Check for fire stops
Holes for plumbing
pipes that are drilled through the concrete floors
A firestop is a fire protection system used to seal openings and joints
in fire-resistance rated wall and/or floor assemblies. Firestops are
designed to restore the fire-resistance ratings of wall and/or floor
assemblies by impeding the spread of fire.
Firestops will also help prevent smoke and odors from travelling from
one unit to another.
Smoke and fumes can
travel between the units.
Older condos
Older condos may not have any fire stops at all. Earlier firestop
requirements have been improved over the years so firestops in older
buildings may allow for smoke to travel freely between condo units.
Fire
stops are the fire-proof materials that seal the holes.
Second-hand smoke
If you are having problems with second-hand smoke entering your unit,
check to see if there are firestops between your unit and the unit
where the odours originate.
Check for water pipes under the sinks, electrical cabling and the water
pipes in your heating/ cooling units.
An engineering study may be required to find the source of the problem.
Re-entry
It is often necessary to install new electrical cables or mechanical
systems piping through a hole in a fire-rated barrier which has been
properly fire-stopped during initial construction.
When this happens, the firestops are referred to as being "re-entered".
Firestop re-entries must be properly resealed.
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