A 3-hour fire-rated wall with three penetrations includes one unsealed 4" opening with a steel pipe. What is the wall's fire rating?

The wall's fire rating has been compromised due to the presence of an unsealed opening. A fire-rated assembly, such as a 3-hour fire-rated wall, is designed to resist the spread of fire for a specified period when properly constructed and maintained. When an unsealed penetration exists, it can provide a pathway for heat and smoke to pass through, which undermines the intended fire-resistance capabilities of the wall.

Since the opening for the steel pipe is not sealed, the integrity of the fire-rated wall is lost, meaning it can no longer be trusted to contain a fire for the originally intended duration. As a result, the fire rating is no longer valid, and the wall is considered to have effectively lost its fire rating. This emphasizes the importance of ensuring that any penetrations in fire-rated walls are properly sealed to maintain their fire-resistance rating.