What requirement does firestopping help to meet regarding life safety?

Firestopping plays a critical role in life safety by helping to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within a building. When a fire occurs, it can quickly escalate, and the rapid movement of smoke and flames can pose significant dangers to occupants. Firestopping materials and techniques are designed to create barriers that inhibit this spread, protecting egress routes and allowing occupants more time to evacuate safely.

This is essential for life safety because effective firestopping directly addresses the need to contain fire and smoke within designated areas, thereby reducing the risk of injury or loss of life. The integrity of fire-rated structures is reliant on the proper installation and maintenance of firestopping systems, which help to compartmentalize fire incidents and enhance safety for those within the building.

Other options, while important factors in overall building safety and comfort, do not specifically pertain to the fire safety aspect that firestopping is designed to address.