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AITA? Fire stops

I

Inspector Gadget

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New Brunswick
I have a Canadian part 3 building, not too huge (715m2, so roughly 7,000 ft2.) It's got fire separations, and interior load-bearing walls that require fire ratings.

The documents only show general blah-blah about "y'all gotta firestop," but I'm really having problems with fire stop installations, and I'm leaning to asking for submittal documents that demonstrate what fire stop system will be used where.

AITA?
 
If you are having problems the only way to get ahead of them is to sometimes...BTA (be the a$$). On simple projects I let (assume) the inspectors handle it in the field. On larger more complicated projects I ask for submittal details, usually deferred is better because whatever they send you in design will likely not match what is ultimately used. As an inspector when I saw a penetration I would ask for the system sheets. Most of the time I got blank stares, but eventually they could come up with them. ASTM E2174 is a a handy document to use for guidance for inspecting and documentation. As a plan reviewer asking up front really just alerted everyone that the inspector should be doing this. Whether it happens or not???
 
Legally, you can ask for anything you want.

If it's a simple building, where penetrations are straightforward, I would be OK with deferred submittals.

Larger and/or complex projects I asked for them up-front.
 
@Firestop Guy
This is a huge issue in the industry and it is only getting worse the longer we coddle them… that being said I always get less than I want and it is always a struggle in the field. I do require SI on multistory wood, and when the SI grossly underperforms, they are never allowed to work in the jurisdiction again…
 
On bigger projects, I have asked for the GC to put together a binder of various firestop system, organized by trade that is performing the firestopping (i.e. M, E P, etc.) They would get the info from their subs and send it my way. As the project progresses and additional unanticipated conditions arise or engineering judgments come up, the trades had these new listings ready at time of inspection and they would go into the binder. On smaller projects where some GC's/trades didn't know what a fire stop system is, I would point them to a couple of the big companies that produce firestop products, and they would coordinate and get a rep sent out to the building who could create a submittal for the project.
 
Did a 5 story amazon sortation center, high-rise in MA. requires independent 3 party inspection for fine stopping, mile of permitter slab to wall system, hounded of penetrations, destructive test on 10% required. Hard to get the subs on board, gallons of red goop not the answer. Required to provide potential system, complete cut sheets and installation instructions, factory reps involved once the subs had some extensive do overs things went well.

Smaller project ask for date get deer in the head lights, get data, wrong application, several do overs, GC going nuts because can close up walls for floor, penetrations correct data and installation, things corrected walls closed off.
 
steveray said:
If it is anything like here.....Be afraid....Be very afraid....
Click to expand...
The specialists around here are really quite good. One of them has labels they adhere next to every penetration listing the system they use.

The other .... I did a spot inspection while the guy was onsite. He had systems manuals onsite, and some of his installs were fresh. He had never seen a building official in his career, and was kinda delighted that (a) I cared enough to check his work (b) knew enough to be able to check his work. The guy geeked out. I geeked out. I was so confident in this chap's work that I didn't do any of the destructive testing I had planned for that job.


That leads to another question: how many of you perform destructive testing? I have language on my large projects that states destructive testing will take place and to plan (budget) accordingly.
 
Inspector Gadget said:
The specialists around here are really quite good. One of them has labels they adhere next to every penetration listing the system they use.

The other .... I did a spot inspection while the guy was onsite. He had systems manuals onsite, and some of his installs were fresh. He had never seen a building official in his career, and was kinda delighted that (a) I cared enough to check his work (b) knew enough to be able to check his work. The guy geeked out. I geeked out. I was so confident in this chap's work that I didn't do any of the destructive testing I had planned for that job.


That leads to another question: how many of you perform destructive testing? I have language on my large projects that states destructive testing will take place and to plan (budget) accordingly.
Click to expand...
Ahhhh...another vote for Canada....
 
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