Originally Posted by
Darren Miller
Let's say there is a crawlspace and a gas line or electric service runs through it. A fire starts is the crawl and burns the wood frame 'foundation' wall.
When is the last time you found a "wood frame" "foundation"? Not going to happen.
However, you have a point in that there could be a fire in the crawlspace and there is now no fire rated wall separating the fire "under" that structure from other structures.
However, the way you are stating it is in regards to supporting the structure above - that's not the point, the point is to contain the fire to one structure. In that case, yeah, there would be no fire rated separation to the property line.
However, as soon as you threw in that "gas" line, you now need to meet:
- G2415.11 (404.11) Piping underground beneath buildings.
Piping installed underground beneath buildings is prohibited except where the piping is encased in a conduit of wrought iron, plastic pipe, or steel pipe designed to withstand the superimposed loads. Such conduit shall extend into an occupiable portion of the building and, at the point where the conduit terminates in the building, the space between the conduit and the gas piping shall be sealed to prevent the possible entrance of any gas leakage. If the end sealing is capable of withstanding the full pressure of the gas pipe, the conduit shall be designed for the same pressure as the pipe. Such conduit shall extend not less than 4 inches (102 mm) outside the building, shall be vented above grade to the outdoors, and shall be installed so as prevent the entrance of water and insects. The conduit shall be protected from corrosion in accordance with Section G2415.8.