Firestopping FAQ's, Fact's, Terms, Codes and Links
(FAQ's):
WHAT IS FIRESTOPPING? Firestopping is a term used to describe the use of buildng materials to prevent the spread of flames, heat, or gases through penetrations in fire-rated walls, ceilings or floors for things such as pipes, ducts, wiring and etc.
WHAT IS FIRESTOP SYSTEM? A firestop system is combination of products, either premanufactured or assembled in the field that, once installed correctly to a U.L. rated design, prevent the passage of flames, heat, or gasses between compartments.
WHY DO WE NEED TO FIRESTOP? Firestopping is one of the requirements of Life Safety and building codes. The structural integrity of a building during a fire condition must be maintained in order to have a safe evacuation of its occupants. The firewall integrity also needs to be maintained in order to provide the firefighters their best opportunity to put out the fire. Secondly, firestopping is a matter of life safety. The lives of the firefighters as well as the building occupants could very well depend on having properly firestopped penetrations.
WHY MUST WE CONTAIN SMOKE, TOXIC GASES AND FIRE? ¾ of all fire deaths are caused by smoke inhalation. Approximately 57% of people killed in fires are not in the room of the fires origin. Visibility-47% of survivors caught in a fire could not see more than 12 feet. Smoke travels 120-420 feet per minute under fire conditions.
WHOSE RESPOSIBILITY IS IT TO FIRESTOP? The architect/engineer, the local building officials and inspectors, the general contractor, the sub-contractor, and firestop applicators. Each shares a common responsibility: Life-Safety
WHAT IS THE ASTM E814? It is a recognized industry test that evaluates penetrations through a tested, fire-resistive wall, ceiling, or floor assembly. The test assigns ratings based on temperature rise ("T"), flame occurrence ("F"), and air leakage (‘L"). The objective of the test is to return the floor, ceiling, or wall to the original fire rating.
WHAT IS SECTION 7270? It is a section of the National Institute of Building Science’s (NIBS) guidelines that specifically outlines step-by-step procedures for installing firestop systems. It is the industry standard by which all qualified firestop contractors follow.
WHAT DO THE TERMS"INTUMESCENCE, "ENDOTHERMIC," AND "ELASTOMERIC" MEAN? An "intumescent" product is one that, when exposed to heat, expands to fill a void in the penetration caused by the deformation or combustion of the penetrating item. An "endothermic" product blocks heat by chemical absorption and moisture release. "Elastomeric" products are flexible and prevent passage of heat and gases while permitting movement of the assembly.
WHAT ARE "ENGINEERING JUDGEMENTS"? They are recommendations system/product manufacturers sometimes make to meet actual field conditions, based on testing that approximates the conditions encountered.
WHY DO "ENGINEERING JUDGEMENTS" EXIST? No matter how many firestop tests are completed at UL/OPL, contractors seem to always encounter different ways of penetrating fire-rated assemblies. In order to provide the proper fire protection for an entire building, custom drawings are needed for these odd applications.
HOW ARE THESE DRAWINGS CREATED? Engineering judgments are based off of UL/OPL tested systems. These designs are created by a qualified technical personnel in accordance with the "Recommended International Firestop Council (IFC) Guildlines for Evaluating Firestop Systems Engineering Judgements" in mind.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT THE SEALANT I'M USING IS GOOD FOR ALL PENETRATIONS AND JOINT CONFIGURATIONS?
Refer to the system design listing by the independent testing and inspection agency (e.g., Underwriters Laboratory). If there is no listed system design, there is no recognized firestop.
(Fire Fact's):
- ¾ of all fire deaths are caused by smoke inhalation.
- Approximately 57% of people killed in fires are not in the room of the fires origin.
- Visibility-47% of survivors caught in a fire could not see more than 12 feet.
- Smoke travels 120-420 feet per minute under fire conditions.
- A fire breaks out every 16 seconds in America.
- A fire-related death occurs every two hours.
- Someone is injured in a fire every 20 minutes.
- Fires cause approximately $9 Billion in damages annually.
(Firestopping Terms and definitions):
- Active Fire Protection A system or device that is designed to alert occupants, aid in extinguishment, or limit the spread of fire (e.g.
sprinkler system or alarm system).
- Annular Space (Annulus) The region, measured in a straight line,
between penetrants, or between the outer most portion of the penetrants
and the inside periphery of a circular opening or the sides of a
rectangular opening.
Example: a pipe with an outside diameter of 4.5" centered in a 6"
diameter hole has an annular space of (6 - 4.5) ÷ 2 = 3/4".
- Assembly Rating The combination of the T and F rating. In a joint
assembly, T equals F.
- Closed Piping System Piping system which is completely enclosed,
usually carrying fluids under pressure. Examples: hot/cold water distribution,
sprinkler piping, chilled water supply and return.
- F Rating The time a firestop system prevents the passage of flame
through an opening and successfully passes the hose stream test as
determined by ASTM E-814 and UL 1479.
- Fire Barrier A continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal, such
as a wall or floor assembly that is designed and constructed with a
specified fire resistance rating to limit the spread of fire and restrict
the movement of smoke.
- Fire Compartment A space, within a building, that is enclosed by fire
barriers on all sides, including the top and bottom.
- Fire Partition A vertical assembly of materials, having protected openings,
designed to restrict the spread of fire.
- Fire Wall A fire resistance rated wall, having protected openings, that
restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from the foundation
to or through the roof, with sufficient structural stability under fire
conditions to allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse
of the wall.
- Firestop System A specific construction consisting of a fire-rated wall
or floor assembly, a penetrating item or items passing through an
opening in the assembly, and the materials designed to help prevent
the spread of fire through the openings.
- L Rating An optional measurement of the rate of air leakage through
test samples resulting from a specified air pressure difference
applied across the surface of the test samples.
- Membrane Penetration An opening made through one side (wall, floor
or ceiling membrane) of an assembly.
- Passive Fire Protection A device or system designed to confine fire
and smoke in zones (e.g. compartmentalization).
- Penetrant (Penetrating Item) Any item passing completely though a
wall or floor, such as pipes, conduits, cables, etc.
- Point of Contact (Penetrating Item) When listed UL system drawing
allows penetrating item to “touch” edge of opening.
- Smoke Barrier A continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal,
such as a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly, that is designed and constructed
to restrict the movement of smoke. A smoke barrier might or
might not have a fire resistance rating. Such barriers might have protected
openings.
- Smoke Compartment A space within a building enclosed by smoke
barriers on all sides, including the top and bottom.
- T Rating The time for the temperature of the unexposed surface of the
firestop system or any penetrating item to rise 325°F above its initial
temperature as determined by ASTM E-814 and UL 1479.
- Through Penetration Penetrating items passing entirely through both
protective membranes of bearing walls required to have a fire-resistance
rating and wall requiring protected openings.
- UL UL is an abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories Inc., a not for
profit independent organization testing for public safety.
- UL 1479 “Fire Tests of Through-Penetration Firestops” (equivalent to
ASTM E-814).
- UL 2079 “Tests for Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems.”
- UL Fire Resistance Directory UL publication which contains descriptions
and ratings of firestop systems.
- Vented (Open) Piping System Piping system which is atmospherically
vented by design to prevent backflow or vacuum. Examples: DWV
piping (drain, waste or vent).
- W-rating An optional rating for through penetrations Firestop systems.
Determines the effectiveness of a firestop system to restrict the flow
of water. Class 1-rated firestops have been shown to resist up to 3
feet of water column for 72 hours.
(Links):
(Laboratories, Organizations, Associations, and PSCs)
EAGLE TRI-CON SERVICES INC.
ACCREDITED FIRESTOP SPECIALIST
(SAVING LIVES AND PROTECTING PROPERTY)
CERTIFIED MINORITY CONTRACTOR