Firestopping – Filling the Gaps Makes a Difference Poole Fire Protection Brian Griffin & Jack Poole, PE 2007 DOE Contractor Fire Protection Workshop Argonne National Laboroatory

Objective What is Firestopping Benefits of Firestopping Why is Firestopping required Where is Firestopping required How is Firestopping accomplished More than red caulking material in the hole!!!

What is Firestopping? Definition –Properly installed, tested materials utilized to prevent passage of fire, smoke and toxic gases (penetrations and joints)

Benefits of Firestopping Life Safety CompartmentalizationSuppression

What is Firestopping? Through-Penetration Test - Before

What is Firestopping? Through-Penetration Test - During

What is Firestopping? Through-Penetration Test - After

What is Firestopping? Example of Successful Testing BeforeAfter

Why do We Firestop? …to safeguard against the spread of fire and smoke within a building… …safeguards which are required by code shall be maintained in conformance with the code edition under which installed The owner or the owner’s designated agent shall be responsible for the maintenance of buildings and structures

Why do We Firestop? MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas, 1980 –84 Died –679 Injured

First Interstate Bank Building Los Angeles, 1988 Why do We Firestop?

Beverly Hills Supper Club, 1977 –Cause of fire - Short circuit in wiring –Smoke and toxic gases killed 165 –Litigation completed in 2001 Ostankino Tower, Moscow, 2000 –Cause of fire - Short circuit in wiring –Automatic sprinklers failed Taipei Office Building, 2001 –Fire started on third Floor –Spread and jumped to 26th Floor

Drivers for Firestopping? DOE O 420.1B DOE-STD IBC (most local jurisdiction) UFC (some locations)

DOE O 420.1B Minimize the potential for: –Unacceptable interruption of vital DOE programs as a result of fire and related hazards; –Property loss from fire exceeding limits established by DOE; –Fire damage to critical process controls and safety class systems structures and components.

DOE-STD Section 9.2 – Fire Barriers –Wall, floor and ceiling, and roof and ceiling assemblies should be tested and rated for their fire resistance by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or similar nationally recognized testing laboratories, or should be approved by FM or similar organizations. Section 9.5 – Penetrations –Penetration seal materials and assemblies should be tested for their fire resistance and listed by UL or similar nationally recognized testing laboratories, or should be approved by FM.

IBC Sections & : Through-Penetrations –“Through-penetrations shall be protected by an approved penetration firestop system installed as tested in accordance with ASTM E814, with a minimum positive pressure differential of 0.01 inch of water and shall have: -an F-rating of not less than the required fire resistance rating of the wall penetrated.” -an F-rating and a T-rating of not less than 1 hour but not less than the required rating of the floor penetrated.” -Section 712.1: Fire Resistive Joint Systems –“Joints installed in or between fire resistance rated assemblies shall be protected by an approved fire-resistant joint system designed to resist the passage of fire for a time period not less than the required fire- resistance rating of the assembly in which it is installed.”

UFC – Door Openings –Must be protected in accordance with NFPA 80, Fire Doors and Fire Windows – Penetrations –Ducts at point of passage through firewalls must be in accordance with NFPA 90A, Installation of Air- Conditioning and Ventilating Systems and/or NFPA 90B, Installation of Warm Air Heating and Air- Conditioning Systems. –All other penetrations must be protected with UL, FM or NRTL tested and approved material or system.

Where is firestop required?

Where is Firestopping Required? Fire walls Fire barriers Shaft enclosures Fire partitions Horizontal assemblies –Floor assemblies –Roof assemblies

Through-penetrations Where is Firestopping Required?

Membrane-penetrations Where is Firestopping Required?

Construction joints Where is Firestopping Required?

Perimeter containment Where is Firestopping Required?

Duct and Air Transfer Openings

Where is Firestopping Required?

Who is Involved in Firestopping? Architect or Engineer Contractor Building Official

When is Firestopping Installed? At time of construction Whenever an existing fire rated assembly is modified –Additional penetrating item is added to an existing penetration –New data cable penetration –New sprinkler piping

Non-licensed contractors Usually installed by trades Firestop considered beneath them Most users are untrained How is Firestopping Generally Accomplished?

The RED RING Syndrome Rarely installed correctly

Visual Inspection Quiz What’s wrong with these installations? Dissimilar products in the same opening is not allowed

Visual Inspection Quiz What’s wrong with these installations? Drywall mud is never an acceptable firestop material Collar should be flush with ceiling surface & securely attached

Visual Inspection Quiz What’s wrong with this installation? Head of wall joint is firestopped, but penetrations are not Is there firestopping behind the drywall mud? Penetrant opening at top of wall must be firestopped with same product as head of wall

Visual Inspection Quiz What’s wrong with these installations? Visually … Nothing Does number and type of wrap strip match design? Is there sealant in the void? Does thickness and overlap of coating match design? What type and amount of backing material is behind coating?

Visual Inspection Quiz What’s wrong with this installation? There are no tested assemblies for penetrants through joints. Mineral wool alone is never an acceptable firestop material.

Visual Inspection Quiz What’s wrong with this installation? The firestop material is not applied 360°.

Visual Inspection Quiz What’s wrong with this installation?

How Should Firestopping be Accomplished? Designed by a licensed design professional Firestop Installation Permit Program –Same concept as a Hot Work Permit –Administered in conjunction with other access control processes –Can be tied to Code Footprint Installed by Certified Contractors

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Omega Point Laboratories Factory Mutual Standards Laboratories Intertek (Warnock Hersey) Listings Third Party Testing Labs American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) Labs Test to Standards

Firestopping: A Systematic Approach UL ApprovedNo such thing - only AHJ approves products or systems UL ClassifiedLab has used the country requirements to evaluate the product for specific hazards or properties UL ListedPasses the standard test and is in the lab’s directory

Firestopping: A Systematic Approach Appropriate firestopping is only achieved when applied in accordance with the system to which it was tested or an Engineered Judgment, which is established by the manufacturer or a licensed design professional.

What is a UL Listed Assembly Company ABC – SuperDuper Sealant

Firestopping – Filling the Gaps Makes a Difference Thank You! Poole Fire Protection Brian Griffin and Jack Poole, PE