Which term refers to a continuous membrane or a membrane with discontinuities created by protected openings, designed and constructed with a specified fire resistance rating to limit the spread of fire and restrict the movement of smoke?

• A. Floor Fire Door Assembly
• B. FireBarrier
• C. Smoke Barrier
• D. Thermal Barrier

Answer: (B)

Fire barriers are continuous walls with a defined fire-resistance rating that subdivide a building to limit the spread of fire and restrict the movement of smoke between compartments. They may have openings only if those openings are protected by listed fire-rated assemblies, such as doors with proper hardware and frames. This description matches a fire barrier exactly, since it emphasizes both fire containment and smoke control within a rated, continuous membrane. The other options don’t fit as well: a floor fire door assembly is just a door, not the whole rated barrier; a smoke barrier focuses mainly on limiting smoke movement rather than fire spread across the barrier; and a thermal barrier is about protecting materials from heat, not about controlling fire and smoke spread between spaces.