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3 L i f e S a f e t y D i g e s t Spr ing 2 0 0 9

On the Cover:Educational occupancies contain our most valuableassets, students of all ages.

FCIA Board of Directors Bill Hoos, 2009 President Montvale, NJ, JHC Firestop, Inc.

Randy Bosscawen, Vice President & 2010 President Elect Multicon Fire Containment, Columbus, OH

Randy Perry, TreasurerAdler Firestopping, Inc., Acheson, AB, Canada

Jodi Clem, SecretaryPREVENT, Inc., Livermore, CA

Gary Hamilton, DirectorHamilton Benchmark, Inc., St. Francis, WI

Bob Hasting, DirectorSpecialty Firestop Systems, Inc., Vancouver, WA

Don Sabrsula, DirectorFireSafe of Houston, Inc., Katy, TX

Tom Hottenroth, Past-PresidentFirestop Solutions, Inc., Bohemia, NY

Mike Dominguez, Past-PresidentFirestop Specialties, Inc., Miami, FL

Bill McHugh, Executive DirectorFirestop Contractors International Association, Hillside, IL

Aedan Gleeson, Chair, Advisory Board

Subscription information: To subscribe, visitwww.fcia.org, click on Life Safety Digest, subscribe.For further information, contact FCIA at 708-202-1108 or e-mail [email protected].

Life Safety Digest, Volume 5, No. 2, is published quar-terly by The McGraw-Hill Cos. for the FirestopContractors International Association. Information hasbeen obtained from sources believed to be reliable.However, because of the possibility of human ormechanical error by our sources, the FirestopContractors International Association does not guar-antee the accuracy or completeness of any informa-tion and is not responsible for any errors or omissionsof for the results obtained from use of such informa-tion. The publisher reserves the right to censor,review, edit, reject or cancel any materials not meet-ing the standards of Life Safety Digest.

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On the Web: You can find Life Safety DigestMagazine, including ads, text of articles andselected tables in this publication athttp://www.fcia.org .

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Copyright ©2009, FCIA, the FirestopContractors International Association

Editors Message 5

Student Housing 6By Eric Ciccone

Our Lady of the Angels 10By Randall Bosscawen

Georgia State 13By Marty Waterfill

Fire Glass Inspection 15By Jeff Razwick

Door Closer 17By Ryan Rouse

Industry News 20

Testing & Qualification News

Code Corner

Industry Calendar

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Educational occupancies house ourgreatest resource, students. Appropriatedesign, security, fire and life safety arehuge parts of creating an environmentconducive to learning.

In this issue, FCIA's RandyBosscawen wrote about the OurLady of the Angels fire in Chicago.Although the tragedy took place 50years ago, the event stimulatesdebate about fire protection, firedrills, and occupant behavior eventoday. Georgia State University'sMarty Waterfill speaks out about firedoor inspection, while fire-resistantglazing systems and firestoppingquality programs bring new strate-gies for construction quality andsafety for occupants. Eric Ciccone

points out problems in higher edu-cation dormitory fire behavior.

It's amazing that fire-resistance-rated corridors are not required in edu-cation occupancy school construction.Certainly concerns about child safetyby classroom doors that must be opento monitor classroom activity, protect-ing students and teachers are validarguments. However, how can thecorridor be a haven of safety for egress,if it's not fire-resistance-rated?

FCIA believes that all types of fireprotection - alarms and detection, fire-and smoke-resistance-rated horizontaland wall assemblies and suppressionsystems, plus occupant education - areneeded to keep us safe, wherever weare, when an emergency event strikes.

Join FCIA and other associationsthat support fire-resistance-rated andsmoke-resistant compartmentationthat brings safer buildings for all.

Scott Rankin, Chair FCIA Editorial CommitteeMike Dominguez, President,Miami, FLDon Murphy, Past President,Indianapolis, INBob LeClair, Past President,Boston, MANoah Whyte, FCIA Member,Alberta, CanadaAedan Gleeson, Director, Boston, MABill McHugh, Executive Director


By Eric Ciccone

There is no silver bullet when itcomes to fire protection, regardless ofbuilding and occupancy type. Theold cliche about putting all your eggsin one basket is never more impor-tant than when it comes to boardingschool, college and university stu-dent life safety.

All fire protection systems can fail.The chances of failure are even high-er with student occupants becausethey are known to disable the fireprotection systems that boardingschools, colleges and universities relyon for fire and life safety.

The NFPA reports that the onlyoccupancy group that has experi-enced an increase in fires between1980 and 2005 is the student occu-pancy group. According to theAmerican Society of Safety

Engineers (ASSE), there are approx-imately 1,700 fires per year in stu-dent housing. It was noted in thesestatistics that smoke alarms can fail21% of the time. Even when smokedetection and alarms work, they areoften ignored by students due to thenumerous false alarms experiencedin this occupancy.

Perhaps the most disturbing newsis that 33% of the fires are the resultof student arson. Psychologists main-tain that an arsonist usually wants toensure the success of the fire andthat can be achieved by disabling thefire protections systems.

It is immensely important toreduce the student occupants risk byincorporating multiple fire protec-tion systems and occupant educationtactics. This can be achieved throughusing all types of fire protection,from effective fire-resistance-ratedand smoke-resistant compartmenta-

tion systems, detection and alarmsystems, sprinklers, and education.Each component is an extremelyimportant front line tool for fire andlife safety. However, compartment-ing buildings to protect against firespread can help ensure safety tooccupants. This is especially true in ahigh-risk occupancy, like students.Compartmentation systems includethe fire-resistance-rated wall, floor,firestopping, fire dampers, fire-resist-ance-rated glazing, swinging androlling fire doors, and high perform-ance fire-resistant coatings. The fire-resistant coatings can slow the flamespread within a room and increasethe fire endurance of the structure.All these methods buy precious timefor the student to evacuate underfire conditions.

The statistics can be sobering andthe stories behind them can be terri-fying. For instance, Boston Universityrecently lost two students in an apart-ment fire. We have grown almost toexpect this horrible news, but,beyond the headlines is the fact thatthe apartment building the studentswere occupying had been experienc-ing a prolonged power outage thatdrained the battery backup on thesmoke alarm system. A sampling ofheadlines from the Collegian newspa-per at the University of MassachusettsAmherst mirrors the ASSE statistics.For instance, the Collegian Newsreports that in a one-year period,there were 152 fire calls to the uni-versity. Of the 152 calls, over 100were actual fires. That is a lot of fires,

There's a big difference in fuel loads, leftdorm room to right.


but it is also a lot of false alarms con-tributing to student “alarm apathy.”

Another Collegian article reportedthat a student was expelled for light-ing a fire in one of their largest dor-mitories. Twenty-two students werecited for remaining in their roomsduring the actual fire. Symptomaticof the alarm apathy, the studentsthought it was another false alarm,so they stayed put doing whateverthey were doing. On another occa-sion, an early morning alarm result-ed when a student intentionallybroke a water supply pipe, disablingthe sprinkler system.

These problems are by no meansunique to the University ofMassachusetts Amherst. While thesetypes of incidents make headlines atthe university, around the globemany infractions never get reportedbecause they are considered com-mon and minor. For example, cover-ing up smoke detectors so studentscan smoke in rooms or overloadingthe power supply in dorm rooms cancause a fire.

Headlines help back up the statis-tics and accentuate the need toimprove all types of fire protection indormitories. With some deeperresearch, we can understand justhow high the student fire risk is bylistening to college fire safety officerswho are on the front lines.

Rich Lemoine, health & safetydirector at University of Lowell, inLowell, Mass., said, “The differencebetween a high school student and acollege student is…..90 days.” Theseare just kids away from home for thefirst time and they just may notknow how to use a toaster ovenproperly, let alone be responsiblewhile they may be intoxicated.

Two college fire safety officers whoare founding board members of theCenter for Campus Fire Safety(http://www.campusfiresafety.org)

preach the age old “occupant educa-tion” to help improve student firesafety through education. MikeHaligan, of the University of Utah,and Mike Swain, ofthe University ofMassachusetts at Amherst, are firesafety officers for their organizations.They hold annual Campus FireSafety Forums around the U.S. tohelp raise awareness about the prob-lems with student housing and sharebest practice solutions. “Studentswho light fires often view themselvesas pranksters. They are notpranksters. They are arsonists. It'simportant to educate students aboutthis.” The deadly Seton Hall fire thatkilled three students was started by aso called “student prankster,” statedHalligan and Swain.

Not only has behavior been a fac-tor in campus fires, the fuel load indorm rooms has changed. DeputyPaul Calderwood, who consults andlectures on student fire safety withover 30 years experience as a firesafety officer at Tufts University,points out that the synthetic plasticsand foam-filled dorm rooms of todayadd a tremendous amount of fuel toa fire. “Thirty-five years ago, the fuelburn load in a room was probably8,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units)per pound,” he said. “Now, withcomputers, stereos, televisions andman-made fabrics and foam…. thatfuel load is up to 18,000 to 22,000BTUs per pound. The result is a hot-ter and faster-moving fire that canoverpower sprinklers and generatehuge quantities of black, acrid smokethat could obscure exits and droppeople in the building quickly afterjust a few breaths. From a firefight-er's standpoint, that means I havevery little time between ignition,finding the fire, getting (the occu-pants) out and getting us in to put(the fire) out.”

Colleges have annual paint main-

tenance programs that can be a curseor a blessing. A curse because theyearly ritual involves loading up fire-resistance-rated walls and ceilingswith layer upon layer of paint thatcan add fuel to a fire. Depending onthe structure age, a dorm room couldhave 40 layers of paint on the walls.To make matters worse there couldbe lead paint hiding under the morerecent top coats.

But there is a silver lining. Theyearly paint program could be easilyconverted into a passive fire protec-tion program by replacing the paintwith a new second generation intu-mescent paint system. By using thesecoating systems and assuring firedoors, fire dampers, and firestop sys-tems are installed correctly, the firewill be denied fuel load. Hopefullythis will slow fire spread, and main-tain or increase the fire endurance ofthe walls and ceilings.

An ad-hoc group of Boston areacollege fire safety officers testednew technology in fire-resistantpaint at the Boston Fire Trainingfacility. Their effort focused on theefficacy of using new fire-resistantpaint technology to buy time forstudents to evacuate under fire con-ditions and balance out themechanical fire protection with an“invisible” system that was not sub-

Fire officials inspect dorm room construction


ject to mechanical failure. Their case study culminated into a

full scale burn of two dormitory roomswith combustible wood furnituredonated by Northeastern University.Two rooms were built identical inevery way except one room had a thincoating of a new fire-resistant paint onthe walls and penetrations weresealed with the proper firestoppingsystems to create a fire-resistant com-partment with the goals of slowingflame spread in and beyond the roomof origin, limiting smoke propagation,and keeping the rooms relatively cooldelaying or preventing flashover. Thegroup's testing showed that thesegoals can be met and exceeded. Thesuccessful “real world” dorm room fire test can be viewed on atwww.DormRoomFire.com or on

Sample Dorm room before fire

YouTube by typing in “Dorm RoomFire.”

In light of these truths, studentsafety must include education ofoccupants; increased inspection offire protection systems includingdetection and alarms, sprinklers andfire; and smoke protection featuressuch as fire dampers, fire rated glaz-ing, firestopping and fire rated doorsand hardware in dormitories, frater-nities, and sororities to help protectlives and a campus' most valuableassets…it's students.

Eric Ciccone is an independent manu-facturers representative for PyrotarpFire & Thermal Coatings and Materials,and Sintec FS Fire Resistant Sprayapplied and Pre-molded Foams. He canbe reached at [email protected].


By Randall Bosscawen

This is a “true story” of a horrifyingevent that occurred in a “legally safe”kindergarten through eighth gradeparochial school.

Chicago’s Our Lady of the AngelsSchool was a two-story building con-structed prior to 1949’s buildingcodes. Built prior to requirements forfire protection devices, fire doors andfully enclosed stairways, the structurefell under the 1905 codes that did notrequire these features. Upgrades werenot mandated. Thus, this structurewas considered “legally safe”.

The school contained six classroomson the second floor with stairways oneach end, and one fire escape. Therewas an open pipe shaft running fromthe basement level of a stairwell up tothe attic space. Stairwell fire doorswere located on the basement andfirst floor levels, and not on the sec-ond floor stairwell level.

Around 2:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 1958, asmoldering container of refuse locatedin the basement level of one of the stair-wells erupted into flames. The heavyblack smoke quickly bypassed the firstfloor corridor due to the presence of thefire doors, and began pouring up thestairwell to the second floor corridor. Atthe same time, this incapacitatingsmoke was filling the exit corridors.Then, flames erupted in the pipe chase,traveling to the attic and creating fur-ther fire spread. Due to the fast firespread, this was truly a time when sec-onds meant the difference in survival.

As we know, emergencies, thingscan go wrong. One of the first teach-ers who exited the building with herstudents switched the fire alarm lever,which failed to activate the alarm.

She then escorted her class to thechurch next door. After the childrenwere safe, she returned and switchedthe alarm again. This time it activated.However, valuable time was lost. Ithad been close to eight minutes sinceshe initially noticed smoke in thebuilding, and initiated her escapewith the children in her class.

Even when other teachers becameaware of smoke filling the secondfloor corridor, they remained in theirclassrooms. The rule at Our Lady ofAngels was to never leave the build-ing until the fire alarm sounded.

Other student evacuation delaysoccurred when the fire departmentwas given the wrong address. Thefirst vehicle on site, an engine truck,had inadequate ladder lengths thatdid not reach the second floor win-dows because a chained six-foot-talliron fence blocked access to one sideof the building.

During these evacuation and rescuedelays, children were dying. Littlechildren who had always looked atschool as a safe, spiritual place, foundthemselves suddenly trapped in class-rooms by the smoke filled corridor.

Shortly thereafter, these childrenand teachers were overwhelmed bysmoke as the non-fire resistance-rated corridor door transoms abovethe doors burst open because of theintense heat. Then, flames rushedinto their classrooms.

As a result, children were jumpingout of the windows. Some were onfire, some landed on their friends whohad previously jumped from the win-dows. Many children sustained bro-ken ankles, hips, legs, necks and frac-tured skulls as they escaped flamesand flew out the windows. Fathers

with arms outstretched begged theirchildren to jump to safety, only to seeflames devour them.

Ninety-two children and three nunsperished, and 90 students and threenuns were injured. One can onlyspeculate how many lives could havebeen saved if only a fire door had beenon the second floor stairwell, or if thecorridor walls been constructed as afire barrier, with fire-resistance-rateddoors and no open transoms. As thefire raged, seconds were virtually thedifference between life and death.

Often it takes tragedy for buildingcodes to react and prevent disasterssuch as Our Lady of the Angels. Thelessons learned from Our Lady of theAngels fire led to revisions in thebuilding codes covering educationaloccupancies, including:• Fire doors at stairwells• Corridor walls constructed as one-

hour fire barriers• Automatic sprinkler systems• Fire alarms connected directly to

the fire department

This is my second “true story.” Itseems lessons learned from thetragedy were soon forgotten. CurrentInternational Building Codes (IBC) donot require one-hour fire resistancerated fire barrier walls and fire doorsin stairwells and corridors, but dohave sprinklers.

As a society, are we putting all ourtrust in mechanical and electrical sys-tems such as sprinklers and detectionand alarms? Remember that the mal-functioning alarm system at Our Ladyof Angels cost eight valuable minutes.Did we not learn that enclosed stair-wells and rated corridors provide addi-tional time for evacuation and rescue?

After researching the Our Lady ofAngels fire, I pulled out plans for aschool project I am currently workingon in order to visualize what dangerschildren might be exposed to under


current codes. This new school has alarge open rotunda in the center withopen stairwells on opposite ends. Thesecond floor contains 19 classrooms,restrooms, and numerous storagerooms with non-fire-rated corridors.

Knowing that smoke can travelfaster than you can run, why not pro-vide our children fire-resistance ratedbarrier walls with fire doors and hard-ware, fire-resistance-rated glazing,firestopping and fire dampers for atrue safe environment instead of set-tling for a “legally safe” environment?

In the interest of life safety, should arotunda in a school be reconsidered?How much weight should we put onfire door costs at stairwells comparedto the life safety benefits? The corridorwalls run from floor to deck on thisproject, meaning the walls couldbecome fire-resistance rated for mini-

mal cost. What would the additionalcost be to make corridors fire-resist-ance-rated compared to the protectionprovided? Incrementally, not much.

To protect future generations, wemust remember the past. Things gowrong. What happens if the sprinklersystem malfunctions, the alarm failsto activate, the fire department isdelayed or numerous false alarmscause occupant complacency, delay-ing the exiting process?

We are fooling ourselves if we thinkall mechanical and electrical systemsare in working order 100% of thetime. Architects, school administrators,Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs)and the general public need to be edu-cated about the risk of subjecting ourchildren to a “legally safe” buildingcompliant with current building codes.We should insist that codes reinstate

previous passive life safety protectionin corridors, with fire barriers, firedoors, fire dampers, and firestopping.At the least, design professionals, con-tractors and others should inform localcommunities that they have the rightto insist on additional life safety fea-tures over and above what the build-ing code requires.

Have we taken a great step back-wards in protecting our children? Ihope we never encounter “true storynumber three.”

ReferenceCowen, David. Kuenster, John. To SleepWith The Angels. Chicago: ElephantPaperbacks Ivan R. Dee,1998

Randy Bosscawen is 2009 FCIA Vice-President, with Mulitcon Fire Containment,Columbus, OH. He can be reached at [email protected].


By Marty Waterfill

Mandated fire door inspections arejust around the corner. The latestrequirements of NFPA 80-2007, nowreferenced in the 2009 InternationalBuilding and Fire Code, requiresannual inspection of fire doors, onceadopted by a jurisdiction. Rather thanwait until inspections become manda-tory, Georgia State University decidedto get a head start on what would bea big project for any institution.

Georgia State University (GSU) wasfounded in 1913 and is located in theheart of downtown Atlanta. Today itserves more than 27,000 undergradu-ate and graduate students. Because ofits location, the university has grownby taking over some existing buildingsand has continuously built new facili-ties to accommodate growth. Otherbuildings were built by GSU manyyears ago. Through the years, variousrepairs and renovations have beenmade. Three or four years ago, the uni-versity completed a fire door projectthat upgraded several hundred doors.

At a Door & Hardware Institutemeeting in Atlanta, a speaker outlinedthe new code provisions and therequirement for annual inspection offire doors. These requirements wereadopted and published by the NationalFire Protection Association, in theform of NFPA 80-2007. Once adoptedby a jurisdiction, these requirementsbecome binding and enforceable. Thisis likely to occur by 2010.

Following the meeting, I thoughtabout all the fire doors in our 60major downtown buildings. Thebuildings hold a lot of students, withup to 100 people in some classrooms.We take our responsibility for the stu-

dents, faculty, staff and visitors seri-ously. With this responsibility and thecertainty of the inspection require-ment, we decided to move ahead assoon as possible instead of waiting for

inspections to become mandatory.There is an ongoing funding allocationavailable to us to meet code regula-tions, and we had been planning to fixsome more doors. With the knowledge


of the code changes, we realized there was a provision thatallowed us to inspect only one-third of the doors each yearif we kept good records that proved we had maintainedthe fire doors properly. This creates a three-year inspec-tion cycle, as long as you keep records of the work doneon each door and don't do anything that brings it out ofcompliance.

We already had a good start on a records system, sinceall our doors are identified and numbered in the Archibussystem, a facilities management software program at GSU.While not yet fully populated with the needed door data,it and our Autocad® program contain details on the sizeand construction of each door, its hardware, any windowsor special configurations and related information.

With this base, I realized we could segregate the firedoor listings and bring them up to date, using the formindicated by the code to collect information. This is a workin progress. When completed, it will allow the fire mar-shal or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to determinethe condition of each door and verify that it was properlyinspected by a certified individual, along with any correc-tive actions that were taken.

As a first step toward this goal, we had a certifiedinspector begin inspecting the doors and recording detailson their condition. We first concentrated on those ofgreatest importance in case of an actual fire. Theseinclude stairwell doors and main lobby doors, for exam-ple. The inspector and his team inspected about 170 doorsin five buildings. They performed operational tests, tookphotos, checked the labels, noted the window size if any,recorded the kind of hinges and other hardware, andnoted the condition of the door and its hardware. So wecould transfer this information to our system, they put iton a disc for electronic filing.

In order to increase the awareness among our mainte-nance people of the importance of following fire doorcodes, they have been attending new programs about fireregulations. Recently we attended a fire marshal's trainingprogram. It was an eye opener for them as well as for ourpeople, because AHJ's got to see the other side of the pic-ture. I think it helped get the message to everyone that thisfire door inspection program and fire safety is a good thing.

Back on campus, we looked at ways to increase oursand contractors'knowledge of codes. Of course, anyrepairs or renovations will be noted in our records so theyare available to us and the inspectors when the code goesinto effect.

Since we met with the fire marshals, our maintenancepeople have a new understanding of the importance offollowing fire door codes when they adjust, repair orinstall replacement hardware.

Just as important, we have created a record-keepingsystem that will help us track our fire doors beyond thescope of any one person. The ongoing records will beexpanded as we inspect more doors and keep up-to-datewith repairs and renovations. This will allow the fire mar-shal or AHJ to look at the records, determine the ratingand hardware for a specific door, as well as understandthe work that was done on it.

We expect the system to save a lot of work in the longrun. Once we record the information on a door, includ-ing the records of inspection and work done to it, we canbetter monitor doors on a regular basis. This plan is work-able, even for a smaller facility, because the owner wouldstill only have to inspect one-third of the doors each yearif proper records are kept. It not only saves the cost ofinspecting all the doors every year, but it also ensures thatthey are all functioning the way they are supposed to andprotecting both the buildings and their occupants.

Marty Waterfill is a facilities engineer at Georgia StateUniversity in Atlanta.

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By Jeff Razwick

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that while firedeaths are rare in primary and secondary schools, theinjury rate is approximately 50% higher than the averagefor all non-residential structures (22.0 injuries per 1,000fires in schools versus 14.4 for other buildings) (SeeNote1). Incendiary or suspicious fires predominate,accounting for 37% of all school structure fires - and 52%of fires in middle and high schools.

At the college level, the National Fire ProtectionAssociation (NFPA) reports that dormitory fires increased3% from 1980 to 2005, despite a 52% decrease in struc-ture fires of all types during the same period (See Note 2).Cooking equipment is the leading cause of such fires,responsible for 72% of incidents from 2002 to 2005.

Educational facilities present several potential chal-lenges for addressing life safety: frequent false alarms,older buildings without adequate sprinkler protection,and large numbers of people needing evacuation.

Effective Building Compartmentation plays a key role inprotecting students and staff from fire. In refurbishment ofolder buildings, as well as new construction, awareness ofthe role of fire-rated glass and frames, as well as the prop-er applications for various types of glazing, is an importantpart of overall building compartmentation.

Code IssuesA key code issue related to fire-rated glazing is local

jurisdictions' ongoing adoption of the 2006 InternationalBuilding Code (IBC), which eliminates the use of tradi-tional polished wired glass in hazardous locations. Wiredglass had been a staple of fire protection in schools fordecades due to its affordability and ready availability.

While such glass is effective at blocking the spread offlames and smoke, it is relatively low strength and there-fore susceptible to breakage in the course of everyday use- such as is common in busy school hallways and class-rooms where students may bump into it. Because of thepotential for injury from broken wired-glass, the IBC nowprohibits it in typical “safety glazing” areas such as doors,sidelites, windows near the floor, and other areas at riskfor impact. Fire-rated glass in these applications mustnow meet impact safety ratings of the Consumer ProductSafety Commission's (CPSC) Safety Standard for

Architectural Glazing Materials.Prior to the 2006 code change, the 2003 IBC restricted

wired glass in hazardous locations in schools, athleticfacilities and daycares. Now the code extends the restric-tion to hazardous locations in all building types.

Because wired glass is still prevalent in schools, inspec-tion and maintenance programs should seek to identifyand replace such glass used in hazardous locations withimpact-resistant fire-rated glazing as soon as practical, orwhen required by code during building upgrades.

Fire-Rated Glazing OptionsIn recent years, manufacturers have introduced a wide

range of fire-rated glazing products. These advancedmaterials can meet nearly any design or performancerequirement - from aesthetic appeal to impact safetyresistance to boosting building security and energy effi-ciency. New classes of materials, and more sophisticatedproduct make-ups, expand the range of alternatives.

Two notable fire-rated glazing classes are ceramic glassand transparent wall panels.

Ceramic glass With the look of ordinary window glass, transparent

ceramic sheets are becoming the standard for many fire-rated glazing applications historically served by wired

Fire rated glazing provides safety and security.


glass. Depending on the product, andproduct make-ups, ceramic glassoffers fire ratings up to three hours indoors (90 minutes in other applica-tions), high impact safety ratings,sound reduction, and other perform-ance benefits. The material can bebeveled, etched or sandblasted with-out affecting the fire rating. Anexample product in this category isthe FireLite family of materials.

Lamination and surface-applied fire-rated films enable ceramic glass tomeet the highest standard of impactsafety for glass - CPSC Category II,Safety Standard for ArchitecturalGlazing Materials. Such glazing is ableto safely withstand an impact similar tothat of a fast moving, full-grown adult.

Ceramic glass can also be incorpo-rated into insulated glass units (IGUs)in conjunction with many types oftempered or float glass, including tint-ed, low-emissivity, and mirrored prod-ucts. Such IGUs not only provide fireprotection, but can also help with abuilding's energy efficiency - especial-

ly important for cash-strapped schoolsand for meeting more stringent ener-gy requirements in codes.

Whether included as part of an IGUor not, the specification of fire-ratedglazing should also take into accountthe fire rating of the framing. To ensureadequate fire protection, the framingshould carry a fire rating equivalent tothe glazing. Manufacturers now offer arange of fire-rated frames, includingnarrow profile steel frames, as well asfire-rated hardwood frames.

Transparent wall panelsWhile fire-rated ceramic glass

works well in many applications,other products should be used ininstances where it is necessary to pro-tect people and equipment from highheat. Ceramics can withstand thehigh temperatures of a fire withoutbreaking, but allow radiant and con-ductive heat to pass through.

For exit corridors, stairwells, androoms with heat sensitive computerequipment, transparent wall panelsmay be appropriate. Glazing in thiscategory is tested to the same stan-dards as solid walls, with fire ratingsup to two hours. In addition to stop-ping flames and smoke, such glassfirewalls also block heat transfer, sim-ilar to a fire-rated masonry wall.

Transparent wall panels can beinstalled from wall to wall and floorto ceiling, and are also available fordoors. Some transparent wall panelsutilize older technology with insulat-ed glass units filled with a clear gelthat turns to opaque foam during afire. Other products use a newertechnology that incorporates multi-ple layers of glass with intumescentinterlayers. One type of product inthis latter class is Pilkington Pyrostop.

Labeling and InspectionsWhichever type of fire-rated glazing

is specified, it is important during

Fire rated glazing wall panels

inspections to ensure it has passed alltesting requirements, and is listed by atrusted third-party agency such asUnderwriters Laboratories (UL). Bewary of any material that does notpass all required testing, or of manu-facturers who ask for specific productexemptions or approval from the localAuthority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).Such products may be presented as alow-cost replacement for traditionalwired glass. However, their inability tomeet standard fire testing require-ments should raise a red flag.

It is also critical during inspectionsto ensure that the glazing meets therequired fire rating, and is appropri-ate for the specific building location.Fire-rated glazing labels provideinspectors, at a glance, the fire-ratingin minutes (from 20 minutes to threehours), the tests the material haspassed, and whether it is suitable fordoors, openings or walls. For moreinformation, see “Inspecting FireRated Glazing: Clear-Cut LabelingSystem Helps Ensure Proper Usage,”Life Safety Digest, October 2008.

Jeff Razwick is the vice president of busi-ness development for Technical GlassProducts (TGP), a Snoqualmie, Wash.-based supplier of fire-rated glass and fram-ing systems, along with specialty architectur-al glass products. For more information, visitwww.fireglass.com or call (800) 426-0279.

Notes1) “School Fires: Topical Fire ResearchSeries, Volume 4 - Issue 6,” U.S. FireAdministration, National Fire DataCenter, December 2004.

2) Obtained from nfpa.org Feb. 4, 2008.Fire data for dormitories include those atschools, colleges and universities, as wellas fraternity and sorority houses, monas-teries, bunkhouses and similar facilities.


the need to avoid making doors toodifficult for people to open. Propercloser adjustment plays an importantrole in achieving the balance neededin these situations. A back check selec-tor valve, delay function or/and otheradjustments make it possible to tailorthe different stages of closer operationmore closely to the needs of a specificopening.

Some closers incorporate a pressurerelief valve to prevent damage to thecloser under overload conditions,which may be severe enough to causecracks in the closer cylinder. Closerswith cast-iron cylinders generally willnot require pressure relief valves,because the material's innate strengthresists cracking which ensure the clos-er opens and closes smoothly.

Adding an overhead stop will helpprotect both the closer and the rest ofthe opening against excessive forces.Also important is proper installationand adjustment of the closer itself.

Protecting Students, Teachersand Staff from the Door

This can include preventing acci-dents or injuries from a door that clos-es too quickly, minimizing difficultiesthat children or frail adults may havein opening the door if the closer forceis adjusted too high, and meetingaccessibility guidelines for those withdisabilities.

Closers that are adjusted too strongto meet ADA guidelines will also bedifficult for other people to open. Ifconditions permit, it may be possibleto accommodate ADA compliance byadjusting the closer force to Size 1, butin most cases, power door operatorsare the best available option to meetthese needs. Typically one door in a

bank of doors may be all that isrequired. In addition to serving stu-dents with disabilities, it can add con-venience for teachers and staff loadeddown with armloads of files and sup-plies as well. Properly adjusted con-ventional closers on all other doorswill ensure that they close and latchproperly.

In the past, seasonal adjustmentswere a common attempt to meet theseproblems, as well as those encoun-tered on exterior doors exposed totemperature extremes. Today, theavailability of closers with all-weatherfluid has made this ritual unnecessary.

Ensuring Security Keeping students safe is a critical

closer function. No matter howsophisticated or expensive the locks,

By Ryan Rouse The term “door closer” barely

begins to explain the many purposesof these widely used devices. Perhaps“door controller” would be a betterterm when you consider all the otherfunctions they perform. They are con-sidered the “heart of the opening”because of their role in protecting bothpeople and assets contained on theother side. Here are just a few of thebenefits they provide:

• Protecting the components of theentire opening

• Providing safe and easy passagethrough the door

• Ensuring security for people andassets

• Providing environmental control• Helping to meet fire and life safety

codes

Protecting the Opening This is one of a closer's main func-

tions, especially in high use/highabuse situations, such as in education-al applications. Doors at a school oruniversity encounter abuse frommore forceful opening and back-checking by over-energetic youth.Although door openings are one ofthe most highly used and abused com-ponents within any educational facili-ty, they nonetheless must enablesmooth traffic flow while maintainingsafety, security and the overall facilityexperience.

Still another factor is the presence ofhigh winds or pressure differentialsthat require greater closer force to pro-tect exterior doors from severe dam-age. Heavy-duty concealed or surface-mounted closers offer an extra meas-ure of protection in these applications,but their use must be balanced with

Door closers protect people and assets,as well as the door itself.

Overhead stop is visible with door open.Used here with concealed closer, it pro-tects the door, hinges and closer fromabuse or misuse.


latches, exit devices, card readers andelectronic security systems are, if thedoor doesn't close properly, latchingwill be inconsistent and security willbe compromised. This can put bothstudents and assets within the facilityat risk. More than one school facilitydirector has spent hundreds of thou-sands of dollars on electronic accesscontrol, magnetic locking, and propri-

etary keying systems, only to find thatthese measures were wasted becausethe doors would not close all the wayto where they could latch and lock.

Security problems like this mayarise from improper installation,either in closer mounting and adjust-ment, or with related hardware. Forexample, if latch bolt guards are notaligned properly it may create enoughfriction to prevent the door fromlatching. To prevent closer adjustmenttampering and enhance security,closers can be equipped with metalcovers mounted with Torx machinescrews. Manufacturers are constantlyworking to improve performance andenhance closer functions to providegreater security. Some new designsnow being developed will self-adjustas their environments or operatingconditions change.

Environmental Control Door closers keep doors closed to

maintain the environments inside theschool and exclude those outside thefacility. It makes little sense to wastemoney and compromise comfort lev-els because heated or cooled air isleaking outside when a door doesn'tclose securely. Likewise, temperatureor weather extremes that enter aneducational facility through a partiallyopen door can cause damage as wellas discomfort. Strong winds can causedamage to uncontrolled doors as well.Inside a building, closers maintainpressure differentials in such areas asstairwells and vestibules.

Leaking closers are both an environ-mental problem and a potential hazardto students entering and exiting a door-way. The oil inside the closer dripsdown and can make floors extremely

Leaking closers may present a risk topersonnel and should be replaced.


slick, not to mention stain clothing andpersonal belongings of those passingbeneath the closer. More importantly,when the oil drains from the cylinder,the closer's ability to control the door islost. If this were to occur, the doorswings freely and could lead to person-al injuries as well as costly damage tothe door and frame.

Leaks typically are caused by eitheran o-ring malfunction or cylindercracks. An o-ring malfunction oftenresults from excessive use or abuse ofthe opening that can cause the o-ringseal to wear and create a leak point. Asecond way the pinion seal can mal-function is most commonly found inaluminum closers with steel pistons.The rigid steel piston can wear on thesofter aluminum body creating tinymetal contaminants - these abrasivefragments can quickly wear an o-ringcreating a potential leak point.Another potential malfunction iscracking in the closer cylinder body.Abusive operation can create exces-sive internal pressure in the closer,causing the cylinder body to crack.

If leaks occur, several options exist tosolve the problem. One is to move to amore durable material structure suchas cast iron. Another option mayinclude moving to the next model sizein durability. One manufacturer offersa heavy-duty cast iron closer with a 10-year “no leak” guarantee that can helpensure the problem will not recur.

Fire/Life Safety Here is where we find a classic con-

flict between two important factors.For door closers, one of the most com-mon problems is with fire barrierdoors, particularly for stairwells. Aswith security, if the door doesn't latchproperly, the opening isn't protected.The problem can be especially acutewhen air conditioning is operating,which creates a large pressure differ-ential between a stairwell and hall-

way. This has a similar effect as astrong wind and calls for careful closerselection, installation and adjustmentto ensure compliance to both the firecodes and ADA.

Fire or smoke barrier doors mustremain closed to be effective. However,to allow traffic to flow, they may beheld open by electromagnetic holdersthat are wired into the building's firealarm system or have internal detec-tion capability. There are a variety ofoptions available that allows one tohold a fire door open and meet firecodes. Options include magnets wiredto the central fire panel or integratedcloser/detector. One unique optionaccomplishes the same goal of holdingopen a fire door without the need topull wires and provide a power supply.The battery-powered SENSA-GUARDTM holder/release smokedetector is designed to allow fire doorsto remain open for easy passage, whilereleasing doors in an emergencythrough its built in smoke detector.This device, when combined with adoor closer, is an attractive choice forretrofit and remodeling applications.

Visual Appeal Facility aesthetics don't have to be

sacrificed. As door closers are selectedto provide all of the above functionsand also comply with building codes,it doesn't have to be difficult or expen-sive to achieve an appealing opening.One approach is to use a concealedcloser, which is mounted out of sightin the door or frame. These are avail-able in heavy-duty models for high

use/high abuse applications as well asfor fire-rated doors with openings upto 180 degrees.

Manufacturers offer a broad choiceof cover designs, including slim-linecovers, full covers, designer-series cov-ers and as many as 150 or more differ-ent powder coated finishes. Metal cov-ers add security as well as improvingappearance, especially when plated.One manufacturer offers a brightmetal metallic finish, which is an eco-nomic alternative to plating yet offerssimilar aesthetics. When appearance isa concern, it is advisable to work witha manufacturer that offers full suites ofhardware that are coordinated in styleand finish, including mortise locks,levers, exit devices and all other visiblecomponents.

One way to achieve a consistentappearance where applications varythroughout a facility is to use similarcovers but different closer bodies. Forexample, a school may use heavy-dutyclosers on doors that are used fre-quently but less expensive models onjanitorial closers. To unify their appear-ance, it may be possible to use thesame cover design on all units.Whenever a standard design doesn'tseem to answer the need, it is advisableto check with the manufacturer andsee whether there are any alternativesolutions.

Ryan Rouse is Product Manager, LCNDoor Controls, for Ingersoll RandSecurity Technologies in Carmel, Ind.

SENSAGUARD holder/release is designedto function with a closer and incorporatesa smoke detector that allows the door toclose automatically in emergencies.

LCN “No Leak” closer incorporates newV-Shield shielding technology to minimizethe problems caused by leaking closers.


FCIA Education and Committee ActionConference, Boston, April 28 - May 1 - It's been nineyears since FCIA visited Boston. Last time FCIA visited, thenew FM 4991 Program was launched, with 52 people tak-

ing the first DRIExams. The 2009 FCIA Education andCommittee ActionConference promisesFM & UL Testing,reports on new pro-grams from 2008, andnew programs for2009, including FCIA

Committee Meetings, a UL Standards Technical PanelStudy Group Meeting, NFPA 80 discussions, a code devel-opment report from FCIA's Code Consultant Bill Koffel,and much more. Don't miss out. Visit http://www.fcia.org,events pages, for info.

DHI's National Education Session - May 10 - 17 inLansdowne, VA - With 29 different classes, includingDAI 600 Fire and Egress Door Assembly Inspectionclass, don't miss this education opportunity! For acomplete list of course offerings and to register online visit http://www.dhi.org/INDUSTRY/educa-tion/courselistings.php

Gypsum Association Offers New CEU Coursefor Free - The Gypsum Association has its third free con-tinuing education unit (CEU) course at http://www.gyp-sum.org. The course, titled Application of Gypsum Panel

Products, offers one Health,Safety, and Welfare (HSW)CEU learning unit with theAmerican Institute ofArchitects (AIA). This course

lays the ground work for the other CEU courses,Understanding the Finishing of Gypsum Panel ProductsUsing GA-216 and GA-214, Recommended Levels ofGypsum Board Finish, and Understanding the GA-600Fire Resistance Design Manual. Upon successful comple-tion, AIA members will receive applicable CEU credits (1or 2 hour). Participants also receive a certificate of com-pletion from the Gypsum Association. Questions shouldbe directed to [email protected].

FCIA visits Dubai, UAE –With over 130 AHJ’s, archi-tects, firestop contractor, associate and manufacturer mem-bers, plus potential members, and the Department of CivilDefence, (DCD) Jabel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) authorities,FCIA was pleased to have the opportunity to talk March 1about our common goals…protect people and property.

FCIA introduced the group to the “DIIM”, Design, Install,Inspect and Maintain” firestopping and compartmentationconcepts. The FM 4991 Standard for the Approval ofFirestop Contractors, UL Qualified Firestop ContractorProgram, ASTM E 2174 & 2393 Inspection Standards, thevalue of ASTM E 814 & ASTM E 1966, UL 1479 & UL 2079tested designs with hose stream testing, ASTM E 2307, andthe value of inspection and maintenance during the lifecycle of the building for fire and life safety.

Representatives from the DCD and JAFZ spoke aboutthe importance of firestopping in life safety. When weheard this directly from DCD/JAFZ, it was confirmed thatwe are on the right track.

Testing & Qualification News


Code Corner

FCIA attended and testified on several code develop-ment proposals in the 2007-2008 development cycle.Here's a few that can affect your business:

The National Association of State Fire Marshalswas successful at having an “annual inspection” require-ment for all fire protection features, including fire walls,fire dampers, firestopping, fire rated glazing, fire doors andfire floors. The code change in the International Fire Codemeans it is retroactive to all buildings. It does not state howthe inspection takes place, or what should happen after ittakes place. This may create opportunities for firestop/con-tainment - compartmentation contractors and inspectorsto inspect buildings for building owners and managerswho outsource. FCIA testified in support of this codechange, as it helps assure that fire and smoke protectionfeatures function as intended when exposed to fire.

The International Association of Fire Fighters'Sean DeCrane was successful at getting labels added to fireand smoke barriers identifying them in all occupanciesexcept multifamily residential. Watch the 2009

International Building Code for details, and for a verycomprehensive building labeling proposal that gives firstresponders information about what they might walk into.

The ICC Ad-Hoc Committee on TerrorismResistant Buildings (TRB) “had a banner year,”according to ICC TRB Chair Gary Lewis. One successwas the new construction and retroactive installation ofphotoluminescent markings for stairwells in high risebuildings. This is a new opportunity for FCIA contrac-tors who are well suited to install photoluminescentmarkings in buildings. Also, elevators are now permit-ted for egress in emergencies as well. This will be a bigretraining for all who have been taught not to use ele-vators in emergencies.

The Washington Association of BuildingOfficials quantified the “L” Rating required for smokebarriers in buildings. The new requirement states that5cfm/sf opening area OR 100cfm/100LF of wall area isthe new formula acceptable in the International BuildingCode for 2009. A more technical requirement means a


March 24 to 28AWCI Convention and INTEX Expo,Nashville, Tenn.

April 20 to 25FDIC, Indianapolis

April 28 to May 1FCIA Education and CommitteeAction Conference, Boston

April 30 to May 2AIA 2009 National Convention &Exposition, San Francisco

May 4 to 6International Firestop Council,Jacksonville, Fla.

May 20 to 23Construction Specifications Canada,London, Ontario

June 8 to 11NFPA World Expo & AnnualConvention, Chicago

June 17 to 19 CONSTRUCT2009, CSI Convention,Indianapolis

June 28 to 30BOMA Annual Conference,Philadelphia

Oct. 24 to 31ICC Code Development Hearings,Baltimore

Sept. 16 to 25DHI's 34th Annual Conference &Exposition, Orlando

Nov. 1 to 4ICC Annual Conference, Baltimore

Nov. 10 to 13FCIA 10 Year Anniversary &Firestop Industry Conference &Trade Show, TBD

knowledgeable contractor andinstaller must be selected to installthese important systems properly.

FCIA successfully changed Chapter7's Title in the International ExistingBuilding Code and InternationalBuilding Code from “Fire Resistance”to “Fire and Smoke ProtectionFeatures.” With requirements forsmoke control, “L” Rated FirestopSystems, air leakage protected doorassemblies, smoke dampers, inChapter 7 of the IEBC and IBC, theICC Membership felt the title betterreflected what Chapter 7 stands for -fire and smoke protection through fire-resistance-rated and smoke resistantsystems. Systems is another word wewere successful adding to the IBC.

In requirement 713.4.1, Instal-lation, “perimeter fire barrier to beinstalled so as not to dislodge, loosen orotherwise impair its ability to accom-modate expected building movementsand to resist the passage of fire and hotgasses.” With this simple passage,responsibility has been shifted fromthe manufacturer to the installer firm.This will set apart those who install thesystem correctly from those who donot understand the zero tolerance sys-tems installation protocol.

FCIA had several other code changeproposals that were in play last cyclethat supported the DIIM Philosophy(Design, Installation, Inspection,Maintenance) that keeps firestopping,fire-resistance-rated and smoke-resist-ant compartmentation effective for thelife of the building. Systems Designssubmittals for masonry, gypsum walls,from the testing laboratory directorieswas rejected. The requirement forCertified Contractors by ApprovedAgencies, such as FM 4991 Approvedor UL Qualified, for the Installationpart of DIIM, was also rejected. And,Inspection requirements for firestop-ping using ASTM E 2174 and ASTM E2393 were rejected. Good discussiontook place with the code developmentcommittee about these requirements,

with good support from the buildingofficial community, and oppositionfrom the industry. Several buildingofficials commented that they use theASTM E 2174 & ASTM E 2393Inspection Standards in their jurisdic-tions when they feel it's justified bybuilding occupancy and importance.The ASTM E 2174 and ASTM E 2393standards are out for ballot to makethem better suited for the codes.However, building officials report thebuilding type and size would need tobe better defined for successful codeinclusion. For Maintenance, see theNASFM proposal above. The deadlinefor 2009-2010's Code DevelopmentCycle is April 24. Watch future issuesof Life Safety Digest for interestingreports on proposals that affect fire andlife safety in buildings.

International AccreditationServices (IAS) just passed a newrequirement in AC 291, theAccreditation Criteria (AC) forFirestopping Special InspectionAgencies. In 6.11, it requires the spe-cial inspector of firestopping to havepassed the FM or UL DRIExamination, in addition to one yearexperience in firestopping quality con-trol. The significance of this is thatthere will be educated inspectorsreviewing firestopping in the future.

ICC's 2009-2010 Code Cycle isunderway, now with a new twist.Instead of a supplement to the 2009code being published in 2010, and afull code in 2012, a new change atICC is that only one code develop-ment cycle will take place. Code pro-posals are due for this cycle April 24,with Code Development CommitteeMeetings in late October earlyNovember. Then, two staggered finalaction hearings take place over thenext two years resulting in a new set of International Codes 2012. For details, visit http://www.icc-safe.org/cs/codes/schedule_adviso-ry.html


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