Final answer:
True, firestopping is required for the annular spaces in construction to comply with fire safety regulations. However, it is false that high-voltage wires are wrapped in insulating material; they are held by insulators, and air serves as the insulator.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about the annular space between the sleeve and the penetrating item, as well as the annular space between the sleeve and the fire-resistance-rated assembly, needing to be firestopped is indeed true. For a building to comply with fire safety regulations, any gaps that could allow the passage of fire, smoke, or gases must be sealed. This practice is known as firestopping and is critical to maintain the integrity of fire-resistance-rated walls and floors.
Regarding the insulation of high-voltage wires, it is false that the wires themselves are wrapped in insulating material. The high-voltage wires you see on tall metal-frame towers are held aloft by insulating connectors, but they are not wrapped in insulation. Instead, the air around them provides the necessary insulation to prevent arcing and to keep the electricity flowing where it should.