Specifying fire separation assemblies

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Author Message Elias Saltz, CSI, CCS, LEED AP Senior Member Username: elias_saltz Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2009 Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - 09:46 am:    I recently specified a project with what I'd consider an unusually large number of different types of fire separation assemblies. These included multiple types of interior and exterior gypsum/steel stud walls, steel joist w/ gypsum board floor-ceiling assemblies, shaft wall assemblies, masonry assemblies, and on and on. Some of the assembly designs were totally proprietary, and others were more generic. All of the UL Design numbers were indicated on the drawings only. I tried to cover requirements for following the UL designs within the gypsum board and masonry sections, but despite this, the contractor didn't bid some of the proprietary products, and it ended up causing a dispute. I thought that it might be useful, for jobs with multiple complex UL separation assemblies, to generate a Division 07 "Fire Separation Assemblies" spec section that would hopefully reinforce some of the administrative and performance requirements pertaining to these assemblies. So that instead of trying to specify all the components of a "U" series assembly within the gypsum board section, that would refer to the Division 07 section. (I noticed that there's no number in MasterFormat for this, but I'd put it under 07 84 xx) I already do a separate section covering penetration firestopping, and I have a separate section that just covers code-required labeling for rated partitions. I'd like to know if anyone else has a section that just specifies fire separation assemblies, what you've included, and if it has proven itself to be useful. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1969 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - 06:53 pm:    We don't specify the specific assemblies, but leave it up to the contractor to submit the required designs. (Partly because we may not know all the conditions on the project). We also require the contractor to be approved (UL, FCIA, etc.) Mark Gilligan SE, Senior Member Username: mark_gilligan Post Number: 713 Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - 09:38 pm:    I am having a hard time with the idea of not specifying specific assemblies. It is not unheard of for the structural design to be influenced by the choice of the fire assembly. So if the Contractor submits an assembly that requires changes in the structural work who pays to modify the structural design? Am unclear on the concept of requiring the contractor to be approved. Approved by who and for what. If the contractor selects the assemblies then this work would be considered a deferred approval. This would cause a problem in some jurisdictions. Elias Saltz, CSI, CCS, LEED AP Senior Member Username: elias_saltz Post Number: 14 Registered: 03-2009 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 09:58 am:    In the context of this questions, I'm not thinking about not specifying specific assemblies. For the project I referenced, the floor-ceiling assembly (G552) was an integral part of the structural system of the building. We had the assembly detailed all over the drawings. Unfortunately, G552 has a wording inconsistency that tripped up everyone. It says: "9. Batts and Blankets* — Nom 1 in. thick mineral wool batts. Installed below joists on top of furring channels (between Steel Framing Members) with butted ends of adjoining batts located over furring channels." But the single allowable product required for item #9 is not a batt and blanket, it's a rigid board. This wasn't caught by anyone until the product was submitted, and resulted in a dispute over wording in the spec and the difference in cost wasn't insignificant. Maybe my issue isn't entirely whether a whole new spec section is needed. I think the contractor should have made himself familiar with everything G552 needs. After all, there's really no mystery to it. But if there's a way to strengthen the requirement that the GC take responsibility for correctly constructing the assemblies, that could be a useful addition to specs. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEED® AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 1970 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 12:08 pm:    "...approved by FM Global according to FM Global 4991, "Approval of Firestop Contractors," or evaluated by UL and found to comply with its "Qualified Firestop Contractor Program Requirements" and is a member of Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA)." (The latter where readily available) Additionally, the Installer submits data proving qualifications from the manufacturer, product test reports and installation inspections. Mark Gilligan SE, Senior Member Username: mark_gilligan Post Number: 715 Registered: 10-2007 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 12:52 pm:    Lynn My understanding is that the approvals you list are contractual not code requirements. Elias Saltz, CSI, CCS, LEED AP Senior Member Username: elias_saltz Post Number: 15 Registered: 03-2009 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 02:16 pm:    The FM or UL Firestop Exam can be a requirement for agencies performing code-required special inspections, but I also don't think this is a code requirement. However, this point doesn't address my original question or the follow-up clarification. John Regener, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: john_regener Post Number: 737 Registered: 04-2002 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 03:54 pm:    How many words need to be written to equal the details that don't have to be drawn. Since literacy is becoming more rare in the construction industry and there is increasing pressure to write more-abbreviated specifications, why begin to think about such descriptive specifications? Don't confuse the Descriptive Method of specifying with Performance specifying (suitable for design/build or Delegated Design contracts). This discussion is really about Performance Specifying (Contractor shall meet specified design criteria using optional and varying products). Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 715 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 06:07 pm:    We don't specify assemblies, only the products that make up the assemblies. Remember, words and pictures. The drawings graphically show the necessary interior partitions, exterior walls, roofs, etc, complete with appropriate rating, terminations, bracing, UL Design Number(s), etc. Although doing what Elias describes may be job security. Certainly falls under the make work campaign philosophy. Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 716 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 06:09 pm:    Elias, Send me an e-mail to wayne.yancey@callison.com and I will reply with a section that may be what you are seeking. Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP, EDAC Senior Member Username: redseca2 Post Number: 469 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - 08:26 pm:    Often the drawings and specifications need to serve more than one purpose, usually they are obtaining the building permits and a basis for bidding (or some other way to award the contract). For the permit, the reviewer wants to see an assembly that is listed by a testing agency - something backed up in writing so they do not have to judge the merits themselves. So for purposes of permit approval we show and refer to a listed, usually UL, assembly, again usually selecting from a single manufacturer's master list of assemblies (unless we need to go elsewhere for something unusual). For bidding in a competitive environment, we need to allow multiple options, which may often mean multiple different listed assemblies from different manufacturers that achieve the same purpose. Sometimes two assemblies will have different listings even though to the average architect they are visually identical. On our drawings: We show a single assembly including the reference assembly number. In the specifications: We will note that a basis-of-design assembly is shown on the drawings. We list in the specification multiple acceptable manufacturers. We ask that the bidder select one listed manufacturers and use them to the greatest extent possible. They shall submit the listings and approvals for any assembly not shown on the drawings as submittals. We include requirements that variations from our basis-of-design do not affect dimensions shown on the drawings, adjacent work, or the work of other trades - if we show mineral wool and sealant they cannot propose concrete. As required (always for our hospital work) we will review any of the substituted assemblies with the AHJ as they come to us.