In a fire, every second counts. Properly installed firestop assemblies protect you by reducing the spread of fire, smoke and toxic gases.
What are firestop assemblies?
Buildings are designed with fire-rated walls to minimize the spread of fire, giving you extra time to get out of the building.
When a contractor has to cut a hole in the wall for pipes, electrical conduit or boxes, the wall loses its fire resistance. Firestop assemblies use special materials to fill those gaps in the walls, restoring its fire resistance.
These assemblies are engineered by firestop product manufacturers and tested through independent testing facilities such as Underwriters Laboratories or Factory Mutual. The independent test verifies the effectiveness of the firestop assembly.
How are the firestop assemblies tested?
Completed assemblies are tested for how they stand up to smoke, fire and water. Under controlled conditions, the firestop assembly must meet strict standards for a 1, 2, or 3 hour fire rating.
Do you have to use a specific firestop assembly?
Firestop assemblies must comply with local building code. They are specified by the architect, but a qualified firestop contractor must verify field conditions comply before installing a firestop assembly.
How do I know that a firestop assembly is installed correctly?
2) Must develop and maintain a quality control manual that addresses firestop assembly selection, field inspections, material handling as well as tool calibration.
3) The DRI's must earn as many as 60 educational contact hours and / or submit to re-testing every three years.
4) Then, the firestop contractor must submit to annual audits to verify compliance with their systems.
Writing this in 4 steps sounds easy, but a lot of work goes into earning and maintaining our qualified firestop contractor status.
The bottom line is that Wall Systems knows the firestop industry and we pass inspections. For you, that means a project that stays on time and under budget.
