In terms of fire safety, what is a crucial requirement for ducts penetrating fire partitions?

For ducts that penetrate fire partitions, one of the crucial fire safety requirements is that they must be lined with a steel sleeve. This is vital because a steel sleeve acts as a barrier that helps to prevent the spread of fire and smoke through the duct system. It provides structural integrity during a fire scenario, ensuring that the duct itself does not contribute to the fire's spread.

Moreover, lining the ducts with a steel sleeve can enhance their fire resistance rating, which is essential in maintaining the effectiveness of fire partitions as barriers to fire propagation. Fire partitions are specifically designed to contain fires within a certain area, and any penetration, such as ducts, must be adequately protected to maintain this effectiveness.

In contrast, insulating the ducts may have benefits such as thermal management, but it is not primarily focused on fire containment. Non-combustible materials may be a requirement in other contexts, but the specific functional benefit of a steel sleeve in penetrations specifically addresses the fire safety concern. The location of the ducts away from walls does not directly pertain to their role in fire safety in the context of fire partitions.