1. Barrier Management strategies
10/22/2015
Barrier Management strategies

2. Learning Objectives
Understand the basics of Firestopping and why it’s required by code
Understand the healthcare specific challenges and common failures / deficiencies found during an inspection
Understand how to identify a qualified contractor and get the quality, compliant product you’re paying for
Consistent themes…Education & Communication

3. What is Firestopping
A specific tested & listed fire protection system made of various components used to seal openings and joints in fire- resistance rated wall and/or floor assemblies.
Historically and even with some today…Firestop = the RED stuff.
A product is not rated…it’s the ENTIRE SYSTEM

4. Why is Firestopping required by code?
Why are rated barriers important…
Allow safe egress from a facility
Allow for defend in place where required
Compartmentalizes a facility to limit exposure
Decreases cross-contamination / infection rates
Modern construction materials…everything burns
Hospital environment…some people can’t just leave
Spread of fire
Readmittance rates

5. Why is Firestopping required by code?
Current Construction Methods & Materials
Textiles – Furniture, drapes, sheets, particle / mdf cores, etc
Sprinkler systems
Notification systems directing people to egress paths
No longer just about healthcare…Reimbursements = patient satisfaction = more and more comfortable environments
Everything burns
Direct people to pathways that may not be “protected”
Defend in place

6. Why is Firestopping required by code?
20 x 20 x 20 Room Experiment
A single dime sized hole in a rated barrier
The 8,000 sq ft room will fill with smoke in under 4 minutes
So that you cannot see your hand 18 inches in front of you
Source: International Firestop Council 2004
18” = stretching your hand out in front of you

7. Why is Firestopping required by code?
IFC Video: Demonstration of Proper vs Improper Firestopping
Looks good DOES NOT WORK

8. Current Problem

9. Current Problem

10. Current Problem

11. Current Problem: This is What We Should See…

12. Firestopping in Healthcare
How does it affect you…
Barrier issues are consistently being cited by the Deeming Authorities (Joint Commission/ DNV / HFAP)
Several of the top 10 cited items are related to the rated barriers within a healthcare facility
Funding – budgets are continually being reallocated
Multiple building codes & construction types all under one roof
SOC / PFI – we’re chasing our tales
Band-aid approach
SOC – chasing our tales due to lack of communication
Paying for the same work multiple times

13. Firestopping in Healthcare
How did we get here…
Design
Construction / Installation
Inspections
Maintenance

14. Firestopping in Healthcare
Design
Designing to multiple codes – IBC / IFC / NFPA / etc
Requirements have changed drastically over the years relating to rated barriers and education has lagged behind
Increasingly shifting responsibility to the construction team through performance oriented documents and “reviewing” submittals
Often include details to get through city review without understanding ramifications of non-compliant designs
Building to one set of standards and managed by another
Liability – it’s all about passing the buck right now

15. Firestopping in Healthcare
Construction / Installation
Historically there has been little education around firestopping
Scope is typically left to the individual trade contractors whose core competency is something else…electric / plumb / mech
The average trade contractor provides their apprentice with a caulk gun and the “red stuff.”
Design details are often incomplete or even non-compliant leaving an uneducated installer to decide what to do
Contractors have not been set up to succeed…no enforcement / inconsistent, incorrect drawings, etc
You don’t know what you don’t know…

16. Firestopping in Healthcare
Inspection / Enforcement
“If it’s red, it’s good.” - Historically firestopping has been relatively ignored by the inspection community
Massive changes in code editions and adoption rates
Decreasing budgets = less manpower / less education
Often generalists in code
Code changes include local ammendments

17. Firestopping in Healthcare
Maintenance
Decreasing budgets = less manpower / less education
Budgets are always changing within a healthcare facility
Planning is part 1, but the urgent need gets the funding
A healthcare facility is always being renovated
Little communication within departments (facility & system)
Success looks different to each of you and is often conflicting
No incentive to expose how bad it might be

18. Firestopping in Healthcare
Specific Failures
Through Penetration Firestopping
Fire-Resistive Joint Systems
Data Cabling / Sprinkler Lines
Wall Construction
Life Safety Plans

19. Quality and Compliance
SET YOURSELF UP TO SUCCEED

20. Quality and Compliance
Qualified Contractors
Company Certifications
FM 4991 / UL QFCP
Company specific
Requires annual audits
Requires ongoing CEU’s & recertification
Educates companies on all aspects of Firestopping
Financial investment and Firestop specific work history
Manufacturer Certifications
Hilti / STI / 3M / Rector Seal / Etc
Specific to manufacturers products & tested systems
Multiples levels from general firestop awareness to specific training
FIT Trained

21. Quality and Compliance
Design
Develop a consistent specification to provide your design teams with YOUR firestopping requirements…
Material Manufacturer
Consistency will help with long term maintenance / education
Installer Qualifications
Manufacturer certified / FM 4991 / UL QFCP
Documentation
Tag & label
Software
A&E firms understand SOC / PFI, but there is often a breakdown in the connection between new construction and maintenance

22. Quality and Compliance
New Construction
Pre-approve contractors who install firestopping on new construction
Educate yourself to know what to look for
Establish the importance of the rated barriers as a regular agenda item during construction
Tag & Label / Documentation

23. Quality and Compliance
Inspection / Enforcement
Get to know your local code officials and let them know this matters to you
IBC (2012) requires 3rd Party Special Inspections for firestopping
High rise construction
Risk category 3 & 4 (I-2 / I-3 classifications)
As discussed earlier, some city inspectors don’t know what to look for

24. Quality and Compliance
Maintenance
Train your staff on basic installations
Train your staff on how to identify non-compliant firestopping
Communicate internally
Know what you’re buying with your SOC inspections
Above ceiling permitting / tracking – COMMUNICATION
Engage experts when it’s simply too much to handle
Permitting – has anyone ever surveyed the old conditions outside of SOC?
Are contractors incentivized to not share what they see

25. Quality and Compliance
Randomly field check a hand full of installations that system requirements are being met
Follow each system sheet from top to bottom. Takes 1-2 minutes
The average trade contractor does not use mineral wool where required
Ratings
Quick Reference
Can often tell application,
single or multiple thru pens,
point of contact or annular space
Substrate(s) Assembly
Penetrating Item(s)
Material
Installation Specifics
● Not Shown:
Acceptable Installation Methods

26. Quality and Compliance

27. Quality and Compliance
Randomly field check a hand full of installations that system requirements are being met
Follow each system sheet from top to bottom. Takes 1-2 minutes
The average trade contractor does not use mineral wool where required
Ratings
Quick Reference
Can often tell application,
single or multiple thru pens,
point of contact or annular space
Floor Assembly
Wall Assembly
Material
Installation Specifics
● Not Shown:
Acceptable Installation Methods

28. 10 Common Failures
Wrong system selection (or no selection at all)

29. 10 Common Failures
Maximum annular space exceeded (system expected to fail)

30. 10 Common Failures
Depth of sealant (systems are tested with MINIMUM amounts)

31. 10 Common Failures
Improper installation methods (#1 not tooled)

32. 10 Common Failures
Installed as point of contact (must meet annular space requirements)

33. 10 Common Failures
Not free of dust / foreign material (adhesion failure)

34. 10 Common Failures
Mineral wool has not been used

35. 10 Common Failures
Incorrect material used for installation

36. 10 Common Failures
Installation outside of system parameters (Engineering Judgment)

37. 10 Common Failures
Installation of drywall tape or other sealants

38. Summary Education is key Communication
Hospital Staff / Contractors / Designers / Inspectors
Follow the tested system details
Know what to look for
Communication
Create incentives for communication within the hospital & with contractors
Set yourself up to succeed
Tag & label firestopping
Document your progress
Make it manageable

39. QUESTIONS

40. This is What We See…