Sept. 2009 Highlights
- FCIA Members Growing in UL/FM Programs
- New Versions
- ASTM E2174 & ASTM E2393 Standards for Inspection of Firestop Systems
- FCIA at ANSI BSR
- FCIA 10 Year Anniversary Firestop Industry Conference and Trade Show
FM & UL Programs Gaining Steam There are now about 60 FM 4991 Approved Firestop Contractor Program and 13 UL Qualified Firestop Contractors located worldwide. As FCIA Celebrates its 10th Anniversary, a key vision of the group is reality – contractors can set themselves apart quantitatively through an independent authority. Thanks to the initial FCIA Accreditation Committee members Aedan Gleeson, Don Murphy, and Blase Reardon; and FM Approvals’ Jeff Gould, for making the first Quality Management System Program for Firestop Contractors come to life. Thanks to UL’s Betsy Titus for working with FCIA to bring the UL Program into the industry as well.
FCIA Member 1st UL Qualified Firestop Contractor – National Firestop Limited, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the 1st UL Qualified Firestop Contractor in Canada. Look for more growth as FCIA supports the UL Qualified Firestop Contractor Program and the FM 4991 Approved Firestop Contractors worldwide. Learn
how to get qualified, visit https://www.fcia.org, UL Qualification.
New Versions, ASTM Firestop Systems Inspection Standards - FCIA received notice that ASTM E2174 – 09, Standard Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire Stops, and ASTM E2393 - 09 Standard Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire Resistive Joint Systems and Perimeter Fire Barriers have been revised and issued by ASTM. FCIA chairs the committee that maintains the standards. These new versions may provide wording more acceptable for inclusion in building and fire codes.
FCIA 10-Year Anniversary – FCIA President Bill Hoos promises a big celebration at the FCIA Awards Banquet, Thursday, Nov. 12. We’ve heard from FCIA Leaders, past and present, who will be attending to celebrate and dedicate FCIA’s next 10 years!
Firestop Industry Conference & Trade Show – FCIA is celebrating in Key Biscayne, Florida! From a small group that met in 1999 at UL’s Chicago headquarters, FCIA has grown into a worldwide organization of over 250 firms!
FCIA heads to Key Biscayne’s Ritz Carlton Hotel. Room rates are a steal $179/nite, at a Five-Star Hotel! It’s right on the beach with world class tennis, sailboats on-property; golf and other water sports close by. Don’t miss this!
Visit www.fcia.org to download registration forms. Early Bird discount ends October 16, 2009! Don’t Delay!
Education Sessions, FM & UL DRI Exams, Golf, FCIA Trade Show, and more…
Education sessions include Bill Koffel, FCIA’s Code Consultant who will have just participated at the ICC Committee Action Hearings, Jim Milke, PhD, PE, Assistant Chair, University of Maryland; Plus, Thursday’s Fire Damper Inspection and Maintenance, Fire Door and Gypsum Wall Compartmentation Inspection and Maintenance sessions with hands-on detail, brings value, as FCIA Members grow their businesses into other disciplines that building owners and managers need. And, get this, a program from a lawyer about condos where firestopping was left out, with the association winning big on the lawsuit.
FCIA Ray Usher Memorial Golf Outing – To fund Education for Fire Protection Engineering Students, Scholarships at the University of Maryland, and other leading institutions, enjoy a day on the links. FCIA funds Scholarships, an FCIA Manual of Practice and Life Safety Digest Magazines at these important campuses, where the future of our industry is schooled.
FCIA Apprenticeship Program – FCIA’s Apprenticeship Committee requests ‘step by step’ installation pictures for the Apprenticeship Education Modules from Contractors. Email bill@fcia.org for the list of what we’re looking for.
Global Environmental & Safety Merges with Telgian Corporation – Telgian Corporation, one of the world’s largest fire protection, life safety and compliance firms announced the acquisition of Global Environmental & Safety, a firestop consulting and inspection firm, of Philadelphia, Penn. With the acquisition of Global E&S, Telgian now offers a full-service balanced approach to the fire protection industry (Detection, Suppression and Compartmentation) worldwide, with 15 offices spanning the U.S., Latin America, Canada and the U.K. Global’s Pat and Michelle Tesche remain with the firm, leading the Firestop Division.
FCIA’s Membership Growing - FCIA’s Membership is up to 256 Contractor, Manufacturer and Associate Members, thanks to the FCIA Member Recruiting Contest. All current FCIA members are eligible to earn points with top recruiters redeeming for FREE 2010 Dues, FREE Conference Registration or a FREE MOP! Contest Leaders to date are Tom Hottenroth, Firestop Solutions, Don Sabrsula, Fire Safe of Houston and Al Garcia, AICRAG. Contact Angie Sims (angies@fcia.org) with your Potential New Member today! HURRY…contest ends Sept. 30th.
FCIA needs you at ASSE – ASSE has two ‘professional practice standards’, one for backflow installers, the other for medical gas installers, meant for supervisors. Union plumbers are members of ASSE, along with plumbing inspectors, plumbing engineers, some former journeymen plumbers.
The American Society of Sanitary Engineering is forming a working group for the new ASSE Series 9000, a Professional Qualifications Standard for Firestop Systems and Device Installers, Inspectors and Surveyors. The working group, chaired by ASSE's Regional Director, Donald Kool, is being formed to review the former ASME A112.20.2-2004 Standard and to make any necessary revisions and additions to the new ASSE Series 9000 Professional Qualifications Standard.
Any interested party, especially installers, inspectors, surveyors, manufacturers, engineers, building owners, code officials and fire industry personnel, are invited to attend and participate. Email bill@FCIA.org for the official committee registration form.
FCIA at IAPMO, ANSI BSR – FCIA has opposed a move at The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) by the United Association of Plumbers, Pipe Fitters Union (UA) of (plumbers, sprinkler fitters) to claim firestop workforce jurisdiction for firestopping around all types of piping, using The IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code reference to ASME Standard, A 112.20.2., section 8.2. in Table 14-1, of the Code. ASME A 112.20.2 – 8.2 “The certified firestop installer shall have a minimum of four years of documented practical experience recognized by the ISO / IEC 17024 ANSI Accredited third-party certifier, in the installation of piping systems.” The Plumbers used a connection in the Administrative section, IAPMO Section 313.7, which requires use of the ASME A 112.20.2 for firestopping.
FCIA’s IAPMO UPC Plumbing Code and ASME A 112.20.2 – FCIA has been following the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) code change proposals that could mandate a person with four () years documented experience in the installation of piping be the only person that can install firestopping around all piping.
A United Association (UA) of Plumbers, Pipe Fitters Union of plumbers, sprinkler fitters employee chaired the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) group to write this ASME A 112.20.2 standard that has a requirement for 4 years piping experience. FCIA objected heavily to the four years experience in piping requirement in the document, yet the plumbers overruled and kept the requirement. It was added to the IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code, 2009 version.
FCIA appealed IAPMO final assembly meeting decisions at IAPMO to the IAPMO Standards Council, IAPMO Board of Directors, and the American National Standards Institute Board of Standards Review. FCIA recently received a ruling from the BSR that states the four years experience in plumbing is not mandatory.
So far, California and Oregon have amended out the ASME A 112.20.2 standard from the IAPMO 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code. Also, at Acme’s A 112 Main Committee, it was voted to move revision and review of the standard to the American Society of Sanitary Engineers.
The key point FCIA made during the ASME and IAPMO process was that firestopping is about the fire-resistance-rated and smoke-resistant wall or floor, the firestopping that extends the rating of the wall/floor into an opening, gap, and joint, and not a plumbing issue. Watch FCIA.org for resource information you can use to combat those who may ask that only plumbers install firestopping.
We were supported by Tony Fontana, Premier Firestopping, Jim Stahl, Jr., STI, Tom Fletcher, HILTI, the NY Heat and Frost Insulators Union Dennis Ippolito & their attorney, Ironworkers Local 508, with a letter submitted by the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA).
LIUNA and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters had both supported FCIA at earlier IAPMO hearings. Stay tuned for FCIA’s next steps in this. Watch the FCIA Members Only section for critical jurisdiction information. To view the presentation, visit the FCIA Members Only section, https://www.fcia.org.
2009 FCIA Manufacturer Members:
2009 Gold Level
- 3M
- Balco, Inc
- Specified Technologies, Inc
2009 Silver Level
2009 Bronze Level
- Abesco
- International Carbine Technology
- Roxul, Inc.
- W.R. Grace & Co.
Bill McHugh, FCIA Executive Director, the FCIA Staff and Board
© Copyright FCIA 9/04/09 - 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 Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept. For more information, contact the
FCIA Office Bill McHugh, Executive Director
4415 W. Harrison St.
Hillside, IL 60162
Phone: (708) 202-1108
Fax: (708) 449-0837
Email: info@fcia.org
Website: www.fcia.org