A passthrough is a short connection, passage or opening that joins two building parts or spaces. In construction, the term covers both structural penetrations (such as a service penetration through a wall) and short walkable connections between areas.
Application
A passthrough appears in many contexts:
- Building services — a hole or pipe through a wall, floor or roof for pipes, cables or ventilation ducts
- Urban design — a narrow alley or passage connecting two streets or courtyards
- Masonry — a short cross-connection between two parallel walls, often used for stability
- Roofs — a penetration through the roof covering for a flue, vent or solar pipe
Considerations
- Fire resistance — penetrations through fire-rated assemblies must be firestopped
- Acoustic insulation — a passthrough often forms a weak point in sound insulation
- Moisture and airtightness — a penetration through a roof or external wall must be made airtight and watertight
- Reinforcement — a penetration in concrete requires extra reinforcement around the opening
Related terms
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