Building Code Glossary
Pass-through: Building Code Definition
How the IFC 2009 define pass-through, where the wording differs, and which chapters depend on the term.
On this page
Last updated September 7, 2026 · Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The [ICC code library](https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes) publishes the current model text and the [ICC adoption maps](https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/code-adoption-maps/) show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Direct answer
Pass-through is a defined term in the International Fire Code (IFC) 2009, in Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities. The code's own words are: “An enclosure installed in a wall with a door on each side that allows chemicals, HPM, equipment, and parts to be transferred from one side of the wall to the other.” No other I-Code in this corpus defines it, so the IFC 2009 definition is the one to work from. The term is used in 6 chapters of this corpus, most often in Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy (IBC 2009), Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities (IFC 2009), Chimneys and Vents (IMC 2009). These pages transcribe the 2009 model text; verify the definition against the edition and amendments your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-09-07 · Updated 2026-09-07.
What does this term mean?
Pass-through — IFC 2009, Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities:
An enclosure installed in a wall with a door on each side that allows chemicals, HPM, equipment, and parts to be transferred from one side of the wall to the other.
What must be verified before using this guidance?
Pass-through is defined once in this corpus, in the Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities chapter of the International Fire Code (IFC) 2009:
An enclosure installed in a wall with a door on each side that allows chemicals, HPM, equipment, and parts to be transferred from one side of the wall to the other.
Where pass-through is used in the code
The term appears in 6 chapters of the 2009 I-Codes hosted here. The chapters that lean on it hardest are the ones to read next.
| Chapter | Code | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy | IBC 2009 | 9 |
| Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities | IFC 2009 | 9 |
| Chimneys and Vents | IMC 2009 | 8 |
| Chimneys and Vents | IRC 2009 | 4 |
| General Regulations | IMC 2009 | 2 |
| Definitions | IFC 2009 | 1 |
The term in use
How the code actually writes about pass-through, quoted from the 2009 text hosted here:
A chimney connector or vent connector shall not pass through a wall or partition unless the connector is listed and labeled for wall pass-through, or is routed through a device listed and labeled for wall pass-through and is installed in accordance with the conditions of its listing and label.
The terms pass-through is built out of
The definition above leans on 2 other defined terms. Each carries its own code definition, and a local amendment to any of them changes what pass-through covers:
- Equipment — IRC 2009: All piping, ducts, vents, control devices and other components of systems other than appliances that are permanently installed and integrated to provide control of environmental conditions for buildings.
- Enclosure — IRC 2009: The case or housing of apparatus, or the fence or walls surrounding an installation, to prevent personnel from accidentally contacting energized parts or to protect the equipment from physical damage.
Pass-through: what to open, and in what order
Every row is a document this term depends on. The ICC code library and the ICC adoption maps cover the middle rows.
| Check | Where | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Read the definition in the adopted IFC | Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy (IBC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities (IFC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Chimneys and Vents (IMC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Chimneys and Vents (IRC 2009) | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Equipment | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Enclosure | |
| Local amendment to any of the above | Jurisdiction's amendment list |
A research aid, not a code determination. The authority having jurisdiction decides which edition and which amendments apply.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all glossary guidance
- Equipment: Building Code Definition
- Enclosure: Building Code Definition
Sources and method
Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The ICC code library publishes the current model text and the ICC adoption maps show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What is the code definition of pass-through?
The International Fire Code (IFC) 2009 defines it in Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities as: “An enclosure installed in a wall with a door on each side that allows chemicals, HPM, equipment, and parts to be transferred from one side of the wall to the other.” The 2009 model text is reproduced here; the definition that binds your project is the one in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, as amended locally.
Which parts of the code depend on pass-through?
In this corpus the term is used across 6 chapters, led by Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy in the IBC 2009. Those are the sections whose scope moves if the definition is amended locally, so read them together with Chapter 2 rather than on their own.
What are the new building codes in Georgia for 2026?
Building is a separate defined term. The IBC 2009 defines it as: “Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.” That is not the same as pass-through, which the IFC 2009 defines as “An enclosure installed in a wall with a door on each side that allows chemicals, HPM, equipment, and parts to be transferred from one side of the wall to the other.” — read both before applying either, and confirm the wording in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted.
Related pages
- Panelboard: Building Code Definition
Panelboard — IRC 2009 definition: A single panel or group of panel units designed for assembly in the form of a …
- Panic Hardware: Building Code Definition
Panic Hardware — IBC 2009 definition: A door-latching assembly incorporating a device that releases the latch upon the application of a force …
- Particleboard: Building Code Definition
Particleboard — IBC 2009 definition: A generic term for a panel primarily composed of cellulosic materials (usually wood), generally in the …
- Pellet Fuel-burning Appliance: Building Code Definition
Pellet Fuel-burning Appliance — IRC 2009 definition: A closed combustion, vented appliance equipped with a fuel feed mechanism for burning processed pellets of …
- Pellet Vent: Building Code Definition
Pellet Vent — IRC 2009 definition: A vent listed and labeled for use with a listed pellet fuel-burning appliance.
- Penetration Firestop: Building Code Definition
Penetration Firestop — IBC 2009 definition: A through-penetration firestop or a membrane-penetration firestop.