Managing Fire & Smoke

Barriers In Today’s Healthcare

Environment

Mark Izsa – Regional Healthcare Manager NE US

✓ Global leader in firestopping technology

✓ Celebrating 27 years of firestopping innovation

✓ Global Headquarters located in Somerville, NJ

✓ A technical staff with over 250 years of accumulated experience

✓ ISO900:2015 Certified

✓ All products made in the USA / LEED

✓ Offer a family of over 40 products and backed by over 1,500 UL Certified Systems

✓ A broad distribution network supported by experienced field representatives

Who is Specified Technologies Inc.?

Cable Management

STI – Leaders in All Major Segments

Curtain Wall

Head of Wall

Mechanical

Electrical

Plumbing

Critical Barrier Management

1. Fire Barrier Penetrations, Fire Door Issues, and Duct Issues

2. Fire Safety Testing

3. Smoke Barrier Penetration Problems

1. Walls, Doors, & Joints

3 of the Top 7 Life Safety Offenses According to TJC

According to Anne Guglielmo, Associate Director, Standards Interpretation Group of the Joint

Commission, 3 of the top 7 offenses are directly related to incompliant barrier management practices

(Barrier Management Symposium – Hosted by ASHE in King of Prussia, PA May 12-13, 2014)

Health Care-Specific

• More Penetrations Than Commercial

• Many Rated Barriers

• Many Different Barrier Types

• Defend in Place (NFPA Life Safety Code®)

• Constant Change

• Unsealed Penetrations Are Leading Cause

of EOC Recommendations by TJC

• Engineering Is Responsible for Barrier

Integrity, But Rarely Has Control…

Firestop is Different

Curtain wall

Head-of-Wall

Through-Penetrations

Cables Penetrations

How Barriers Are Compromised

Cables PenetrationsJoints

Membrane Penetrations

What is Firestopping?

In other words; Firestopping is not just one item; rather, it is

a system consisting of:

fire-rated

barrier being

penetrated

penetrant or

penetrants (if any)

sealing method used to:

• seal the opening

• protect the

penetrants

8

Key Firestop Compliance Issues

–A large % of findings are firestop related. Of them

the overwhelming % are cable penetrations

– Infection Control, specifically related to

firestopping is a significant issue.

–Fire Barrier Management over time is a significant

challenge for HC facilities.

Healthcare Specific Issues

Where’s the correct Firestop installation??

In the world above ceiling tiles…

Out of sight can be out of mind!

Openings that once were sealed may no longer be…

Even when we have made the effort…

Scab Patches – Big Problem

Composite Sheet For Larger Openings

Really??

Giant Red Flag!

Future Proofing?

Joint Commission Questions PRIOR to a Survey

What type of Firestopping is used in the facility?

What is the organization’s policy regarding accessing

interstitial spaces and ceiling panel removal?

These questions are intended to spur conversations among

surveyors and facility managers about common areas for findings.

The System Must Meet The Application

➢Rating Of The Barrier.

➢Proper Barrier Construction.

➢Proper Penetrating Item.

➢Annular Space Requirements.

More Than Just Red Caulk!!!

Psst… Follow the UL System

You Know The Drill!

• A Job Is Awarded And The Contractor Is Supposed To

Perform All Work Per Code.

• The Job Is Over And The Check Is Written.

• The Infractions Are Found, But The Contractor Is Long Gone.

• The In House Maintenance Staff Is Left To Repair. The

Hospital Is Paying Again.

• We Want The Staff To Be Inspectors Not Installers.

Proactive Or Reactive

• Being reactive is costly and allows those creating the

issues to continue to under achieve.

• A proactive approach insures compliance of the work

performed and provides a huge cost savings!

• The staff become inspectors NOT INSTALLERS!

Cost Of Maintaining Barriers

• What is the cost of sealing barriers that have

been left non compliant?

• What is the cost of generating a work order

and implementing action to be taken to repair?

These Things Don’t Happen For Free!

(Pay now and pay more later)

Reactive Cost $$$$

-Continue to throw more product at the problem

-Continue to throw money at the problem

-Be satisfied with lack of protocol

This Is Life Safety!

Get To The Core Of The Problem By Implementing A Combination Of:

• Management approach• Knowledge base (healthcare + Firestop +

construction)• Utilize products engineered for healthcare• Specific U.L. testing base for all• Support systems

Training Tech support Tools (Paper-Electronic)Specialized Support

What is a Barrier Management Program???

• Proactive Approach to Maintaining Rated Wall

Integrity.

• Stop Annual Outlay of Capital – Once The

Facility is Handed Over.

• Documentation!!!!

• Provide Avenues For Planning Pathways. (Cable

Issues)

• Enforce Accountability!

• Surpass Inspection/Accreditation Expectations

Power OF CBMP

• On Site Consultation & Walk-Throughs• Project Plan Reviews• On Site Spec & Design Support• Installation Recommendations• SOP Recommendations• Barrier Management Programs• Pre and Post Inspection Consultations• LEED Letters & BIM Modeling

BIM & Clash Management

➢ Complete Library of BIM Objects & Tools

➢ Free Firestop Clash Management Plug In

➢ Develops Clashes for Firestop Assemblies

➢ Groups Clashes with Similar Properties

➢ Reduces Amount of Systems for Project

➢ Automatically Performs STI System Search

➢ Places UL® System at Clash Location

➢ Provides Openings Reports of Coordination

Providing Sophisticated Digital Resources to Support Integrated Project Delivery

Training Is Critical

But having the best products, systems and

programs are not enough…If you don’t have a

technical comprehensive training program!

Installing Firestop

Where does it go...

Floor penetrations

generally require only

a seal from one side.

Wall penetrations, by

contrast, almost always

require a symmetrical

installation, sealing both

sides of the wall.

UL® System review

High Traffic Applications

▪ Cable penetrations are more prevalent than any other.

▪ Utilizing specific designs for these type of applications

are critical to barrier compliance.

▪ Long term sustainable designs are the key!

Firestop Compliance After MAC’s

As cable load increases, so does fuel load, AND…

…the remaining space available for the

firestop sealants decreases!

Most Manufactures Have Cable Management Solution’s

(But not everyone has a Zero-Maintenance solution)

Products like these provide a long term solution to cable issues.

Over Filled Sleeves Are A Problem!

Your solution for overfilled conduit sleeves

Using Professional Contractors

• There is a specific group of professionals that

specialize in Firestop applications.

• There are specific SFC’s that specialize in the

Healthcare Environment.

• Utilizing the expertise of a HC firestop contractor

can insure compliance.

• Using these specialist can be an invaluable

resource!

• Visit with the installers here at NEHES.

This Is How You Win!

Proactive approach

(Barrier Management Program)

Reduce Costs by

(Standardization of systems)

UL systems that meet the requirement

(Proper installations, avoid confusion)

Install zero-maintenance Firestop solutions

(Less ladder climbs, never left open)

Deliver A Long Term “Sustainable” Facility

(Life safety and code compliance)