Hint: Firewall fail
It’s not okay to smash holes in cinder block walls to run coaxial cables and simply leave gaping holes in the wall. Fire, smoke, and other products of combustion can pass right through this giant opening, leaving the building and its occupants exposed to greater risks from fire. Section 300.21 provides the general requirements for preventing the spread of fire and products of combustion, but Sec. 90.3 reminds us that the rules in Chapters 1 through 7, including Art. 300 don’t always apply to Chapter 8 Articles. The scope of Art. 800 tells us that it applies to CATV circuits unless modified by Art. 820. Section 800.26 requires openings around penetrations of cables through fire-rated walls to be fire stopped with approved methods that will maintain the fire resistance rating of the wall. Article 820 does not modify this requirement; therefore, this wall must be fire stopped.
