Highlights
- FCIA Board at FM
- NFPA, Firestop Industry Conference
- CSI MasterFormat 2004
- UL's "W" Rating proposal & Recent Changes
- Call for FCIA Board Nominees
FCIA
Firestop Industry Conference - From small beginnings
of 40 people meeting at UL, January 1999 in Chicago, this
group has grown to over 100 members. The 2004 Firestop Industry
Conference celebrates 5 years in existence as FCIA, with "International
Effective Compartmentation" as the theme. Seminars are
planned on Perimeter Fire Containment Systems, FM 4991 Approval
Procedures, Fire Walls / Floors and Effective Compartmentation
Components, FCIA's AIA CEU Presentations and how you can qualify
to present AIA CEU Programs. In addition to seminars, the
FCIA Program Committee has scheduled free time for touring,
a golf & fishing tournament, and fun. Bring your spouse,
and don't miss this event! . If you call CTMG for Travel info,
ask for Dianne, (800) 323-3800 x523.
CSI MasterFormat Changes - CSI's flagship product,
MasterFormat, has been updated. Over the next year, major
specification programs such as MasterSpec, BSD SpecLink, Kalin,
and others along with McGraw Hill, Reed Construction, GSA
and other government agencies will convert to the new MasterFormat
04. "The new MasterFormat is organzed by Work Results,
instead of products as in MasterFormat 95", states CSI
MasterFormat Task Team Chair, Dennis Hall. Significant changes
occurred in the communications and low voltage cabling sections
as well as civil engineering areas. Firestopping was expanded
to include Smoke Sealing. To view the Firestop Sections, visit
the link. Firestopping is on Page 42 & 43 of the complete
MasterFormat
Document - Firestopping is in the same place it was under
MasterFormat 95, (Division 7, 07 84 00, but with more titles,
like smoke protection, joints, etc.)
For some technical and humorous reading, see Dennis' "Southern
Fried Architect" E-Newsletter.
UL Standards Technical Panel (STP) Seeks comments on "W"
Ratings - As a member of UL's STP for UL 1479, FCIA was
informed that the Firestop Qualification test is to add a
"W" Rating to the test standard. The "W"
rating is to simulate head pressure of water passing through
the untested firestop assembly. Many FCIA Contractors reported
"washout" of uncured Firestop Sealants when installed
in a building where windows do not yet exist, and requested
testing for water resistant firestop sealants. Comments on
the new standard are welcomed by UL, via FCIA's membership
on the Standards Technical Panel. If you have ideas about
how a standard should look, reply to this email and FCIA's
Technical Committee will pass on the commentary. Read the
press
release from UL and the brief description of the new rating.
UL Personnel Changes - FCIA member Scott Rankin, Pyro-Stop,
LLC, visited with UL and IFC a few weeks ago. At UL, some
changes have taken place. Rich Walke is now Manager of Architectural
Services, supporting A/E's who call in seeking advise on UL
Services. Monica Keeler is the new Firestop Systems and Fire
Damper contact. Rich has served our industry well over the
past 18 years, and we wish him the best in his new opportunity.
Rich will stay in touch with our group while Monica will serve
the industry directly.
FCIA at NFPA Headquarters - FCIA's Board of Directors
met with Robert Solomon, NFPA Vice President. Both NFPA and
FCIA are forming a healthy relationship and understanding
where FCIA can improve fire and life safety through education
about properly installed, inspected and maintained Effective
Compartmentation and Firestopping. FCIA's Board learned more
about NFPA's history and direction and we may have found ways
to work together as an industry. Thanks, Robert for arranging
an opportunity to visit NFPA's impressive headquarters and
for discussions with FCIA's Board of Directors.
FCIA at FM Approvals - The FCIA Board visited Tom
McCarty and Jeff Gould of FM Approvals August 13 during it's
board meeting. Tom and Jeff agreed to educate their internal
management about the need for Effective Compartmentation and
quality firestopping applications. Thanks to Lance Simms,
FFI Firestopping for sharing a well written document on firestopping
risks when the unqualified firms and installers work with
Firestopping.
Become an FM 4991 Approved Contractor - Last year
at this time, there were about 2 - 10 Projects out for bid
on FW Dodge that had FM 4991 Approved Firestop Contractors
as part of the specification. Today there are from 20 - 70
projects bidding at any given time, according to FCIA Board
Member, Richard Keeney, Firestop International, Inc. That's
impressive since FM 4991 was only introduced in 2001. Three
years, 30 FM 4991 Contractors nationwide, with the ranks growing
at 15% per year. Contractors report that FM 4991 Specifications
are being successfully held 15 - 40% of the time, depending
on location. What was a once a dream of FCIA Member Contractors
who met first in Chicago 5 years ago is becoming a fire and
life safety reality.
FCIA Call for Directors - Each year, three directors
rotate off the FCIA Board. FCIA Thanks Tom Hottenroth, Firestop
Solutions, Inc., Richard Keeney, Firestop International, Inc.,
and Roger McKenzie, McKenzie Insulation, Inc., for their service
to FCIA on the 2004 FCIA Board of Directors. FCIA Voting Contractor
Members who want to give back to the industry through volunteering
for the FCIA Board of Directors can email the Nominating Committee.
Bob Patton (Chair), rpatton@firesafe-systems.com, Bob
LeClair or Scott
Rankin are the 2004 nominating committee for 2005's FCIA
Board. Board of Directors serve terms of two years. Board
members attend 3 board meetings yearly, 2 at FCIA Conferences,
at another time and place. Responsiveness to Email and phone
calls are important to the position .... plus member recruiting,
and a willingness to give back to the industry.
Feeling Green? - As "sustainable" design
and development principles have become more common, construction
companies are having to find ways to incorporate green building
standards. Many companies now report their environmental performance
along with financial results, and the General Services Administration
wants all new and rehabilitated government buildings to meet
LEED Standards according to Engineering News Record. FCIA
Contractors are hearing more about LEED and Firestopping.
How many miles is it from the Firestop factory to the Jobsite?
How can we minimize chemical release of solvents, etc.? Although
a small piece of the bigger construction pie, firestopping
needs to be part of the program.
Safety - The National
Safety Council praised Exxon Mobil Corporation for its
safety leadership in enacting a ban on cell phone use by ExxonMobil
employees and contractors while driving on company business.
The new policy was developed after Exxon Mobil commissioned
an analysis of available science on cell phone use that concluded
talking on a cell phone significantly degrades driving performance.
What is your cell phone policy? Hands free only? Headsets
(illegal in some states)?
"I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite
capacity to not know what can't be done." Henry Ford
FCIA's Firestop Industry Conference - November 10 - 13,
2004 - Frenchman's Reef Hotel, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
©Copyright FCIA 08/23/04 - Permission is hereby granted
to forward, print, circulate, quote with credit to FCIA.
FCIA is a non profit organization of Firestop Contractors,
Contractor Branch Offices, Manufacturers and Associate Members
interested in furthering life safety through the Professional
Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept.
For more information, contact the
FCIA Office
Bill McHugh, Executive Director
1257 Golf Circle
Wheaton, IL 60187
630.690.0682 Phone
630.690.2871 FAX
Email: info@fcia.org
Website: www.fcia.org
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