10/22/2015
BARRIER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Learning Objectives
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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
What is Firestopping

A specific tested & listed
fire protection system
made of various
components used to seal
openings and joints in fireresistance rated wall
and/or floor assemblies.
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
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
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
Why is Firestopping required by code?

IFC Video: Demonstration of Proper vs Improper
Firestopping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4bw-2ME4uc
Current Problem
Current Problem
Current Problem
Current Problem:
This is What We Should See…
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

Firestopping in Healthcare

How did we get here…
 Design
 Construction
/ Installation
 Inspections
 Maintenance
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

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

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
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
Firestopping in Healthcare

Specific Failures
 Through
Penetration Firestopping
 Fire-Resistive Joint Systems
 Data Cabling / Sprinkler Lines
 Wall Construction
 Life Safety Plans
Quality and Compliance
SET YOURSELF UP TO SUCCEED
Quality and Compliance

Qualified Contractors

Company Certifications

FM 4991 / UL QFCP
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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

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FIT Trained
Specific to manufacturers products & tested systems
Multiples levels from general firestop awareness to specific training
Quality and Compliance

Design

Develop a consistent specification to provide your design teams
with YOUR firestopping requirements…

Material Manufacturer


Installer Qualifications

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Consistency will help with long term maintenance / education
Manufacturer certified / FM 4991 / UL QFCP
Documentation


Tag & label
Software
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
Quality and Compliance

Inspection / Enforcement
 Get
to know your local code officials and let them know this
matters to you
 IBC 1705.16 (2012) requires 3rd Party Special Inspections
for firestopping
 High
rise construction
 Risk category 3 & 4 (I-2 / I-3 classifications)
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
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
Ratings
Quick Reference
Can often tell application,
single or multiple thru pens,
point of contact or annular space
Substrate(s) Assembly
Penetrating Item(s)
The average trade contractor does
not use mineral wool where
required
Material
Installation Specifics
● Not Shown:
Acceptable Installation Methods
Quality and Compliance
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
10 Common Failures
1.
Wrong system selection (or no
selection at all)
10 Common Failures
2.
Maximum annular
space exceeded (system
expected to fail)
10 Common Failures
3.
Depth of sealant
(systems are tested with MINIMUM
amounts)
10 Common Failures
4.
Improper installation
methods (#1 not tooled)
10 Common Failures
5.
Installed as point of
contact (must meet annular space
requirements)
10 Common Failures
6.
Not free of dust /
foreign material
(adhesion failure)
10 Common Failures
7.
Mineral wool has not
been used
10 Common Failures
8.
Incorrect material
used for installation
10 Common Failures
9.
Installation outside
of system
parameters (Engineering
Judgment)
10 Common Failures
10.
Installation of
drywall tape or
other sealants
Summary

Education is key




Hospital Staff / Contractors / Designers / Inspectors
Follow the tested system details
Know what to look for
Communication

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Create incentives for communication within the hospital & with contractors
Set yourself up to succeed

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Tag & label firestopping
Document your progress
Make it manageable
QUESTIONS
This is What We See…