Fire-Resistance Standards
and the International
Building Code
Rich Walke, Consultant to the NFCA
NFCA FREE Webinar Series
Learn – Network – Grow
January 26, 2021
Today’s Presentation
“Fire-Resistance Standards and the
International Building Code”
Rich Walke, Consultant to the NFCA
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NFCA Board of Directors 2020/2021
• President Martin Rodriguez, Martin Bros., Gardena, CA
• 1st V. P. Carl Fernald, Rolling Plains Construction, Apache Junction, AZ
• 2nd V. P. Mathew Stephenson, Commercial Fireproofing & Insulation, Dallas, TX
• Treasurer Steve Winston, American Coatings Corp., Ashland, VA
• Secretary Nikita Gordon, Gunnlaugson Spray-On Ltd, Winnipeg, MB
• Past President Jonathan Wohl, Wohl Diversified Services, Port Chester, NY
• Director Adam Carter, Superior Industrial Insulation Company, Cleveland, OH
• Director Keith Kennedy, Aries Contracting, Ottawa, ON
• Director Bob Pool, Alfred Miller Contracting, Lake Charles, LA
• Director Paul Steele, The Raymond Group, Orange, CA
• Director Brian Sykes, Anning Johnson Company, Redmond, WA
• Director John Taglienti, East Coast Fireproofing, Wrentham, MA
• Dir Emeritus Howard Towler - Acme Fireproofing, Jenks, OK
• Dir Emeritus Bubba Winston - American Coatings, Ashland, VA
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What Does NFCA Provide?
• World-Class SFRM & IFRM Fireproofing Instruction
• Educational Conference
• Network with top Fireproofing Contractors, Manufacturers, Associates
• A forum for suppliers and contractors to learn from one another
• NFCA Contractor Accreditation Program for IFRM & SFRM
• Educated fireproofing Companies
• NEW UL Qualified SFRM Contractor Program – SPECIAL PRICES NOW
• NFCA Website to find Fireproofing Leaders – NFCA-online.org
• NFCA 100-400 Standards for quality and life safety
• Technical expertise
• Standards and code development
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What does NFCA Do?
• NFCA @ ICC Codes…
• 2021/2024 SFRM/IFRM Proposals…
• NFCA @ ASTM Task Groups - Fireproofing
• NFCA @ NFPA Fire Protection Features
• NFCA @ AISC, AISI
• NFCA @ National Codes, Canada
• NFCA @ American Institute of Steel Construction & American Iron
and Steel Institute
• Life Safety Digest Articles
• Thermal Barriers, Patching, more…
• NFCA @ SFPE/ASCE Meetings
• NFCA requests IAS add NFCA Fireproofing Exam
• NFCA Committee ACTIONS 5
NEW NFCA Handbook of Accepted
Fireproofing Knowledge (HAFK)
• Study Resource for NFCA Fireproofing
Exams
• Fireproofing in ‘One Place’
• NFCA Members = $500 Discount
• FREE HAFK PDF for AHJ’s & Specifiers
with Design Firms, Independent Specifiers
• More New Chapters coming…
nline.org 6
NFCA Award of Excellence
CALL FOR ENTRIES
• Recognizes NFCA Contractor Members for an exceptional
fireproofing project demonstrating innovation & safety.
• Projects submitted should exceed standard fireproofing
practices and should be unique and creative,
demonstrating excellence in innovation and safety.
• Entry Deadline – January 31, 2021
• Go to www.NFCA-online.org for entry form and details.
nline.org
• Winners announced at the 2021 NFCA Fireproofing
Educational Conference
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NFCA Upcoming
Educational Events
• NFCA Free Webinar Series Upcoming Dates:
For 2021, Watch NFCA-Online.org –
• NFCA 2021 Fireproofing Educational Conference
• DATE & FORMAT TBD … Likely Fall.
• NFCA 2021 Education for NFCA Fireproofing Exams
• Likely Q2 VIRTUAL & Fall LIVE
• NFCA Contractor Accreditation Program
• UL Qualified SFRM Contractor Program
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NFCA Membership
• Thank you NFCA Members – You make NFCA programs possible!
• Not a Member? Join Now!
• Annual Contractor Membership $1400
• Contact Sandy@nfca-online.org for an application
• NFCA Membership is an investment in your company and your industry
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Today’s Presentation
“Fire-Resistance Standards and the
International Building Code”
Rich Walke, Consultant to the NFCA
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Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction
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Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction
Code Requirements for
Fire-Resistance-Rated
Construction
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IBC Requirements
•Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10 of the IBC
•Chapters 3 and 4 – Defines Occupancies
•Chapter 5 – General Building Heights and Areas
• Permitted building area based on four factors:
•Type of construction
•Occupancy
•Available frontage
•Use of sprinklers
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Code Requirements Cont.
• Section 508 – Covers mixed use considerations
•Chapter 6 – Types of Construction
• Table 601 – Establishes hourly rating required for building
elements based on Type of Construction
• Table 602 – Establishes hourly rating required for exterior
walls based on fire separation distance, type of construction
and occupancy
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Code Requirements Cont.
•Chapter 7 – Fire and Smoke Protection Features
• 703.2 – Fire-resistance ratings shall be determined in
accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263
• 703.2.1 – Nonsymmetrical walls shall be tested from both
faces
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Code Requirements Cont.
• 703.2.3 – Assemblies considered unrestrained unless
registered design professional provides evidence satisfactory
to AHJ that construction qualifies for restrained classification
per ASTM E119 or UL 263
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Code Requirements Cont.
• 703.3 – Methods for determining fire resistance shall be
based on fire exposure and acceptance criteria of ASTM E119
or UL 263
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Code Requirements Cont.
• 703.3 Cont. – Required fire resistance permitted to be
established based on any of the following:
•Designs documented from approved sources
•Prescriptive requirements from Section 721
•Calculations in accordance with Section 722
•Engineering analysis based on ASTM E119 or UL 263
•Alternative protection methods as allowed in Section 104.11
•Fire-resistance designs certified by an approved agency
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Fire Resistance
• Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 establish the required ratings
• Chapter 7 establishes how the rating is determined
• Rating expressed as an Hourly Time Period
• Ratings range from 1/2 to 4 hours
• Contain Fire to Room or Floor of Origin and Maintain
Structural Integrity
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Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction
Establishing
Fire-Resistance Ratings
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Standards
• US
• ASTM E119
• NFPA 251 (Withdrawn)
• UL 263
• Canada
• ULC-S101
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Building Components
• Columns
• Beams
• Floor/Ceilings or Roof/Ceilings
• Walls
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Time – Temperature Curve
Temp
(ºF)
Time (Hr)
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Columns
• Sample size – Minimum 9 ft
• Tested unloaded
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Conditions of Acceptance – Columns
• 1000ºF / 1200ºF
OR
Support load if tested load bearing
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Beams
• Sample size – Minimum 12 ft
• Load applied – Per design
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Conditions of Acceptance – Beams
• Support load
• 1100ºF / 1300ºF
Floor/Ceiling or Roof/Ceilings
• Sample size – 180 sq ft / 12 ft
• Load applied – Per design
12 180 sq ft
ft
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Conditions of Acceptance
Floor/Ceilings or Roof/Ceilings
• Support load
• Flame passage
• 250ºF / 325ºF
• Support temperatures
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Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction
Common Questions,
Misconceptions and
Misunderstandings
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 1
• What is the difference between ASTM E119 / UL 263
and ULC-S101?
• ASTM E119 and UL 263 are US based standards and are
referenced in US based codes and international codes which
are based on US codes (e.g. UAE Fire &Life Safety Code)
• ULC-S101 is Canadian based, published by Underwriters’
Laboratories of Canada and is referenced in Canadian based
codes
• Technical content is identical
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 2
• What is the difference between a UL listing, a cUL listing
and a ULC listing?
• A UL listing is issued by UL based on US standards and is
intended to address US based code requirements. A UL listed
product will bear a mark which will include one of the following
UL logos.
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 2 Cont.
• A cUL listing is issued by UL based on Canada standards and
is intended to address Canadian based code requirements. A
cUL listed product will bear a mark which will include one of
the following UL logos.
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 2 Cont.
• A ULC listing is issued by ULC based on Canada standards
and is intended to address Canadian based code
requirements. A ULC listed product will bear a mark which will
include the following UL logo.
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 2 Cont.
• Many products will bear a UL and a cUL mark issued by UL.
This mark signifies the product was investigated by UL based
on both US and Canada standards and is intended to address
both US and Canadian based code requirements. Such
product will bear a mark which will include one of the following
UL logos.
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 3
• Is it necessary to leave space around a building element which
is protected with an intumescent fire-resistive material?
• Yes, an intumescent fire-resistive material need space for free expansion in
order to develop the proper char formation. The UL Guide Information for Fire-
resistance Ratings – ANSI/UL 263 states: “Unless otherwise detailed in the
individual designs, mastic and intumescent coatings are tested without any
covering adjacent to the tested member that might interfere with the expansion
of the coating. The effect on the fire-resistance rating of steel members
(beams, columns, etc.) caused by any covering that would interfere with the
expansion of a mastic and intumescent coating during a fire has not been
investigated. Contact the manufacturer for their required clearance around
structural members protected with mastic and intumescent coatings.”
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 4
• The building configuration prevents the application of
protection on one side of a beam or column. What can
be done to properly protect this element?
• Tested and listed designs from UL and other are tested with
protection on all exposed sides. As such, some type of
protection is needed.
• Mfrs have developed a number of creative solutions, typically
ending in an Engineering Judgment.
• Contact your manufacturer when the situation develops.
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 5
• Does “small-scale” testing have a place within fire-
resistive construction?
• Generally no! ASTM E119 and UL 263 require min sample
sizes to allow for realistic deflection during the fire tests.
“Small scale” testing does not allow for this deflection
resulting in a less critical test. Also, small-scale assemblies
typically can not be loaded as required by the standards.
• “Small-scale” testing is used very judicially to supplement
full-scale testing.
•If “small-scale” testing is suspected, ASK THE QUESTION!!!
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 6
• Are horizontal assemblies (floors and roofs) required to
be loaded during a fire resistance test?
• Yes, ASTM E119 and UL 263 require assemblies be loaded to
their maximum-load condition allowed under nationally
recognized structural design criteria unless limited design
criteria are specified
•Very few assemblies have been tested at a reduced load
•If tested at a reduced load, design will clearly specify the loading
applied
•If loading is not specified in documentation, ASK THE QUESTION!!!
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 7
• Engineering judgments (EJs) represent a “Get out of
Jail Free” card to avoid the use of a tested design!
• Absolutely not! Engineering judgments are not a substitute
for tested designs and should only be used after exhausting
the search for a tested design.
• Concept of EJs based on IBC Section 703.3:
•703.3 – Methods for determining fire resistance shall be based on fire
exposure and acceptance criteria of ASTM E119 or UL 263. The required
fire resistance permitted to be established based on any of the following:
4. Engineering analysis based on ASTM E119 or UL 263
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Question, Misconception or
Misunderstanding No. 7 Cont.
• EJs should only be issued by those with a thorough
understanding of the performance of the materials and
assemblies in question
•PE
•FPE
•Manufacturer
•Testing Lab
• Ask for a Resume or CV of the individual issuing the EJ
to better understand their qualifications
• EJs issued for a specific job site
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Thanks for Attending!!!
Rich Walke, Consultant to the NFCA
National Fireproofing Contractors Association
4415 W. Harrison St., #540
Hillside, IL 60162
(708) 236-3411
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