Key Issues – Spray Fire-Resistant Materials (SFRM) John Dalton, GCP Applied Technologies

1. Key Issues – Spray Fire-Resistant Materials (SFRM) John Dalton, GCP Applied Technologies Russ Harvey, Isolatek International

2. Key issues for SFRM manufacturers • Non-compliant products • Plastic as a component of fire-rated designs • Primed / painted steel • Heat transfer • Performance based design

3. # 1 – Non compliant Products • The industry is full of non-compliant products trying to pass themselves off as compliant. • Generally speaking they are IFRM products • Tested at some obscure testing facility • No load • Small furnace • Testing is again very limited but will have some sort of “UL” approval

4. # 2 - Plastic as a component of fire-rated designs - insulation have on fire resistance rating and performance assemblies? • Simple answer is we don’t know. • Previously (and maybe still) UL approved the use of a topcoat that had good ASTM E-84 properties (low flame spread and smoke development) but how does that change when the topcoat is a polyurethane foam that meets those UL criteria but also requires a thermal barrier? • Note that the fire test used to approve thermal barriers is far less severe (heat and time) than that for floor assemblies • Does the presence of a highly combustible material in direct contact with the SFRM (and yes, even occasionally IFRM) affect the rating?

5. Unofficial application guidelines suggest the use of column designs • Approval for the use of column designs for HSS beams should always be accompanied with approval from UL or the design professional prior to spraying. • Following manufacturer suggestion contradicting a tested assembly or UL’s position may not shield the installer from liability.

6. # 3 – Primed steel • Generally there is no need to prime steel that will be used in interior conceal • It is not needed for the majority of steel • Adds significantly to the cost • Lath • Bonding agent • Only 1 UL approved primer for structural steel • Primer on decking – generally a really bad idea – lath the lot!!!!

7. # 4 – Heat transfer • There is nothing in the UL Directory (aside from a comment about joist bridging) or in the IBC that mandates a 12” spray out of fireproofing onto non-rated members.

8. # 5 - Performance Based Design * * [LaMalva, K. (2018) ‘Developments in Structural Fire Protection Design – U.S. Perspective,’ The Structural Engineer] * Recognized by designers since the 1980s or perhaps earlier (Pettersson 1975, Law 1981) • Structural performance: Capacity > Demand 8

9. # 5 - Performance Based Design * * 9