Read the 2003 Firestop Industry
Conference Report with FCIA Elections, the Chicago Hi Rise Fire,
"FCIA Member Contractor" in Specs, FM 4991, FCIA Committees
and more.
Firestop Industry Conference
FCIA's Firestop Industry Conference, November 12 - 15, 2003
was a real success story. Attendance was up over last year,
and specially written, original education seminars brought
the Firestopping Industry's present and future to FCIA Members
attending the conference. Below is a short summary of the
sessions:
FCIA Goals - The FCIA Board reaffirmed and shared
goals with FCIA Members. FCIA's primary goal is to "Promote
Firestop Trade Development"...through FCIA Membership
Growth; Codes Influence; Training of FCIA Firms and Installers;
more FM 4991 Approved Contractors; and promotion of the "Specialty
Firestop Contractor Concept" with other trade / influential
organizations. FCIA's activities rotate around these goals.
Standards for Firestop Design - Richard Smits, with
Skidmore Owings and Merrill, a leading US architectural firm,
and his team, developed "standards" for arranging
the location of piping, cables, ductwork and other penetrating
items as they pass through walls, floors, and shared them
with FCIA as a "Best Practice Exchange". How much
clearance is needed between a ceiling, a wall and a penetrating
item so installers can actually reach the areas to firestop,
was just one of the questions they tackled? FCIA's Technical
Committee is reviewing the standards for acceptance, then
promotion to the code, design and construction community.
NFPA Update - Robert Solomon, NFPA Assistant Vice
President, Quincy, MA delivered a program on the history of
fire protection in buildings, an update on NFPA 5000 and extended
an invitation for FCIA to visit NFPA's Quincy, MA Headquarters.
FCIA has been forming relationships with important influences
in the industry since it's inception. On November 24, 2003,
FCIA Past Presidents Aedan Gleeson and Blase Reardon together
with Executive Director, Bill McHugh met with Robert and NFPA
Vice President Gary Keith, to talk about the Firestopping
Industry and our joint concern over fire & life safety.
Robert mentioned that the National Association of State Fire
Marshals (NASFM) has been promoting much the same "Passive
Fire and Life Safety" story through their "Partnership
for Safer Buildings". FCIA has already contacted NASFM
to develop further conversations about our industry. Richard
Keith, Disney's "Reedy Creek Fire Protection District",
offered perspectives on inspection and enforcement as well.
The Pentagon Reconstruction - Eben Hamilton (Hensel
Phelps) and Carol Womack (DMJMH+M), from "PENREN",
the Pentagon Reconstruction Project, took us on a picture
tour of the Pentagon Project before and after September 11,
2001. FCIA Members Woody Smith (Chesapeake Firestop, Inc.
- Firestopping) and Kathy Taraba, (Rolling Plains Construction
- Fireproofing) have been working with PENREN to restore the
complex to it's grandeur.
Building Commissioning - Carl Lawson, PWI Consulting
Engineers, Inc., offered his 30+ years experience on "Construction
Industry Quality Issues", and why using an FCIA Member
Contractor makes sense. "Owners are tired of Change Orders
and Claims, this is OUR project", Carl stated. Commissioning
as a concept was discussed. FCIA Member Chris Downey, (C.L.
Downey Construction, Inc.) has installed Firestopping in buildings
where Carl was the commissioning authority for the owner.
Contracts - What FCIA Member Contractor doesn't deal
with Contracts all day long? Bill Munyan, Director, Specifications,
Freeman-White Architects, Inc., gave a fact filled and very
humorous, presentation about what to look for in standard
AIA 201 contracts, from the professional specifier, owner
and subcontractor perspective. Substitutions, Shop Drawings,
Prime Contract methods were discussed, with much vigor. Lots
of notes were being taken during this presentation!
Code Update - Bill Koffel, FCIA's Code Consultant,
and Jim Park, (RectorSeal) IFC's designate to the FCIA Conference,
showed us how codes are being impacted by FCIA efforts. Bill
Koffel and Kathy Taraba, FCIA Code Committee Chair, have worked
long and hard to promote "Passive Fire and Life Safety"
in both the ICC and NFPA Codes. Although the code change process
is slow, our group is having some successes. However, Bill
mentioned that our industry needs research for data on smoke
control. Also, the important building height and area table
requirements are being reviewed as well. The height and area
tables determine the compartment size a in a building. The
codes allow a 12,000 SF compartment size in a building without
sprinklers, and 100,000 SF compartment with sprinklers. Code
organizations are reviewing whether a smaller, 33,000 SF compartment
with sprinklers might be more appropriate for Fire and Life
Safety, according to Bill Koffel, FCIA's Code Consultant.
This is an important step towards safer buildings using both
Passive and Active Fire Protection Features.
Security Issues - Dave Gergescz, Gage Babcock Assoc.,
shared with attendees that Security is not code mandated,
but may be completely different in buildings, without respect
to building type, location, owner/manager or city/state philosophy
. Security is not regulated, and as such, becomes "whatever
the owner/manager feels is appropriate". This industry,
and the firestopping industry, could work together to prevent
the spread of fire, smoke, and possibly other contaminants
in buildings. Further study is needed by both groups to see
how Firestopping could be a vital part of the building security
system.
Friday Walkaround Sessions - Being Flexible is important
to all contractors as a key to success. Friday's walkaround
sessions were a perfect example of what Firestopping Contractors
deal with daily.....the first sessions at each station generated
discussion that lasted well past the finish time, so we just
kept rolling. Bob Leclair (A.F. Underhill, Inc.), Tom Hottenroth
(Firestop Solutions) and Bill McHugh, FCIA Executive Director
delivered a program on "How to get FM Approved",
while Ray Usher (Superl, Inc.) and Jim Shriver (Thermafiber,
LLC) spoke on "Perimeter Fire Containment". Mark
Schneider (Albion Dispensing Solutions, Inc.) and Bill Meek
(Graco, Inc.) spent time outside demonstrating tools for FCIA
Member field production. Sessions were well attended, with
much discussion resulting from the programs.
FCIA's Firestop Industry Conference Golf Outing -
Playing Disney's Magnolia Course where Tiger Woods was just
a few weeks earlier, FCIA Member Richard Keeney, (Firestop
International, LLC) finished the day with an 89, taking home
the Albion Sponsored "Silver Caulk Gun Trophy" as
the Low Net for the day. Low Team score went to Ted Smith,
(Guest of Richard Keeney) Guy Bradley, (HILTI, Inc.), Tom
Hottenroth, (Firestop Solutions) and Richard Keeney, (Firestop
International). Low Net went to Richard Keeney, (Firestop
International). Winners of the Longest Drive (in the fairway)
and Longest Putt went to Guy Bradley, (HILTI, Inc.) and Gary
Locke (A/D Fire Protection Systems). Kathy Taraba (1 Source
Firestop, Inc.) swept the ladies awards.
FCIA's Awards Banquet - With the tradition of excellence
started by Aedan Gleeson, FCIA's First President, Scott Rankin,
FCIA 2003 President (Pyro-Stop, LLC) and Ray Usher, FCIA 2004
President (Superl, Inc.), teamed up to recap FCIA's year,
and look to the future. Kathy Taraba, (1 Source Firestop,
Inc.) was "Honored with Song", for her attendance
at her own expense at countless ICC and NFPA code hearings
over the past 4 years. Outgoing Board Members were presented
with plaques, a small token of appreciation for their service
to FCIA. See below for details.
FCIA's Industry Conference Trade Show
FCIA's first formal trade show had 3M Fire Protection Products,
A/D Fire Protection Systems, Comput-Ability, Inc., Fire Protection
Technologies, Inc., MetraFlex, MM Systems, Nelson Firestop
Products, PFPP/Johns Manville, RectorSeal, Specified Technologies,
Thermafiber, Tremco, Watson Bowman Acme, displaying the latest
in Firestopping and Expansion Joint Technologies.
FCIA Thanks Sponsors
FCIA Thanks 3M Fire Protection Products, RectorSeal, Specified
Technologies, and Tremco who sponsored FCIA Activities; Jim
Shriver (Thermafiber LLC) & Chad Landry (Tremco), who provided
extra AV Projectors; Tremco, HILTI, Specified Technologies,
Albion and Graco for sample materials and equipment used in
demonstrations.
FCIA Elections
To serve on an industry association volunteer board means
an investment of time and money on behalf of the industry.
FCIA appreciates the time and effort of outgoing Board members
Blase Reardon, A.F. Underhill, Inc., Past President (6 years
of service, FCIA formation steering committee) Don Sabrsula,
FireSafe of Houston, Inc., (2 years service), and Renee Woodruff,
F.Rodgers Insulation Interiors, Inc., (2 years service). FCIA
thanks you for years of dedication to fire and life safety
and the advancement of the "Professional Firestop Contractor
Concept". The Nominating Committee (led by Renee Woodruff)
made a call for nominations in the FCIA E-News, contacted
many people and presented four FCIA Contractor Member candidates.
Each person was given an opportunity to present their views
about "Why Elect Me", during the Firestop Industry
Conference. Three were elected to serve 2 year terms, expiring
12/31/05:
- Don
Graves - Fire Barrier, Inc. - San Francisco, CA
- (415) 398-0902
- Bob
LeClair - AF Underhill, Inc. - Canton, MA - (781)
828-9760
- Don
Sabrsula - FireSafe of Houston, Inc. - Katy, TX
- (281) 391-3331
Next year's nominations take place in August. Think about giving
back to the industry, as it pays dividends for the association
and you through personal and professional growth for you and
your firm.
High Rise Fire in Chicago
The County Building, downtown Chicago had a fire a few weeks
ago. There were smoke related deaths due to people trapped in
stairwells with locked doors. The fire started in a storage
room, with smoke spreading quickly into these "havens of
safety". The resulting call for sprinklers in all high
rise buildings was met by an FCIA
Board opinion sent to local and national media calling for
BOTH passive fire and life safety and active fire sprinkler
suppression systems. Additionally, FCIA sent an offer to the
investigation chair volunteering FCIA resources in the inquiry
into the fire.
FM 4991 in Specifications
Specified Technologies, Inc., has recently added FM 4991
to their contractor requirements in "generic specifications"
offered to the industry. To date, 3M Fire Protection Products,
W.R. Grace & Co., RectorSeal Inc., Specified Technologies,
Inc., have FM 4991 mentioned in contractor requirements of
their suggested Firestopping specifications. They join ARCOM's
MasterSpec, and BSD SpecLink that already specify that FM
4991 Approved Contractors can be used on a project. MasterSpec
and SpecLink are master specification programs used by over
10,000 architects for project manual development nationwide.
As a result, FCIA Contractors report seeing "FCIA Member
and/or FM 4991 Approved Contractor" as a requirement
in construction documents. FCIA and FM 4991 are making a difference
in fire and life safety through promotion of the "Specialty
Firestop Contractor Concept" in our industry. To find
out more, read the article that appeared in the "Construction
Specifier Magazine".
FM 4991 Approved Contractors - If you were tested as
a "DRI" for an FM 4991 Approved Contractor in Boston,
November 2000, remember that your three year "Retest"
is due. The Retest was written especially for those already
with "DRI" Status, and is shorter than the initial
test. Additionally, your six CEU units must be filed with Jeff
Gould, FM as well. For the forms,
visit the respective website page and scroll down to the FM
DRI CEU forms.
FCIA Committees
FCIA's first committees were formed at the inaugural meeting
in Chicago, January, 1999. As FCIA has grown, it's become
clear that a new "process" for committee formation
was needed. FCIA Board Member Bob Patton (FireSafe Systems,
Inc.) developed and the Board approved a new process for committee
involvement. FCIA Members who want to participate on a committee
are appointed by the FCIA Board at the January Board Meeting
from applications submitted. Call the FCIA Office at 630.690.0682
and we'll FAX a form to apply for committee membership. Most
committees meet via teleconference, and / or at FCIA Conferences.
There's much to do at FCIA and in our industry to promote
the development of the "Specialty Firestop Contractor
Concept".
Bill McHugh, FCIA Executive Director
"Knowledge is not power. It is potential power. What's
needed is the ability to motivate yourself to do what you
know needs doing." - W. Clement Stone
(c) Copyright FCIA 12/8/03 Permission is hereby granted
to forward, print, circulate, quote with credit to FCIA.
FCIA is a non profit, volunteer organization of Firestop
Contractors, Contractor Branch Offices, Manufacturers and
Associate Members interested in furthering life safety through
the Professional Specialty Firestop Contractor concept, (knowledge,
value, expertise).
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
To unsubscribe, email bill@fcia.org
with tagline REMOVE.
|
