ROLE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN PASSI v E FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

The Passive Fire Protection Systems used in buildings provide both fire-resistance-rated structural and compartmentation for buildings –new and existing.

Structural fire-resistance can consist of steel frame buildings with Spray Fire-Resistive Materials, Intumescent Fire-Resistive Materials, Boards or Wraps applied to prevent steel from reaching its point where the steel loses the capability to support loads applied.

Effective fire-resistance-rated compartmentation features the ability contain fire to the room of origin – preventing fire-spread and protecting egress paths, forming havens of safety in buildings, separating spaces and occupancy types. Some compartmentation walls can also be structural in nature as well.

New Construction

During new construction, fire-resistance-rated

Mr. Bill Mchugh Firestop Contractors International Association & National Fireproofing Contractors Association

structural and compartmentation structural building elements and assemblies are chosen from the various testing laboratory directories either by the design professional or fire-resistance installation contractor. The structural fireresistance-rated building elements and assemblies are typically noted on plans by the design professional. The walls and horizontal assemblies are usually also noted on plans with design numbers referring to a listing directory online, while many of the fire-resistance compartmentation features listings are chosen by the installation contractor. Fire rated walls can be constructed of concrete, concrete block, gypsum panels and metal or wood studs, or fire-rated glazing, tested in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL263.

The fire-resistance-features include firestopping for breaches made for penetrating items, joints and voids, fire doors and frames, fire-dampers, fire-smoke dampers, or combination firesmoke dampers. Some are specified by design professional, others are chosen by the firestop, fire-damper, fire-door installation contractor.

Fire-Resistance Listing Directories

Fire-resistance really revolves around a listing. The listings are the proof that the combination of materials or structural assemblies have passed a fire-test at an accredited fire-test laboratory. The listings can be found online.

UL Solutions – www.UL.com/PiQ

Intertek – www.Intertek.com

FM Approvals – www.ApprovalGuide.com

Thomas Bell Wright International Consultants, India Institute of Technology, Gandhinigar.

Some of the fire-test laboratory directories offer search capabilities and the ability to compile submittals. Many manufacturers of products used in fire-resistance-rated assemblies for both structural and compartmentation purposes, offer online listing selection systems and product information. Product information AND listings are critical to correct installation procedures. Why? Building codes state to install products in accordance with their listing and manufacturers installation instructions.

Several product manufacturers offer online submission systems where listings, manufacturers installation instructions, safety data sheets, and product data sheets can be assembled and downloaded for specific projects. Some specialist installation contractors use their own custom systems for this process.

New Construction Closeout

Design professionals have done well the past 25+ years building specifications for each fireresistance-rated building element or assembly. The specifications communicate requirements to the contractors construction requirements.

Additionally, leading architects and engineers are using MasterFormat Section 01-78-39, Project Record Documents, to direct General Contractors to gather the listings and manufacturers installation, inspection and maintenance instructions for the building owner.

These closeout documents are used to build an ongoing system that maintains fire-resistance protection for the building life cycle. These can also be assembled digitally as well.

Existing Buildings

Where the digital world is quite needed, is in maintaining protection existing buildings. The building and fire-codes worldwide require that fireresistance in buildings be maintained and ready to protect against fire (or smoke, if specified) spread continuously. There is a countless amount of fireresistance-rated and or smoke resistive assemblies – both walls and floors – to keep maintained. The number of breaches through those assemblies is a large amount as well.

Breaches made in fire-resistance-rated and smoke resistive walls and floors then get protected with fire doors with hardware that has been tested and listed, penetration and joint firestop systems, firedampers, combination fire/smoke dampers, smoke dampers, and fire-rated glazing need to be visually inspected to assure compliance for the building life cycle.

The India National Building Code is quite amazing when it comes to maintaining protection in existing buildings. It’s unusual to have this is a building code, but India’s does direct many parties involved in construction and maintenance from new construction through operation in the National Building Code of India’s Chapter 9.

9 BUILDING MAINTENANCE – METHODS AND MANAGEMENT

9.1 General – “Any building (including its services) when built has certain objectives and during its total economic life, it has to be maintained in proper condition to meet those objectives. Maintenance is a continuous process requiring a close watch and taking immediate remedial action. It is interwoven with good quality of housekeeping. It is largely governed by the quality of original construction. The owners, engineers, constructors, occupants and the maintenance agency are all deeply involved in this process and share a responsibility….”.

Technology helps Management Work

Technology makes a lot of sense to manage India’s existing buildings, from the moment they are turned completed until they are demolished to make way for new construction. Software providers, passive fire protection manufacturers, passive fire protection contractors have programs that can help India’s building owners and managers handle this process efficiently.

Bill McHugh is Executive Director of the Firestop Contractors International Association and National Fireproofing Contractors Association. He travels internationally most recently in India for the launch of Fire Safe Build India. Bill can be reached at bill@ FCIA.org or bill@NFCA-Online.org.