--- title: Top Firestop and Barrier Management Questions description: What is a Fire Barrier? A continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal that is designed & constructed with a specified fire resistance rating --- - [**](https://www.facebook.com/LifeSafetyServices) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-safety-services-llc/) - [**](https://twitter.com/DamperInspector) - [**](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCszVpj4mF1Ruw6t_Jm3GnlQ/) [** (888) 675-4519](tel:%20%20886754519) [![logo](https://info.lifesafetyservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=200&height=125&name=logo.png "logo")](https://www.lifesafetyservices.com/) [ Request A Quote ](https://info.lifesafetyservices.com/top-firestop-and-barrier-management-questions#foot-quote) # Top Firestop and Barrier Management Questions ** Jun 18, 2015 10:00:00 AM / by [LSS](https://info.lifesafetyservices.com/author/lss) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) - **What is a Fire Barrier?** - A continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal such as a wall or floor assembly that is designed and constructed with a specified fire resistance rating to limit the spread of fire and restrict the movement of smoke.   - **What is an Elastomeric Material?** - It is a flexible, low modulus material capable of expanding, contracting and returning to original dimensions without fatigue.   - **What is an Intumescent Material?** - It is a material that is designed to expand significantly (typically 2 to 10 times its original volume) when exposed to sufficient heat.   - **What is a Firestop System?** - It’s an assembly consisting of: 1. The penetrant or penetrants 2. The opening through a particular type of wall or floor 3. The firestop material and design that are used to seal the opening or protect the penetrants   - **What is the difference between a penetrant/penetrating item and a membrane penetration?** - A penetrant/penetrating item is an item that passes completely through a wall or floor such as pipes, conduits, cables, etc. - A membrane penetration is an opening made through one side (wall, floor, or ceiling membrane) of an assembly.  ![Top Firestop and Barrier Management Questions.jpg](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) - **What are the different types of ratings as described in various UL tested systems?** | L Rating | An optional measurement of the rate of air leakage through test samples resulting from a specific air pressure difference applied across the surface of the test sample | | --- | --- | | F Rating | The time a firestop system prevents the passage of flame through an opening and successfully the hose stream test as determined by ASTM E-814 and UL 1479 | | T Rating | The time for the temperature of the unexposed surface of the firestop system or any penetrating item to rise 325 degrees Fahrenheit above its initial temperature as determined by ASTM E-814 and UL 1479 |   - **What is a fire resistance rating?** - The period of time a buildings component maintains the ability to confine a fire, continue to perform a structural function or both.   - **What do we mean by a penetrant requiring annular space?** - Annular space (annulus) is the area or region measured in a straight line between penetrants or between the outer most portion of the penetrants and the inside periphery of a circular opening or the sides of a rectangular opening.   - **What is passive fire protection?** - It is a device or system designed to confine fire and smoke. Tags: [Above Ceiling](https://info.lifesafetyservices.com/topic/above-ceiling) #### Written by [LSS](https://info.lifesafetyservices.com/author/lss) ### Subscribe to our blog ### Request a Quote Have a question about Life Safety Services? We are here for anything you may need. Need a quote? We’ll have it within 24 hours of your request. ### Corporate Office 908 South 8th St. Suite 500 Louisville, KY 40203 [![logo](https://info.lifesafetyservices.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=250&height=155&name=logo.png "logo")](https://www.lifesafetyservices.com/) **Phone 888.675.4519** **Email: [info@lifesafetyservices.com](mailto:%20info@lifesafetyservices.com)** **Fax: 502.964.1337** [**](https://info.lifesafetyservices.com/top-firestop-and-barrier-management-questions#)