NFPA 221, Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls

Slow the Spread of Fire to Help Save Lives.

Fire moves fast, and just a few extra seconds can make a big difference when it comes to reducing damage and help save lives. Fire wall assemblies offer an effective means of slowing the spread of fire. NFPA 221, Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls, provides anyone involved in building construction with comprehensive criteria for the proper design and construction of these components.

The standard covers general requirements for fire resistance ratings, performance-based design, and other considerations for high challenge fire walls, fire walls, and fire barrier walls, including protection of openings and penetrations. 

The 2024 edition contains several notable revisions, including:

• New requirements for fire door assemblies installed in high challenge fire walls
• Damper definitions updated to align with language found in NFPA 90A, Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems.
• Revisions made to 6.6.1, now titled Separation of Vertical Buildings
• Several editorial changes to better align with other NFPA documents

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1 Administration

1.1 Scope.
1.2 Purpose.
1.3 Application.
1.4 Retroactivity.
1.5 Equivalency.
1.6 Units.

Chapter 2 Referenced Publications

2.1 General.
2.2 NFPA Publications.
2.3 Other Publications.
2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.

Chapter 3 Definitions

3.1 General.
3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
3.3 General Definitions.

Chapter 4 General Requirements

4.1 Scope.
4.2 Design Loads.
4.3 Fire Resistance Ratings.
4.4 Performance-Based Design.
4.5 Ducts and Air-Transfer Openings.
4.6 Double Wall Assemblies.
4.7 Impact Damage.
4.8 Joints.
4.9 Opening Protectives.
4.10 Penetrations.
4.11 Grade Plane.
4.12 Insulation and Siding.

Chapter 5 High Challenge Fire Walls

5.1 Scope.
5.2 Structural Stability.
5.3 Cantilevered HC Fire Walls.
5.4 Tied HC Fire Walls.
5.5 Double HC Fire Walls.
5.6 HC Fire Walls at Elevation Differences.
5.7 Clearance.
5.8 Opening Protectives.
5.9 Penetrations in HC Fire Walls.
5.10 Ducts and Air Transfer Openings.
5.11 High-Hazard Materials.
5.12 Parapets.
5.13 Roof Surface Protection.
5.14 Roof Structures.
5.15 Roof Penetrations.
5.16 Horizontal Continuity.

Chapter 6 Fire Walls

6.1 Scope.
6.2 Structural Stability.
6.3 Cantilevered Fire Walls.
6.4 Tied Fire Walls.
6.5 Double Fire Walls.
6.6 Fire Wall Termination.
6.7 Fire Walls with Elevation Differences.
6.8 Clearance.
6.9 Horizontal Continuity.
6.10 Opening Protectives.

Chapter 7 Fire Barrier Walls

7.1 Scope.
7.2 Continuity.
7.3 Opening Protectives.

Annex A Explanatory Material
Annex B Informational References

2024 (9781455930593)

2021 (9781455926374)

2018 (9781455916870)

2012 (NFPA221-12)