A fire cut is defined as?

A fire cut is defined as?

• A. When the end of a joist is cut off at an angle to permit the joist to fall out of the masonry wall without damaging the wall
• B. A notch in the joist to improve fire resistance
• C. A cut to allow plumbing lines
• D. A method of bracing

Answer: (C)

A fire cut is an angled or beveled cut at the end of a joist (or similar member) so that, if the wall heats and shifts during a fire, the joist end can drop away from the masonry instead of binding against it. This helps prevent the joist from pushing or cracking the wall as heat causes movement, reducing damage and facilitating controlled collapse away from the wall. It isn’t about creating a notch to improve fire resistance, nor about routing plumbing lines, nor a bracing method. The defining purpose is to avoid binding the end of the joist against the wall under fire conditions.

A fire cut is an angled or beveled cut at the end of a joist (or similar member) so that, if the wall heats and shifts during a fire, the joist end can drop away from the masonry instead of binding against it. This helps prevent the joist from pushing or cracking the wall as heat causes movement, reducing damage and facilitating controlled collapse away from the wall. It isn’t about creating a notch to improve fire resistance, nor about routing plumbing lines, nor a bracing method. The defining purpose is to avoid binding the end of the joist against the wall under fire conditions.