What is the critical role of firestopping materials when electrical conduits or pipes penetrate a fire-rated wall or floor assembly?

A fire-rated wall or floor assembly is a specially constructed barrier engineered to resist the spread of fire, smoke, and hot gases for a specified duration, known as its fire resistance rating. This rating is critical for maintaining compartmentation within a building, which means dividing it into smaller, manageable fire zones to protect occupants and property. When an electrical conduit or pipe penetrates such an assembly, it inherently creates an opening, or breach. This breach compromises the assembly's integrity and its ability to function as a fire barrier, effectively nullifying its fire resistance rating and allowing fire, smoke, and toxic gases to pass freely from one compartment....