KEEPING FIRE-RATED ASSEMBLIES FIRESTOPPED OVER THE LIFETIME OF THE BUILDING

Many times, due to cost and budget restrictions, firestop is not considered or just considered as a minor issue. This is not necessary if building owners, architects, designers, and general contractors take the correct firestop specifications and measures in an early phase of the construction project. It is their legal responsibility.
 
Another key question is how to keep the firestopped walls and floors intact over the lifetime of the building. So it is not only relevant for new construction but especially when it comes to the occupancy phase of a building when fire probability is at its highest risk. Analysis of potential reasons for a fire shows that fires can start anytime anywhere. 35% of fires are due to electricity problems (short circuit), almost 10% are caused by overheating of installations, 17% are caused by human error, and in 22% of fires the ultimate cause remains unsolved3). 
 
During the lifetime of a building, many extensions, new rebuilding, and retrofitting measures are taken. New cabling due to new communication or emergency systems, upgrades of electrical equipment, new separations of office space with new drywall partitions and new content with different fire loads, renovation of interiors, extensions of ventilation or heating equipment, maintenance of piping and ductwork will also have dramatic implications on the status of the firestopping penetration seals. In this process, different trades and maintenance staff will have to break and damage existing fire-rated penetration seals.
 

• Who then is maintaining the correct fire rating of the penetration seals?
• Who will close open or damaged openings in fire-rated walls?
• Are the same approved and tested systems used to close the sealings?
• And are all deficient and damaged seals correctly reported and documented to the owner of the building?

 


There is a high probability that non-correctly closed and damaged firestopping seals in fire-rated assemblies pose huge hazards in existing buildings.

In many existing buildings incorrect installations are very likely to be seen

Broken and damaged firestop seals represent high fire and smoke risk.

Proper maintenance of fire-rated walls and floors in existing buildings is key

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR BUILDING OWNERS AND RESPONSIBLE FACILITY MAINTENANCE COMPANIES AND HOW TO ENSURE COMPARTMENTATION REMAINS INTACT DURING A RENOVATION OR RESTRUCTURING PHASE:

• education of your staff and contractors about compartmentation and firestop penetrations
• set clear expectations and communicate these to responsible contractors including firestopping
• proper and fast maintenance of damaged or deficient penetrations by trained and qualified installers, also considering approval-compliant installation
• usage of correct firestopping material (also in line with existing firestop material)
• do inspection rounds annually or whenever adequate
• generate clear documentation of firestop penetrations and deficiencies (e.g. by using specific software for firestop documentation management including pictures and labeling), maintain and file documentation reports

REGULAR INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRESTOPPING IN EXISTING BUILDINGS IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO REDUCE THE RISK FOR PEOPLE AND PROTECT ASSETS IN AN EVENT OF A FIRE

• label smoke and fire walls and floors
• consider correct passive fire protection in your risk assessment
• write a comprehensive specification of firestop material to be used based on ease of installation, approved field of application, retrofit possibilities, easy maintenance and inspection
• choose an experienced firestop manufacturer who also offers technical onsite support and consultation
• reduce your risk by choosing easy to maintain firestop materials like pre-engineered devices or easy to inspect preformed products (Firestop Blocks, Firestop Sleeves) which offer clear cost advantages when it comes to long-term maintenance and proper installation.

Hilti is the global market leader in firestopping. Our dedication to stringent testing and code developments help make buildings safer today, saving lives and protecting asset, with proven reliability and outstanding service.
 
Hilti, with own world class research and development is committed to supply easy-to-use firestop solutions, providing cutting-edge and fully integrated and tested systems. At the end of the day, together with a unique professional technical support in many countries, this helps specifiers and installers to correctly select the right system for the right application and to correctly specify compliant and tested solutions.
 
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Sources:
 
1) wiseGEEK, 2003 - 2016 Conjecture Corporation
2) Safety Investigation Authority, Finland, www.turvallisuustutkinta.fi
3) Feuer Trutz Brandschutzatlas 3/2012
 
Other sources and pictures: internal Hilti Aktiengesellschaft, Schaan, Liechtenstein