn or melt out during a fire.

CPVC:  Acronym for Post-Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride.  A combustible thermoplastic resin used in the manufacture of certain nonmetallic pipes used primarily of sprinkler applications.

Curtain Wall:  A particular type of exterior wall construction generally used for modern high-rise buildings.  Wall in non-loadbearing and usually constructed of metal and glass.

DWV:  Acronym for Drain, Waste, or Vent.  Pipes that are used in plumbing applications, e.g., drain pipes, waste or soil pipes, and vent stacks.

Elastomeric:  Flexible, low modulus material capable of expanding and contracting and returning to original dimensions without fatigue.

EMT:  Acronym for Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing.

Endothermic: A chemical reaction which allows materials to absorb heat.

ENMT:  Acronym for Electrical Nonmetallic Tubing

F Rating:  The amount of time that an assembly has successfully been tested to resist the penetration of fire.

Field erected System:  Firestop materials assembled at the jobsite into a particular configuration utilizing materials that are intended to lend themselves to a variety of different conditions.

Firestop Devices:  Firestop materials assembled into their final form at the point of manufacture.  Example:  Firestop Collars

Firestop System:  An assembly consisting of 1) the penetrant or penetrants 2) the opening through a particular type of wall or floor, and 3) the firestop materials and design that are used to seal the opening or protect the penetrants.

Flame Spread:  Classification indicating propagation of flame across a sample compared to flame propagation across concrete panels and red oak.  Results are obtained through an ASTM E84 or UL 723 test.

Foam Core:  Various nonmetallic pipes where porosity has been induced into the pipe's cross section to reduce weight and cost.  Sometimes referred to as coax piping.

Foaming Material:  The packing material used to dam an opening prior to the application of fill material.  In some systems, packing materials may contribute to the fire rating of the system.

FRPP:  Acronym for Fire-Retardant Polypropylene.  A combustible thermoplastic resin used in the manufacture of certain nonmetallic pipes used primarily for high-end DWV applications such as acid waste lines.

Head-Of-Wall:  The gap between the top of a wall assembly and the lower surface of the floor assembly above it.

Hose Stream Test:  A test of the physical integrity of an assembly after a specified period of burning whereby it is removed from the furnace and exposed to a blast of water from a fireman's hose.  ASTM E119 specifies the nozzle size, pressure, duration, and distance from the assembly.

Intumescent:  Materials that expand in volume when exposed to heat or flames exceeding a specified temperature.

ISMA Structure:  Intermediate Scale Multi-Story Testing Apparatus.  Furnace structure designed to simulate a fire in a high rise building.  Subjects a rated floor, nonrated curtain wall and the perimeter joint treatment to a fire exposure from two sides simultaneously.

Joint:  Linear opening between two adjacent fire-related assemblies.

Joint Treatment:  Materials installed within a joint to provide a level of fire-resistance equal to that of the lesser of the two substrates it is installed between.

L Rating:  A fairly recent addition to UL 1479 that provides a measure of the ability of a firestop sealing design to prevent air leakage when subjected to a known over pressure and air flow.  Test is conducted at ambient temperatures and at elevated temperatures (400°F)

Membrane Penetration: In hollow wall or floor construction, an opening made through one side (membrane) of the assembly.

Modulus:  A term used to describe the elasticity of sealants.  The amount of pressure required to compress or stretch a cured sealant specimen.

Movement Capability:  The range of movement a joint is designed to accommodate without diminishing its fire resistive performance.

Noncombustible:  Materials that will not burn or melt during a fire.

Nonvented:  Piping systems that do not allow the free passage of air, e.g., hot and cold water supply pipes, electrical conduits. Also referred to as closed.

Passive Materials:  Materials that do not react with heat.  Non-intumescent materials.

Perimeter:  A specific construction consisting of a rated floor, a non-rated exterior curtain wall and fill and forming materials installed between the floor and and curtain wall to prevent the spread of fire vertically.

Point Contact:  When specified within a System, point at which penetrant comes into contact with periphery of opening.

PVC:  Acronym for Polyvinyl Chloride.  A combustible thermoplastic resin used in the manufacture of certain nonmetallic pipes used primarily for DWV, cold water supply, and electrical applications.

Safing Joint:  The gap between the floor in a high-rise building and the curtain wall.

Sleeve:  A Liner, generally metallic, used to create an annulus for or around the penetrants.  May be placed into concrete as it is poured or may be placed around a penetrant and inserted into a wall as it is erected.

Smoke Seal:  Seal installed to form barrier to passage of particulate smoke and air.  No hourly rating can be predicted for a smoke seal.

Steel Deck Assembly:  Otherwise known as fluted deck of floor pans, these floor assemblies consist of concrete that is poured into a corrugated steel pan assembly.

T Rating:  A measure of the thermal conductivity of a firestop system.  The time required for various elements on the unexposed side of an system to exceed 325°F over the temperature at the start of the test.

Through-Penetration:  An opening in a wall or floor that passes completely through the assembly.

UL 263:  Standard Fire Test of Building Construction and Materials (UL equivalent to ASTM E119)

UL 1479: Fire Tests of Through Penetration Firestop (UL equivalent to ASTM E119)

UL 2079:  Tests For Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems.  This test method adds movement testing to the obvious fire-resistance requirements.

Vented:  In piping systems, pipes that allow the passage of air such a DWV pipes. Also referred to as open.