Floor assemblies that are not required elsewhere in this code
to be fire-resistance rated, shall be provided with a 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum
wallboard membrane, 5/8-inch (16 mm) wood structural panel membrane, or
equivalent on the underside of the floor framing member. Penetrations or
openings for ducts, vents, electrical outlets, lighting, devices, luminaires,
wires, speakers, drainage, piping and similar openings or penetrations shall be
permitted.
Exceptions:
1. Floor
assemblies located directly over a space protected by an automatic sprinkler
system in accordance with Section P2904, NFPA 13D, or other approved equivalent
sprinkler system.
2. Floor
assemblies located directly over a crawl space.
3. Portions of floor assemblies shall be
permitted to be unprotected where complying with the following:
3.1. The aggregate area of the unprotected
portions does not exceed 80 square feet (7.4 m2) per story.
3.2. Fireblocking in accordance with Section
R302.11.1 is installed along the perimeter of the unprotected portion to
separate the unprotected portion from the remainder of the floor
assembly.
4. Wood floor
assemblies using dimension lumber or structural composite lumber equal to or
greater than 2-inch by 10-inch (50.8 mm by 254 mm) nominal dimension, or other
approved floor assemblies demonstrating equivalent fire
performance.
Notes
S.C. Code Regs. §
8-1207
Added by
State Register Volume 37, Issue No. 6, eff June 28, 2013;
State
Register Volume 40, Issue No. 06, eff.
6/24/2016;
State
Register Volume 43, Issue No. 05, eff.
5/24/2019;
State
Register Volume 44, Issue No. 06, eff.
6/26/2020;
State
Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff.
5/27/2022.
