Fire Protection and Fire

Stopping

Module 7 - Firestopping and Comprehensive

Fire Prevention Systems

Identify the elements of a comprehensive fire

protection system
Understand firestopping and its role in fire protection
Discuss the different products and materials used in
firestopping

Module 7 - Firestopping and Comprehensive

Fire Prevention Systems

Select the appropriate firestopping system for your

application
List installation guidelines for firestopping systems
Document network addresses, changes,
procedures, and logging

Fire Protection Systems

When dealing with fire, the primary goal is its

prevention; since total prevention has yet to be
achieved, protection becomes the next priority
A comprehensive fire protection system that meets
or exceeds building code requirements is one of
the best defenses against fire; this system is a
combination of three subsystems:

Detection systems
Suppression systems
Containment systems
4

Fire Protection Systems

Fire detection systems provide early warning

signals that can prevent fire losses
The primary elements of detection systems are:

Detectors for smoke and fire are designed for different

burning characteristics and have different responses
Detection devices include: optical smoke detectors;
differential maximum heat detectors; ionization smoke
detectors; spark and flame detectors; high-sensitivity
smoke detectors; bypass detectors; gas detectors

Fire Protection Systems

Fire detectors are complemented by:

Fire control panels, which provide supervision and

coordination among elements of a detection system, and
must conform to requirements for local and auxiliary
protective signal systems, as defined by National Fire
Protection Association Code 72
Alarms, which provide signals for rescue and timely firefighting; they are either manual fire alarm stations, audible
alarms, or optical alarms
Annunciators, which provide graphic displays to pinpoint
alarms quickly
7

10

Fire Protection Systems

A fire suppression system extinguishes fire; its

secondary goal is to help reduce danger
The extinguishant is the primary component

Water is used for Class A (glowing substance) fires and it

extinguishes by cooling, or removing heat
Extinguishing foam is used for Class A and B fires and
extinguishes by: cooling; covering; separating and displacing;
and restraining
Clean agents are nonconductive materials that extinguish
flames by absorbing their heat
Extinguishing powder will suffocate a fire
11

Fire Protection Systems

A fire containment system is designed to reduce the

rapid spread of fire and toxic fumes with these three
components:

Fireblocking consists of barriers that resist or block the

spread of fire within stud walls, soffits and drop ceilings,
and at the top and bottom of stair stringers
Draftstopping consists of barriers within the large
concealed spaces of a floor, attic, or crawlspace
Firestopping helps contain fire and toxic gases to the area
of origin by sealing around penetrations and construction
joints in fire-rated floors and walls
12

13

14

Firestopping and Its Role in

Fire Protection

Firestopping systems include:

Fire resistance-rated walls, floors, or ceilings; penetration

items such as pipes, cable, or conduit; and listed
materials to seal penetrations or constructions joints
The containment of fires has proven to reduce danger and
provide time for people to safely exit
This measure of protection has played a major role in the
adoption and enforcement of firestopping systems by
major building codes

15

Firestopping and Its Role in

Fire Protection

Firestopping systems (cont.):

ASTM completed ASTM E-814 in 1983

To ensure that firestops provide proper protection and meet
code requirements, E-814 and other codes require assemblies
to have an FT rating, where F indicates the number of hours
a fire-resistant barrier can withstand fire before allowing the
flames to pass though; and T indicates how many hours it
takes non-fire side temperatures of a fire-rated assembly to
exceed 325 above the ambient temperature
Other tests designed to rate the performance of firestopping
products: ASTM E-84 and E-119
16

Firestopping Products and Materials

There are many firestopping products available to

meet the needs of any application

These products must be tested and listed by an

independent testing laboratory
Products are approved only for the application for which
they were designed and tested
Because so many products are available, care must be
taken to match the application with an appropriately listed
firestopping system

17

Firestopping Products and Materials

Firestopping products (cont.):

The most common firestopping method is the use of sealants

to seal openings around penetration and construction joints
Sealants come in two groups: intumescent products, which
are designed to expand at a pre-determined temperature
range; and nonintumescent sealants, which are most
commonly used in construction joints
Large, combustible pipes exceed the capabilities of
intumescent seals to properly seal the opening and maintain
the desired fire rating; in these cases, intumescent collars
and wrap strips are used
18

19

20

Firestopping Products and Materials

Firestopping products (cont.):

Very large openings or those with multiple penetrations

present a real challenge to firestopping
The following list describes firestopping products to use
for these applications: fire blocks are designed to form a
barrier to fire and smoke; fire pillows are made of
specially treated glass cloth filled with a mixture of mineral
fiber and reactive expansion agents; intumescent mortar
is a gypsum-based, fire-retardant material; fire-rated foam
is a one-component polyurethane foam that expands to
fill and seal gaps
21

22

23

Firestopping Products and Materials

Firestopping products (cont.):

Other firestopping products include: intumescent putty,

which is non-hardening and noncuring, and is commonly
used around penetrations for electrical cable,
telecommunications cable, and metallic pipes; cast-in
devices incorporate firestopping with the insertion of a
durable cylindrical device (sleeving) through a penetration,
which allows another pipe to be inserted through it; fire
seals are small pieces of rubberlike, flexible, fire-retardant
material and they adhere tightly to cable trays, conduits,
and cables, allowing them to move within the penetration
24

25

26

Selecting the Right

Firestopping System

To help in determining whether you have chosen

the proper firestopping system, you must answer
the following questions:

What hourly rating is required?

What type of construction is involved?
What are the sizes of the openings?
What type of penetrants will be used?
How big is the annular space?
Has any unusual contraction or expansion been
observed?
27

28

Installation Guidelines for

Firestopping Systems

Things to do in order to ensure that system

installation meets zero-tolerance requirements

Follow the requirements of the Firestop Contractors

International Assoc. (FCIA) and Factory Mutual
Research, in their joint standard, FM 4991: Standard for
Approval of Fire Stop Contractors, which calls for:
selecting the right products; installing the system
properly; inspecting the installation; providing installment
documentation
As well, future standards will require specific training for
installers in proper firestopping practices
29

Installation Guidelines for

Firestopping Systems

Zero-tolerance requirements (cont.):

Check with the building inspector and fire marshal

Follow manufacturers installation instructions
Adopt a corporate standard operating procedure for
firestopping tasks
Do not run new cables through existing fire barriers that
violate code
Remember that intumescent materials expand to fill a
sleeve, so never exceed the fill capacity
Never use regular insulation for packing
30

Documenting Network Addresses,

Changes, Procedures, and Logging

Effective network documentation requires:

Documenting MAC and IP addresses for servers,

workstations, managed hubs, switches and routers
A current and accurate list of all network MAC and IP
addresses is the most important documentation to have,
next to cable plant documentation
Documenting additions, moves, and changes;
This documentation should consist of two sections: the
first should include detailed procedures for all additions,
moves, and changes; the second should be a detailed
log of all actions taken
31

32

Module Summary

Fires take lives and destroy property every day, which is

why building codes have such stringent requirements for
fire protection. A comprehensive fire protection system is
one of the most important safety measures in building
construction

33

Module Summary

A fire protection system should include three separate

subsystems for fire detection, fire suppression, and fire
containment. The fire detection system provides early
warning signals with detectors, fire control panels, alarms,
and annunciators that help you locate alarms. The fire
suppression system extinguishes the fire and helps
reduce damage, by removing either the heat, the oxygen,
or the combustible source. The fire containment system
reduces the spread of fire

34

Module Summary

Firestopping, the key element of a fire containment

system, is the method used to contain fire and toxic gases
to the area of origin by sealing around penetrations and
construction joints in fire-rated floors and walls. A
firestopping system includes fire resistance-rated walls,
floors, or ceilings; penetration items, such as pipes, cable,
or conduit; and listed materials to be used for sealing

35

Module Summary

Firestopping products come in a variety of types to meet

the needs of any application. All firestopping products
must be tested and listed. Products are approved only for
the application for which they were designed and tested,
not for all firestopping applications. Sealants are the most
widely used firestopping products. Other products include
collars, wrap strips, fire blocks, fire pillows, mortar, foam,
putty, caulk, cast-in devices, and fire seals

36

Module Summary

Many top manufacturers of firestopping products provide

on-site technical consultation and engineering support to
answer your questions and help you make the proper
selections for firestopping products and listed systems.
The engineering support can help you work with
complicated applications
To help you ensure that your firestopping installations are
zero tolerance systems, obtain proper information from
the manufacturer of each product you use, and follow their
installations instructions explicitly. You can also obtain
information through FM 4991, Standard for Approval of
Fire Stop Contractors
37

Module Summary

Your network documentation must include a

section for listing MAC and IP addresses of all
the nodes on your network. Documentation must
also include detailed procedures for any network
additions, moves, or changes. Log all changes in
a set of journals to maintain a running history of
all work done on the network. These procedures
and documentation help you eliminate and
troubleshoot network problems
38