Every opening made in a fire-rated ceiling — whether for a downlight, exhaust fan, speaker, or access hatch — weakens the fire barrier. An unprotected hole allows fire, smoke, and hot gases to pass through the ceiling into the space above (or below), potentially causing rapid fire spread and endangering occupants in other parts of the building.
For this reason, the NCC and AS 1530.4 require that any penetration in a fire-rated ceiling must be protected to maintain the same FRL as the ceiling itself.
In ceilings that require Resistance to the Incipient Spread of Fire (RISF), the penetration must also maintain at least 60 minutes of RISF.
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