International Building Code Section 713

International Building Code 713.1

General. Joints installed in or between fire-resistance-
ratedwalls, floor or floor/ceiling assemblies and roofs or
roof/ceiling assemblies shall be protected by an approved
fire-resistant joint system designed to resist the passage of fire
for a time period not less than the required fire-resistance rating
of the wall, floor or roof in or between which it is installed.
Fire-resistant joint systems shall be tested in accordance with
Section 713.3. The void created at the intersection of a
floor/ceiling assembly and an exterior curtain wall assembly
shall be protected in accordance with Section 713.4.
Exception: Fire-resistant joint systems shall not be
required for joints in all of the following locations:
1. Floors within a single dwelling unit.
2. Floors where the joint is protected by a shaft enclosure
in accordance with Section 707.
3. Floors within atriums where the space adjacent to the
atrium is included in the volume of the atrium for
smoke control purposes.
4. Floors within malls.
5. Floors within open parking structures.
6. Mezzanine floors.
7. Walls that are permitted to have unprotected openings.
8. Roofs where openings are permitted.
9. Control joints not exceeding a maximum width of
0.625 inch (15.9 mm) and tested in accordance with
ASTM E 119.

International Building Code 713.2

Installation. Fire-resistant joint systems shall be
securely installed in or on the joint for its entire length so as not
to dislodge, loosen or otherwise impair its ability to accommodate
expected building movements and to resist the passage of
fire and hot gases.

International Building Code 713.3

Fire test criteria. Fire-resistant joint systems shall be
tested in accordance with the requirements of either ASTM E
1966 or UL 2079. Nonsymmetrical wall joint systems shall be
tested with both faces exposed to the furnace, and the assigned
fire-resistance rating shall be the shortest duration obtained
from the two tests. When evidence is furnished to showthat the
wall was tested with the least fire-resistant side exposed to the
furnace, subject to acceptance of the building official, the wall
need not be subjected to tests from the opposite side.
Exception: For exterior walls with a horizontal fire separation
distance greater than 5 feet (1524 mm), the joint system
shall be required to be tested for interior fire exposure only.

International Building Code 713.4

Exterior curtain wall/floor intersection. Where fire
resistance-rated floor or floor/ceiling assemblies are required,
voids created at the intersection of the exterior curtain wall
assemblies and such floor assemblies shall be sealed with an
approved material or system to prevent the interior spread of
fire. Such material or systems shall be securely installed and
capable of preventing the passage of flame and hot gases sufficient
to ignite cotton waste where subjected either to ASTM E
119 time-temperature fire conditions under a minimum positive
pressure differential of 0.01 inch (0.254 mm) of water column
(2.5 Pa) or installed as tested in accordance with ASTM E
2307 for the time period at least equal to the fire-resistance rating
of the floor assembly. Height and fire-resistance requirements
for curtain wall spandrels shall comply with Section
704.9.

International Building Code 713.5

Spandrel wall. Height and fire-resistance requirements
for curtain wall spandrels shall comply with Section 704.9.
Where Section 704.9 does not require a fire-resistance-rated
spandrel wall, the requirements of Section 713.4 shall still
apply to the intersection between the spandrel wall and the
floor.

International Building Code 713.6

Fire-resistant joint systems in smoke barriers.
Fire-resistant joint systems in smoke barriers shall be tested in
accordance with the requirements of UL 2079 for air leakage.
The air leakage rate of the joint shall not exceed 5 cfm per lineal
foot (0.00775 m3/slm ) of joint at 0.30 inch (7.47 Pa ) of water
for both the ambient temperature and elevated temperature
tests.