Newsletter September
16, 2004
Highlights
- ASTM E 2307 Group Meets
- UL's "W" Rating Feedback from FCIA
- FCIA Firestop Industry Conference
- Canadian FCIA Members at CSC Toronto Chapter Meeting
- Call for FCIA Board Nominees
ASTM E 2307 Task Group Meets - FCIA Member Jim Shriver,
Thermafiber, LLC, ASTM E2307-04, task group chair of the Standard
Test Method for Determining Fire Resistance of Perimeter Fire
Barrier Systems Using Intermediate-Scale, Multi-story Test
Apparatus, met with industry representatives at UL's Headquarters
in Northbrook, IL Thursday & Friday, August 26 and 27,
2004. Discussion was mainly about adding a "leapfrog"
portion to the ASTM Standard for Perimeter Fire Barrier Systems,
and how that might take place. Currently, the standard only
addresses the "slot" area for interior fire spread
at the building perimeter.
FCIA supports that ASTM E 2307 should offer an option to
protect both the slot and leapfrog fire protection issues,
making it consistent with UL's test standard that already
tests for exterior fire spread from floor to floor. Additionally,
FCIA suggests that the ASTM task group consider adding an
"L" Rating to the perimeter test, to protect against
smoke spread from floor to floor at the perimeter of the building.
UL Standards Technical Panel (STP) Seeks comments on
"W" Ratings - FCIA's Technical Committee teleconferenced
September 2nd to discuss UL's new "W" Rating. UL's
Steve Hoffman & Rich Walke joined FCIA Members Mike Dominguez,
Firestop Specialties, Inc., Houston Jones, Atlantic Insulation,
Richard Keeney, Firestop International, LLC, Roger McKenzie,
McKenzie Insulation, Tom Thoreson, Superl, Inc., plus IFC
Members John Valiulis (HILTI) and Hugh Dudley and filled us
in about the "W" Rating addition to UL 1479 for
water resistance.
After the teleconference, the FCIA's Technical Committee
comments were sent through UL's Standards Technical Panel
Process (STP). In general, FCIA agrees that the "W"
Rating is a good way to assign a suitability for use of products
in applications where water exposure will occur. Also, the
"W" Rating gives Professional Specialty Firestop
Contractors a new tool to set themselves apart from less professional
firms.
Additionally, FCIA believes that some adjustments should
to be made to the UL 1479 "W" Rating testing to
reflect actual conditions experienced by contractors everyday
in the field. These conditions include washout of uncured
material, pipe / joint movement and aging the products before
water testing. Additional discussion took place about water
resistance warranties that firestopping manufacturers could
offer based on the new rating. UL published the "W"
Rating August, 23, 2004 and it is now available for manufacturers
to test to the new rating. Check with FCIA Manufacturer members
for verification that they've tested to the "W"
Standard. (www.fcia.org , then "Member Lists, Manufacturers")
To view the press
release from UL and the brief description of the new rating
online.
"FCIA Members" Part of FCIA Specification
- FCIA's suggested specification includes "FCIA Member
in good standing" as a requirement to meet in Contractor
Requirements for firestopping work. FCIA Accreditation Chair
Aedan Gleeson, Gleeson Powers, Inc. reports that specifications
have appeared with an FCIA Contractor Member in Good Standing
requirement. The "Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept"
has value as savings in firestopping contract administration
result due to only one submittal, one point of contact and
one inspection contact an projects. This means a huge cost
and savings over the "he or she who pokes the hole fills
it" method of contracting firestopping that occurs on
projects worldwide.
FM 4991 Approved Contractors - Last year at this time,
there were about 2 - 10 Projects out for bid (according to
an FW Dodge search) that had FM 4991 Approved Firestop Contractors
as part of the specification. Today there are 67 according
to Jim Park, RectorSeal, Inc., who monitors FW Dodge activity
on FM 4991. "FM 4991 Contractors, coupled with ASTM E
2174 Inspection is a Quality Protocol, much like ISO 9000
used in the manufacturing industry", states Aedan Gleeson,
Accreditation Chair. Reviewing your policies and procedures
for firestopping quality and efficiency is a good idea. Consider
becoming FM 4991 Approved because
a documented quality program is good for your business as
well as fire and life safety.
FCIA Firestop Industry
Conference - Bring your spouse and don't miss this
event that celebrates FCIA's 5 Year Anniversary! Seminars
are planned on Perimeter Fire Containment Systems, FM 4991
Approval Procedures, Fire Walls / Floors and Effective Compartmentation
Components, FCIA's AIA CEU Presentations and how you can qualify
to present AIA CEU Programs, and how firestopping fits into
the big picture. And, the FCIA Program Committee has scheduled
some free time for touring, a golf & fishing tournament,
and fun to round out the experience. Call CTMG for Travel
Info and ask for Dianne, (800) 323-3800 x523).
FCIA Members fill need for Maintenance - Effective Compartmentation,
like other building products, perform when properly Installed
(FCIA Member, FM 4991 Contractor), Inspected (Fire/Code Official
or inspector following ASTM E 2174) and Maintained. FCIA supported
the National Association of State Fire Marshals, International
Fire Code Change Proposal to require maintenance of Effective
Compartmentation elements during Code Hearings in Kansas City
this May.
Firestopping, Fire Dampers, Fire Walls/Floors, Fire Doors
all need inspection and maintenance during the building's
life cycle to be effective when needed. Additionally, education
of building occupants about the need to keep fire doors from
obstructions, etc., are also part of maintaining effective
compartmentation. FCIA Member Contractors have been providing
effective compartmentation maintenance services to customers
for years and are well qualified to fill this maintenance
need that may have been overlooked in the past.
FCIA Call for Directors - Each year, three directors
rotate off the FCIA Board. FCIA Thanks Tom Hottenroth, Firestop
Solutions, Inc., Richard Keeney, Firestop International, Inc.,
and Roger McKenzie, McKenzie Insulation, Inc., for their FCIA
service on the 2004 Board of Directors. FCIA Voting Contractor
Members who want to give back to the industry through volunteering
for the FCIA Board of Directors can email the Nomination Committee.
Bob Patton (Chair), rpatton@firesafe-systems.com, Bob LeClair,
at rleclair@afunderhill.com , or Scott Rankin at srankin@pyro-stop.com
are the 2004 Nominating Committee for 2005's FCIA Board. FCIA
Board of Directors volunteers serve terms of two years. Board
members attend 3 board meetings yearly; 2 at FCIA Conferences,
and one at another time and place at their own expense. Responsiveness
to Email and phone calls are important requirements for the
position .... plus member recruiting and a willingness to
give back to the industry. To view the current board, their
bios and qualifications, visit www.fcia.org/board.php Voting
by Contractor Members will take place in October through the
FCIA Conference in November. Watch for your ballot in early
October.
FCIA to display at Texas Society of Architects - FCIA
will promote the Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept with
the FCIA Display Booth at the Texas Society of Architects
Conference, Oct. 22 (11:30 - 3:15 pm), and Oct. 23 (9:00am
- 1:30 pm). Texas area FCIA Member Contractors, please reply
to this email to schedule time to work the FCIA Booth at the
George R. Brown Convention Ctr., Houston, TX. Thanks to FCIA
Board Member Don Sabrsula, FireSafe of Houston, Inc., for
finding this regional opportunity.
If any FCIA Contractor Member wants to use the FCIA Booth
at your local event, reply to this email to get on the schedule.
FCIA Members at CSC Toronto Chapter Meeting - FCIA
Members Barclay Meyers, Nexlevel Construction Solutions, Allen
and Max Rams plus Bruce Mallory of Beverly Firestop, LLC,
and Keith Brebner, Global Firestop Services, Inc., Don Falconer
and Alan Saunders from AD Fire Protection Products, plus Mike
McClure, ThermoFire Systems, Inc., all attended a CSC (Construction
Specifications Canada), Toronto Chapter Meeting on Firestopping.
CSC is the Specifications Writers Association with Chapters
across Canada. According to Barclay, the presentation from
Tony Crimi, AC Consulting Services (IFC's Code Consultant)
and Steve Dodd, Tremco, Inc., focused on testing and listing
directory definitions and classifications, plus what's going
on in the Firestopping Industry. FM 4991, Standard for the
Approval of Firestop Contractors and ASTM E 2174, Standard
for the Inspection of Installed Through Penetration Firestops,
both were mentioned as a way to deliver high level Firestopping
Quality to projects. Additionally, Tony mentioned all the
new industry resources in Firestopping...and that it's happening
eveywhere. FCIA was mentioned during the presentation, as
well as the International Firestop Council, ASME, ULc, UL,
(and the new "W" Rating) Omega Point Laboratoires
(lab recently certified in Canada...cOPL), and other industry
resources. Thanks to the FCIA Members for such a strong FCIA
showing at CSC from our industry.
  FCIA
Salutes Lifetime Member - FCIA Board Member, Richard Keeney,
Firestop International, Inc. (left picture, left person) saluted
Lifetime Member, VJ Bella, Louisiana State Fire Marshal, at
the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Centennial Celebration (right
picture). They were celebrating the dedication of Louisiana's
new State Fire Marshal's Building Grand Opening and their State
Fire Marshal's Office 100th anniversary August 27, 2004. Thanks,
Richard, for congratulating VJ and representing FCIA at this
important event.
Bill McHugh, FCIA Executive Director - 630.690.0682
'You can't grow long-term if you can't eat short-term. Anybody
can manage short. Anybody can manage long. Balancing those
two things is what management is." - Jack Welch, Retired
CEO, General Electric.
©Copyright FCIA 09/16/04 - Permission is hereby granted
to forward, print, circulate, quote with credit to FCIA.
FCIA is a non profit organization of Firestop Contractors,
Contractor Branch Offices, Manufacturers and Associate Members
interested in furthering life safety through the Professional
Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept.
For more information, contact the
FCIA Office
Bill McHugh, Executive Director
1257 Golf Circle
Wheaton, IL 60187
630.690.0682 Phone
630.690.2871 FAX
Email: info@fcia.org
Website: www.fcia.org
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