Shaft walls are critical elements in the life safety of your building. If you are working on a project with shaft walls, please take the time to watch this video. The truth is, firestop for rated joints is pretty basic, so it is easy to assume its simple work. The truth is, there is a lot that can be done wrong. If you are building gypsum shafts, this is something I see built wrong more often than I see it done right. Please, take the time to watch this video and let me know if you get this right. If you do something different on your projects I would love to hear from you as well.   ..read more

Have you ever built a building that has not had movement?    Of course not.   Every building moves.   If that’s the case, then your firestop joint systems should have movement too. There is a lot to making sure this gets done right.   Let’s imagine you are talking about a head of wall firestop joint.   First you need to know how much movement the building is expected to handle.  Next you need to know how big the gap will be between the top of the drywall and the underside of the deck.   Then you need to look at your firestop deta ..read more

If your project has gypsum stairwells, please take a moment and check out this video because we will share some common challenges we see on projects. If you are doing these things you need to find a better way. You need to build better.   I would love to hear what you do on your project and if you have these problems how do you resolve them?  The post TELL ME HOW YOU BUILD GYP STAIR SHAFTS appeared first on Halpert Life Safety Consulting ..read more

When you have a fire rated wall, let’s say it’s a gypsum wall, and it comes under a concrete deck, we all know the building code requires us to firestop that. But what about the bottom of that wall?  Do we have to firestop THAT?  Well, if you go to IBC 715.3 it says joints installed in or between fire-resistance rated walls, floors or floor/ceiling assemblies…shall be protected by an approved fire-resistant-joint system….  It gives a bunch of exceptions, but the bottom of wall is not one of them.  I have heard valid arguments that suggest bottom of wall should be added to t ..read more

Do you want to know the secret to getting firestop right?  We have been blogging about firestop since 2015 and this post is just as relevant now as it was when it was written.  If you want a dose of BRUTAL honesty, check it out.   Learning the firestop UL nomenclature will save you time! The post FLASHBACK FRIDAY appeared first on Halpert Life Safety Consulting ..read more

This guys banner photo makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up?  (of course I’m not talking about Cody and his pride and joy- thank you Cody for letting me use your banner photo)  Here is why it bothers me.   When I look at that if I know it is a fire barrier, I know it will have one list of criteria it needs to meet.   If I know it will be a smoke barrier there is a longer list of criteria.   This gets overlooked all too often and I’m hoping this post will get folks to stop using signs like this.   Here is a short explanation and very i ..read more

Does your project call out labeling your fire rated walls?  Did you know this is a code requirement?  Here is what the 2021 IBC says  703.5 Marking and Identification  Where there is an accessible concealed floor, floor ceiling or attic space, fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers and smoke partitions or any other wall required to have protected openings or penetrations shall be effectively and permanently identified with signs or stenciling in the concealed space.  Be located within 15 feet of the end of each wall and at intervals not exceeding 3 ..read more

Today we are continuing the discussion about the difference between Firestopping, fire proofing and fire blocking.   The biggest difference is that solutions for firestop and fireproofing come in the form of assemblies that are tested and listed solutions. The applications are expected to be installed the same way they were tested.   Fireblocking is not tested as part of a system.   The code lists a number of solutions for fireblocking materials and then it has this “or approved material” option and often that means AHJ’s have to decide if they will approve a poly ..read more

This video sheds light on a common code violation. If you want to know more please join us for our training that explains the fire test standards, codes and why this is such a liability. The post Plumbing Box Problem appeared first on Halpert Life Safety Consulting ..read more

If your project has structural movement requirements, please watch this video because if you are NOT doing this you could have a bit of a liability issue. https://youtu.be/3YK7DU8OYX8 The post Structural vs Firestop appeared first on Halpert Life Safety Consulting ..read more