Define cored hole in masonry?

[rbhall]

Specifications call for all sprinkler piping to be sleeved unless cores are provided. My understanding of a cored hole would require the masonry to be solid if acting as a sleeve. The contractor says a cored hole is a cored hole solid or not. Does anyone know where I could find the defintion of a cored hole in code.

 

[JAE]

From the engineer who specified it?

I would tend to agree with the contractor that a "cored hole" is a post-wall-constructed drilled hole though the wall regardless of the wall composition.

 

[Ron]

Agree with JAE as well. The purpose of this requirement is to "isolate" the sprinkler piping from being cast into cementitious material. Sleeves isolate the piping. In a cored hole, the piping goes through the hole with sufficient clearance to isolate. The annular space may be filled with foam.

 

[rbhall]

If the only reason is to isolate the pipe from cementitious material why do we allow sanitary waste vent pipe to be in grouted cells. I have always been told that a solid core acts as a sleeve only because it's solid. It's required on plumbing pipe because of structural(breakage) issues not because its of a cementitious material. Not sure about this.

 

[Ron]

Waste pipe is usually plastic of some sort (ABS/PVC). It is not affected by cementitious material.

You are correct that another reason for isolation is for structural movement; however, for sprinkler piping there is a life-safety issue, so corrosion should be prevented where possible. Either structural movement or corrosion can damage sprinkler piping.