Firestopping is an essential engineering measure often overlooked in building design, construction and maintenance. It’s required to seal perimeter building joints and through penetrations at fire-rated walls, floors and ceilings to provide a barrier against the spread of fire, smoke and toxic gas.
No matter what industry you’re in, there’s no denying that aesthetics is a significant part of the equation. From architecture to interior design, the importance of aesthetics is highly emphasized. Yet, that same aesthetic design can be overlooked when it comes to firestopping.
First-generation firestopping took a function-over-appearance approach. Functionally, the fire sealant prevented the passage of heat, flame and smoke. However, it was often unattractive and remained highly visible. It doesn’t have to be that way. By choosing the right product solution, builders and contractors can keep their projects aesthetically pleasing while still providing the highest levels of safety.
Several manufacturers have stepped up recently to offer more aesthetically pleasing firestopping, giving birth to a new category, pre-formed firestop. These unique solutions comply with life safety requirements while simultaneously meeting some of the aesthetic demands.
Pre-formed firestop products are not installed in a wet state, as is the case with sealants and fire sprays. They install fully cured, allowing the inspection process to begin immediately after installation.
The initial product offerings of pre-formed firestop were very simplistic, with some variation of intumescent fill material—strips, foam or infused sheets. These intumescent products significantly reduced labor costs, which contractors and architects appreciated.
A faster installation that saves labor costs is always a welcomed feature, and because of that, firestop manufacturers nationwide now offer various versions of pre-formed firestop. This new type of pre-formed firestop checked a lot of boxes:
-
Faster installation.
-
Unlimited product shelf life.
-
Improves project scheduling.
-
Can provide up to five times greater movement than encumbered sealant joint systems.
-
Does not shrink, harden or crack over time.
-
Allows for immediate inspections.
However, there are some boxes that this type of pre-formed firestop does not check. Because this type of pre-formed firestop is mainly made up of intumescent material, it is not necessarily intended to be left exposed in highly visible areas. Some of these products have brand names printed on the surface, while others have a foil or transparent poly layer over the intumescent for protection and thus are not ideal surfaces for finish paint to be applied.
This can create a problem since all pre-formed firestopping must be recognizable to the inspector. After all, it is a life-safety product, so the easier it is to identify, the easier it is to inspect.
The question is, “Can we improve the architectural design and aesthetics without compromising life-safety requirements?” On the surface, that seems like a tall order, finding a firestopping product that is both highly recognizable for inspection and visually pleasing. Fortunately for the building industry, manufacturers are constantly innovating to keep up with architects’ needs and the requirements of the building code.
This pursuit leads to developing “High-Performance Firestop” that are both aesthetically pleasing and comply with the strictest building code requirements.
How does it work?
For any pre-formed firestop product to qualify as “High-Performance,” it must meet the following requirements:
-
It must be installed three to four times faster than traditional methods.
-
It must remain permanently flexible to maintain STC ratings.
-
It must be recognizable during construction and concealed within the finishes.
-
It must be paintable.
-
It must provide all ranges of deflection movement from 1/4" to 4".
-
It must be third-party fire-tested, and sound tested.
-
It must be able to provide long-term performance warranties.
-
It must be highly durable to prevent damage to other trades.
There are fire and sound gaskets that fall into the high-performance category. These products offer a permanently flexible bubble gasket to seal against uneven concrete. They are color-coded for easy recognition and have a highly durable vinyl outer profile that is paint ready and easily concealed with the surrounding finishes.
CEMCO’s family of firestopping products can absolutely satisfy these requirements. CEMCO® fire-rated drywall accessories—High-Performance Firestop! No sealant or fire spray required. Each accessory is fully cured and provides a clean, modern look while also providing increased dynamic movement and superior STC ratings. CEMCO’s UL fire-rated assemblies make choosing the most efficient and applicable solution for your head-of-wall and joint firestopping easier than ever!
CEMCO’s Fire Bead® is the perfect solution for head-of-wall assemblies requiring a 1/4" compressive movement as well as a paintable trim piece. Fire Gasket® with its three configurations is designed to accommodate from 1/2" up to 1 1/2" overall movement (up and down) and also allows for a paintable finish. HOTROD® and HOTROD® XL fit between the drywall and ceiling deck providing protection for movement from 1/4" to 1/2". Super Seal-X allows for a 5/16" gap between the finished wall and finished hard-lid. FireRip® is a new product designed for large-scale dynamic movement ranging from 2" all the way up to 4". Lastly, CEMCO’s 093X® and 093X®-V are designed specifically for controlling movement on vertical walls by providing a clean, crisp and architecturally pleasing joint for expansion.
CEMCO® has been a leader in the steel framing market for over 40 years, and recently the past 10 years have established us as leaders in the firestopping segment too. With over 50 UL fire-rated assemblies and an experienced support team CEMCO is ready to help you solve your challenges to providing firestopping that is tested, proven and aesthetically pleasing! For more information on how CEMCO can help you today, contact your local CEMCO sales professionals or visit us at www.cemcosteel.com.
About the Author
Don Pilz is a senior manager of product development at CEMCO. He has invented multiple firestop products distributed in the United States and abroad. Pilz ensures that all CEMCO’s firestopping products meet safety standards and stay current with changing regulations. Pilz also assists as a technical consultant with Trim-Tex, helping contractors get the most from their products. He strives to ensure that customers receive the highest quality craftsmanship and installation methods. With 30-plus years in the construction industry as a project foreman and building envelope consultant, Pilz is now the R&D manager for CEMCO assisting designers, architects and contractors with interior and exterior performance detailing. He can be reached at (626) 506.3881 or [email protected].
