Any building will feel safer when it has a firestop installed. It keeps the people inside a building safer while also limiting how much property loss your building sustains. With the help of firestop, people have more time to evacuate the premises in the event of a fire.
A firestop is a type of fire protection system. It seals any cracks and crevices in buildings using a fireproof material so that a fire won’t be able to spread to different parts of the structure. This is critical in minimizing the amount of fire and smoke damage that your building sustains, while also maximizing how much time people have to escape the fire. A firestop can be made from a variety of materials.
Sealants
Sealants are best used around tubing, pipes, and duct work. Ideally, the sealant should be able to hold off a fire for anywhere between two and four hours. Joint sealants get used to caulk areas that are between wall boards. The sealant will expand whenever a fire is nearby or in direct contact with it. This means the sealant will contain the fire and keep it from getting through cracks in the building so it can spread even more.
Pillows
Pillows are another variety of material that gets used as a firestop, and no, these are not the same types of pillows you use while you sleep. However, it does share a resemblance to how a traditional pillow looks. Firestop pillows are often made from vermiculite, intumescent foam rubber, or rockwool batts, and they are primarily used to cover holes found in walls or to cover the floor of a building.
Other Components
Composite sheets are often used as well, primarily for repairs in fire walls. These sheets can be customized and then sealed using penetration sealant. Pipe collars are used whenever plastic pipes get built through either a ceiling or wall in need of being sealed. The collars have material built into them that lets them seal up automatically whenever they’re heated by a fire. Lastly, sleeves are metal pipes that are full of intumescent putty, which cables and cords can get past with ease.
Concrete Visions Will Get The Job Done Right
Concrete Visions has been working with clients for over 25 years. Our G&M Services installers are certified with the industry’s major firestop product manufacturers. As part of our firestop service, we can assess abnormal field conditions and, with the manufacturer’s technical support assistance, provide engineering judgments in a timely fashion to comply with contract specifications. Our Field Mechanics undergo ongoing training, including mandatory monthly safety meetings, weekly Toolbox Talks where safety and equipment information is shred, and trainings on safe work standards and safety best practices.