Through Penetration Firestopping & Acoustical Sealing

Unprotected openings in fire-rated assemblies cancel out the fire-resistance ratings of the fire separations, allowing the spread of fire, smoke, and gases (usually past the limits of the fire safety plan of a building). Unprotected openings in acoustically rated wall assemblies increase the ability of sound to transfer or reverberate from one room to another.

A penetration tested firestop is a protection system made of various components used to seal penetration openings in fire-rated wall and/or floor assemblies thereby restoring the original integrity of the assembly. An acoustical seal at a penetration helps to maintain a specific STC value of an assembly thereby minimizing the transfer of sound.

Head of Wall/Bottom of Wall Joint Firestopping & Acoustical Sealing

During the construction process, wall assemblies will meet floor assemblies and create horizontal spaces, areas or gaps that, similar to a penetration opening, will allow the spread of fire, smoke, and gases (usually past the limits of the fire safety plan of a building).

Installing tested firestop systems to meet the specific movement requirements found at various types of wall joints will effectively prevent the ability of fire, smoke, and gases to jump from one area of a building to another.

Curtain Wall & Slab Edge

A curtain wall is defined as thin, usually aluminum-framed wall, containing in-fills of glass, metal panels, or thin stone. The framing is attached to the building structure and does not carry the floor or roof loads of the building. The curtain wall often comprises one part of a building’s wall system.

With Slab Edge, the curtain wall itself is not ordinarily required to have a rating. A firestop system at the perimeter slab edge is considered a continuation of the fire-resistance rating of the floor slab so, firestopping the gap or joint between the floor and the backpan of the curtain wall or precast concrete panels will slow the passage of fire, smoke, and gases from one floor to another.

CMU Wall Joint Firestopping

Similar to gypsum wall joints, CMU walls meeting up with floor assemblies or gypsum wall assemblies create a joint at the top of the CMU assembly, as well as, at the intersection of the gypsum and CMU walls. Installing tested firestop systems to meet the specific movement requirements found at various types of CMU wall joints will effectively prevent the ability of fire, smoke, and gases to jump from one area of a building to another.

Grease & Fume Duct Protection

Fire barrier duct wrap systems are used to fire-rate commercial grease ducts, as well as, for ventilation air ducts.  They are a proven alternative to 1-hour or 2-hour fire-resistant rated shaft enclosures.

T-Ratings

By definition, a ”T” Rating is defined as the amount of time for the surface of the penetrating item on the non-fire side of the test assembly to rise 250F plus ambient temperature.

To break that definition down in simple terms, an item penetrating a fire-rated floor also presents the probability of temperature traveling up along the penetrating item running from one floor up to the floor above. This presents a differ­ent and more complicated issue, which is where the “T-rating” comes into play.

A properly installed T-rating minimizes the potential of a fire spreading from one level to the level above due to conduction, as well as, reduces the potential for combustibles to come in contact with these hot surfaces.

Fireproof Patching

From time to time inspections, repair, etc. of steel beams or supports will take place where small sections of fireproof covering may be required to be removed to perform such work.

West Coast Firestopping can assist with specific sizes or areas of removal and reinstallation of your fireproof covering.