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For More Information Contact
Steve Zenofsky, APR
Phone: (401) 275-3000, ext. 1945
E-mail: Steven.Zenofsky@fmglobal.com
Factory Mutual Research Begins Approving Contractors for
the 1st Time Firestop Contractors International Association
partners to develop Approval Std. 4991
Factory Mutual Research is now certifying firestop contractors
-- its first Approval program of contractors following decades
of Approving thousands of products and services that best
contribute to property conservation.
The new program, 'Firestop Contractor Approval Standard 4991',
is designed to improve the installation, performance and reliability
of firestopping systems as well as address quality issues
raised by facility owners, architects, engineers and fire/code
officials and inspectors. It was developed in cooperation
with the Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA),
an association of contractors who specialize in the installation
of firestop systems -- components designed to prevent fire,
smoke and fumes from spreading through such things as walls
and floor openings.
To obtain Approval, firestop contractors must pass stringent
exams, quality control inspections and earn continuing education
units (CEUs).
Specifically, a firestop contractor or its Designated Responsible
Individual (DRI) must obtain a minimum 80% score on two written
examinations. The first exam assesses one's knowledge of firestopping
(as contained in the FCIA Manual of Practice). In the second
exam, contractors demonstrate their ability to properly select
and install components and identify deficiencies.
Additionally, a contractor must pass job-site and office
quality control audits and create a quality assurance manual.
Maintaining Approval also requires passing annual quality
control audits and earning at least six Continuing Education
Units (CEUs) every three years.
Approved contractors are listed on FCIA's Web site at www.fcia.org
and in the Factory Mutual Research Approval Guide, long considered
as "The Guide" to property loss prevention products and services
worldwide.
For further details on Factory Mutual Research's Firestop
Contractor Approval program, please contact Jeff Gould, assistant
manager-building materials section, at (781) 255-4873.
Factory Mutual Research is an internationally recognized,
scientific organization and an affiliate of commercial and
industrial property insurer FM Global. With over 100 years
of experience, Factory Mutual Research's efforts set new standards
that advance loss prevention practices worldwide and develop
new products. Additionally, manufacturers use its third-party
testing laboratory services to obtain independent Approval
certifying the reliability of their products and services.
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