Building Safety Division
Planning and Development Services
8500 Santa Fe Drive
Overland Park, Kansas 66212
913-895-6266  Fax: 913-890-1266
www.opkansas.org
October 8, 2009
Steven K. Kessinger, P.E., S.E.
Silver Creek Engineering, Inc.
FAX: 317-297-2942
7225 Woodland Drive, Suite 200
Indianapolis, Indiana 46278
Plan Review Number: PRS2008-00025
Project Name: BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL
Project Address: 17600 Quivira
Re: Use of fire resistive intemescent paint product from Contego International, Inc. for
application to exposed steel tube shaped columns.
Dear Mr. Kessinger,
Per your request, the Building Safety Division has reviewed the correspondence and data
regarding the proposed use of the Contego International fire rated intemescent paint product.
After reviewing the data, there were still some questions regarding the use of the equations
as found on Page 10 of the Omega Point Laboratories test report for the purpose of
evaluating the coating thickness on tubular steel columns. I made a call to Omega Point
Labs (now Intertek) to speak with a representative to get a better understanding of the
equations and how they relate to the findings of the test report. I spoke to a Mr. Mike Dey,
Engineering Manager – Fire Resistance.
I introduced myself as a plans examiner for the city and told Mr. Dey that I was reviewing a
test report from Omega Point Labs for a building permit applicant, and had questions
regarding that report, as it related to specified intemescent paint thickness for various fire
ratings. Mr. Dey made it quite clear that he could not talk about any specific results or
findings from a test report, unless granted consent from that client which requisitioned the
test. I told him I understood, so we spoke in general terms as it related to test procedures,
methods and conclusions.
My first question was regarding equations in the test report. Are the equations derived
wholly from the test data and results, or are they taken from other accepted engineering
standards or reference materials? Mr. Dey indicated that the equations in a particular report
are derived from specific tests performed and should not be used to evaluate similar W-
Steven K. Kessinger, P.E., S.E.
October 8, 2009
Page 2
shapes having different properties or be applied to different steel shapes. Mr. Dey answered
my second question, which related to applying the equations of this test report to other steel
shapes like tube steel.
After re-reviewing the test reports from the testing labs, the engineering analysis,
letter/email correspondence, and after speaking to the representative from Intertek the city’s
position regarding the Contego International intemescent paint product has not changed. The
proposed coating product is not approved for protecting the exposed steel tube columns at
the Blue Valley Southwest High School.
If you have questions or alternatives to discuss, please contact me. Thank you.
Steve Mosebach, MCP - Senior Plans Examiner
c:
Vic Finch, Team Supervisor
Tim Ryan, Codes Administrator
Dexter Opela, Crossland Construction
Travis Palangi, HTK Architects
Scott Crain, Blue Valley School District
G:\word(common)\PRS2008Comments\PRS00025-8-B.V. Southwest High School-intemescent paint