firestopping info

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Firestopping Standards

• Originally Firestopping design standards were covered by ASTM E 119 and UL 263.

• With the need for standards for testing procedures and Installation methods, ASTM E 814 and UL 1479 were developed.

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Where is Firestopping used

• There are 4 primary locations where Firestopping is used to prevent the spread of fire, smoke or gases.

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Where is Firestopping used cont’d

• Joints - Any joint between fire rated components. i.e. wall/wall (WW), floor/ wall (FW), wall/ceiling or structure (HW).

• Floors - (CEJ) perimeter slab edges/ exterior wall cavities ( curtain walls)

• Penetrations - (F,W,C) Any opening(s) in rated walls or floors. ( MEP penetrations)

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Where is Firestopping used cont’d

• Blank Openings – Openings with no penetrating items.

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Joints

• Wall/Wall (WWD &WWS)Drywall construction usually does not requirejoints that need to be firestopped.

Concrete and Masonry walls - are where wall to wall joints are most commonly used.

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Floors

• Slab edges – (CEJ) exterior wall cavity (Curtain Wall construction)

• Expansion Joints (CEJ)• Floor to floor (FFD)• Floor to wall (FWD)

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Blank Openings

• This is a condition that is not commonly seen in the Healthcare Construction arena.

• Most of what we deal with is Drywall construction. In most cases a opening/hole in the wall is covered with what is referred to as a “Blow Out patch”

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Penetrations

• (F, W, C) Floor, Wall, or Combination. These would mainly consist of pipes, conduits, cableing and ductwork.

• There are Firestop systems for virtually every condition listed above with some exceptions.

• These exceptions would be for penetrations which are not the norm; i.e., perpendicular to the item being penetrated. These are usually skewed or partially penetrate the wall/floor plane.

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Penetrations cont’d

• When there are penetrations for which there are no known UL approved details, An Engineering Judgment may be issued.

• These judgments usually come from the Engineering staff of one of the major Firestopping Manufacturers. They will make a judgment that the condition in question closely resembles that of an UL tested condition and therefore they issue an Engineering Judgment that tells the Contractor what detail to follow. Most (AHJ’s) Authority Having Jurisdiction accept these judgments.

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UL Designations For Firestop Systems

For example, System # CAJ-1044 is deciphered as follows:

C = Either floor or wallA or J = Concrete floor or wall, with minimum thickness less than or equal to 5 or 8 inches, respectively.1000 to 1999 = Specific types of metallic piping and specific diameters.#1044 is the 44th system in the 1000 series of metallic penetrations.

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UL Designations For Firestop Systems

Translation: This system, CAJ-1044, can be specified for use on metallic piping such as steel, iron, or copper tubing and copper pipe with specific outside dimensions, and installed through concrete floors or walls 5 to 8 inches thick or in framed floors.

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UL Designations For Firestop Systems

In a nutshell, the tested firestop system is given a letter designation indicating what type of floor or wall assembly the firestop system has been tested in: concrete, masonry, gypsum, etc. Following the letter is a number designation referring to the type of penetrating item that has been tested, such as metallic pipe, non-metallic pipe, cable, electrical, etc.

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Firestopping Nomenclature

• Annular space – The gap between the penetrating item and the hole.

• Backer rod /material – Materials used as a support for gunned or troweled sealant materials.

• Intumescent – Materials that swell in the prescence of heat to seal gaps around a penetration.

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Firestopping Nomenclature cont’d

• Point of contact – when a pentrating item makes contact with the hole.

• UL Fire Resistance Directory – the publication which contains details/descriptions for all Firestopping systems.

• Fire Resistance Rating – an hourly rating defined by building codes for the endurance of types of construction to resist fire.

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Firestopping Nomenclature

Courtesy of 3M

1A Metal Stud

1B Sheet Rock

3 Penetrating pipe/conduit

4 Intumescent Material

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Firestopping Nomenclature

Courtesy Of 3M

1A Metal stud

1B Sheet Rock

3 Penetrating pipe or conduit with (point of Contact).

4 Firestopping sealant

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Ratings of UL Firestop systems

Also located in the UL Fire Resistance Directory Vol. 2 are the F, T and L ratings for each firestop system. These are hourly ratings that indicate specific performance capabilities and correspond to building code requirements. The Directory defines these ratings as follows:

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Ratings of UL Firestop Systems

The F rating provides "the time period for which the system is capable of prohibiting the passage of flame through the system and requires acceptable hose stream performance."

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Ratings of UL Firestop Systems

The T designation indicates "the time period for which the system is capable of limiting the maximum temperature rise on the unexposed surface of the wall or floor assembly, on the penetrating item, and on the fill material in the annular space, not to exceed 325° F (181° C) above ambient temperature, and requires acceptable hose stream performance."

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Ratings of UL Firestop Systems

The L rating designates "information concerning the amount of air leakage, in cubic feet per minute per square foot of opening through the firestop system and/or 400° F air temperatures at an air pressure differential of 0.30 in W.C."

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Available Products

• Some of the many products available today include:– Intumescent, Silicone, Latex and Acrylic caulks– Elastomeric Sprays– Puttys, putty pads– Collars, wrap strips– Pillows, Foam, Mortar

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Firestopping Industry Today

• Many manufactuers have entered the arena.• The industry has a trade organization Firestop

Contractors International Assoc.– They promote industry wide education for

Contractors. – They work with Code officials to improve

codes and standards for firestopping.– They assist Architects in writing tight specs.

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Firestopping Installations

• A large majority of firestopping work today is not installed correctly.

• One key factor is the lack of education regarding Firestopping and the use of unskilled workers being asked to perform the work.

• A General lack of understanding that all Firestopping work must be done in accordance with approved UL details exist in the Construction Industry today.