What is the UL Technical Evaluation Developer Program (UL TEDP) and what are the benefits that it will bring to the industry? The UL TEDP program provides a management system for developing Engineering Judgements (EJs), also known as Technical Evaluations (TEs), issued by firestop manufacturers. The program is administered by UL for the purpose of…

When Kettering Medical Center needed to ensure compliance with Life Safety Standards, NFPA 101 Life Safety Codes, and NFPA 80, they relied on STI Firestop to help.  In addition to exclusively using STI products, some individuals at the facility needed education about barrier remediation. Read the entire case study below to learn more about how STI Firestop…

 Key Takeaways Mike’s Background Over 40 years of Fire Protection Consulting Experience Studied Fire Protection and Safety Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology Labs were at Underwriters Laboratories Received an MBA from University of Houston Working at Rolf Jensen and Associates and then Jensen Hughes Over 30 years Involved in the code writing process…

After 25 years of testing firestop systems, I can safely say that I have learned more about product performance from failed tests than from the tests I passed.   Observing a failure during a fire test is truly the best way to figure out the limitations of a given system. Witnessing a test watching how…

We celebrate 20 years of innovation in fire-rated cable pathways with our EZ Path® Fire-Rated Pathway. When we speak of “fire-rated pathways,” it is a term we coined. As telecommunications professionals will tell you, the pathway is defined as the system that carries the cabling from the telecommunications rooms (TRs) throughout the building. We envisioned…

It is safe to say that many within the firestopping industry have at least a bit of a preconceived notion that the default color for firestop is some shade of red. This is since most firestop manufacturers typically market their primary firestop sealant with a red pigment. This color scheme is especially true for intumescent…

 Key Takeaways Rich’s Background Valparaiso University Grad, ,multi-Fraternity member Always wanted to go into engineering Passion started in Junior High School when he modified a bike Originally wanted to be in mechanical engineering, pivoted to civil engineering. Working at UL Had a friend who introduced him to the company. Lab work/office work combo was…

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Ian Ellias joins Specified Technologies Inc., as Vice President of Finance, working from the company’s headquarters in Somerville, New Jersey. He will lead the Finance Team and will join the company’s Executive Team.  Prior to joining Specified Technologies, he worked at Tristrux, a Telecommunications and Electrical Construction company where he served as…

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Kate Emery joins Specified Technologies Inc., as Vice President of Marketing, working from the company’s headquarters in Somerville, New Jersey. She will lead the Marketing department and will join the company’s Executive Team.  Prior to joining Specified Technologies, she worked at GAF, a leading manufacturer in the roofing and waterproofing space, holding…

Key Takeaways  Chris’s Background Cornell University Board member of the Bucks County Children’s Museum BucksKids.Org Started in Software and Information Technology Career evolved through sales, product management and marketing. Exposed to Fire Protection Industry at Tyco. Wanted to be an architect, was fascinated by the built environment. Chief Commercial Officer Focus is on the growth…

New Cross Laminated Timber Penetration Listings for 1 and 2-hour ratings. STI/PF 60-01 STI/PF 120-01 Max 4 in PVC, closed or vented Largest plastic pipe penetration system offered currently STI/PF 60-02 STI/PF 120-02 AC Lineset Penetration Max 1 in copper tube, steel, cast iron, ductile iron pipe insulated with ¾ in. AB/PVC Two control wires Max…

Key Takeaways  Luke’s Background  Attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute   Time on the football team helped develop skills needed in the professional world.   Studied mechanical engineering  System design engineer at Kidde-Fenwal, assessing explosion risk  Went to Tyco and worked on the suppression side of the business  Introduced to the lab and fire testing  Patents   Developed and patented…

Key Takeaways Tom ’s Background MBA from Marshall University Had a passion for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Director of the Associated Builders & Contractors Modular Construction Modular Construction is a process of constructing a building or home in an off-site factory in modules, transporting to the site and then assemble. Shortened schedule with offsite…

Key Takeaways Eric’s Background Born in Massachusetts, grew up in the Carolina’s, went to college at Umass Dartmouth and then moved back south to work for STI in the Carolinas. Studied History at Umass Dartmouth, interested in going into Education Worked at a construction supply company while in College. Background is in plumbing, but crossed…

 Key Takeaways Ruben’s Background Born and raised in Houston, Texas. Gained “Street Smarts” during his upbringing. Stumbled into Life Safety after getting a job with Johnson Control in the Fire Alarm industry. Learned code and developed his own Fire Alarm business. Came in as a maintenance technician at Texas Children’s Hospital. Developed a passion…

 Today’s guest is Sharron Halpert, owner of Halpert Life Safety Consulting. Sharron has been involved in multiple aspects of the Passive Fire Protection industry for over 15 years. She is truly a pioneer in a traditionally male dominated industry. Key Takeaways Sharron’s Background A rich history of volunteer work. Santa’s Helper at Ranfurley Home…

Standard formulating procedures for sealants, coatings, and other building materials consider mold resistance. Mildewcides and fungicides protect against mold and fungal growth in both wet and dry stages. Testing is conducted to various ASTM standards to evaluate mold resistance. Testing for Mold Resistance: Polymeric materials such as sealants, coatings, or plastics are tested according to…

For many of those in the firestopping industry for many years, selecting the most appropriate firestop system for a particular application is almost second nature. These seasoned veterans can probably quote the top fifteen or twenty systems for specific applications from memory. Their knowledge is developed through repeated exposure to typical applications and experience using various firestop…

 Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of…

There are two types of mechanical, electrical or plumbing (MEP) pipe penetrations when it comes to Firestopping, you have the ideal caulk only metallic pipe with smaller annular space and all the physical access that you need. We call this the ideal because in the real world it just doesn’t happen all that often. The other, and unfortunately far more common, type…

 Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of…

Indoor air environments have obviously been heavily scrutinized in recent times for reasons associated with the global health pandemic situation since the spring of 2020. Temporarily overlooked during this period has been the degree of everyday chemical exposure which occurs in homes, schools, offices, and other venues. These airborne chemicals, commonly referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are utilized to manufacture and maintain numerous building products, interior finishing…

 Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of…

BACKGROUND  Contractors performing above ceiling projects did a great job with the plumbing and/or electrical work, but they weren’t always firestopping when the jobs were completed. Baptist Health established an Above Ceiling Access and Barrier Management Policy and Procedure that standardized firestopping requirements – a no-nonsense program designed to ensure compliance and occupant safety.  Case…

 Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of…

The question of penetration movement and its impact on installed firestop products has been a longstanding and re-occurring question in the firestop industry. We have had the protocols in place to evaluate movement in joint firestop listings for many years but continued to lack similar means and methods for through-penetrations. This left designers in a strange position, they could account for movement between a wall and floor, but not between that same wall…

“LEED certification provides independent verification of a building or neighborhood’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings.” U.S. Green Building Council At Specified Technologies Inc, we understand the importance of the Green initiative and how it will be shaping our future, which is why we developed an online tool called the LEED Credit Calculator. This…

Sometimes the need to repair a firestop is unavoidable. Inadvertent jobsite mishaps are perhaps the most common culprit that most people would think of as a potential source of damage to installed firestops. However, there is often a need to conduct destructive sampling tests of firestop materials to ensure compliance with the appropriate tested system. The thickness of the firestop material in this…

 The Burn: Beyond Firestop Hosted by John Zalepka Intro Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that…

The topic on the use or requirement of sleeves for through penetration firestop systems is a common inquiry to Engineering Services at STI. In most cases the contractor is being told they must install sleeves for all penetrations and want to know where in the building code this is stated. The fact is the use of sleeves is typically project and…

You may have heard the phrase “There is more than one way to crack an egg”. It is true that essentially any blunt force applied to the brittle shell, no matter where or how, will result in a cracked egg. What if you want to crack the egg in such a way to be able to use the shell to separate…

 Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of…

 Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of…

Maintaining Fire and Smoke Seals within the structured cabling pathway is an ongoing challenge, juggling the demands of the facility vs the limits of firestop products installed at each wall and floor assembly. Purpose-built firerated and smoke and acoustical pathways such as EZ-Path® eliminated this challenge by making the seal at each barrier maintenance free. However, there exists a significant amount of…

 Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of…

Specified Technologies Inc (STI) Now Offers Credly Digital Badges for Completion of Continuing Education Courses SOMERVILLE, NJ (May 6, 2021) – Specified Technologies, Inc. (STI), a pioneer in the firestop industry, is proud to announce the deployment of their digital badges for completion of their online and distance learning educational courses. STI has partnered with…

 Welcome back to The Burn, Beyond Firestop. I’m your host. John’s Zalepka. Our show, if you’re not aware is focused on life safety, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an…

 Welcome back to The Burn, Beyond Firestop. I’m still your host John Zalepka. If you don’t know, this show is dedicated to life safety. So I’m on a mission to find the most interesting people in the space to get their unique perspectives. Now you can usually find me training people so that they…

All vision glass curtain walls are becoming more popular as architects are designing these walls to provide a modern and open concept for buildings. These buildings are aesthetically pleasing and result in unique and upscale designs. The difficulty firestopping all vision glass walls is there rarely is an area to properly install the firestop system and prevent it from being visible…

Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Firestop. I’m your host, John Zalepka. Since this show is focused on life safety, I’m on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspectives. As the training and development manager at STI, it’s part of my job to help people understand how…

The Burn: Beyond Firestop Hosted by John Zalepka Intro Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Firestop. This is a podcast where I will be interviewing interesting people involved in construction to get their unique perspectives. I’m going to be using my experience as the training and development manager, to help our audience walk away with an…

The Burn takes a dive into the life safety and code requirements for compliance in modern construction. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to design, build or erect a super tall, or how manufacturers test their products to meet codes and standards… then you’ve come to the right place. We are going to be…

Fire-rated construction joints between rated floors and rated walls (Floor-to-Wall) and joints between two rated floors (Floor-to-Floor) are common applications on commercial construction projects. At STI we have numerous product options that can address various joint widths and hourly ratings for these applications. When searching Floor-to-Floor and Floor-to-Wall joints on The System Search & Submittal Builder on the website you will see the choices shown in Figure 1. You may notice that concrete over…

The requirements for firestopping are driven by the model building codes. The specific language within the relevant codes informs building owners, design professionals, inspectors, and contractors what steps must be taken to make a building safe for occupants in terms of fire safety. However, there are several important codes and they are hundreds if not thousands of pages long. Is there an easy way…

Location, location, location! Great success can come from having a good understanding of location. All aspects of construction rely on information based on location to accomplish a project. In facilities such as hospitals and other healthcare settings, location can mean life or death. Specifically on construction sites, location is found on floor plans (or 3D models) where every trade needs to use as…

One of the more esoteric aspects of fire testing must be the hose stream requirements. Anyone who has witnessed the hose stream component of a fire test has an appreciation of how very dramatic the assault of pressurized water can be on a test specimen. The hose stream is usually the most difficult step in validating the performance of a firestop. Unfortunately,…

The 2021 International Building Code® was recently published.  Section 715 on “Joints and Voids” was refined to make it easier to understand the requirements.  Section 715.4 addresses the exterior wall/slab edge intersection. While the specific requirements are consistent with what appeared in previous versions of the IBC, the section was improved with more concise language…

As we look ahead to a return to normalcy post-COVID, Healthcare facilities are taking the lessons learned from handling this pandemic and planning for the future. We’ve discussed previously the trend of hospitals relocating services once contained in the patient room into the neighboring corridor to conserve Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (original post). Originally conceived as…

The Coronavirus pandemic may eventually cost the trade show and event industry billions, if not trillions of dollars in lost revenue. However, the effect on supporting activities such as continuing education might be even greater. Many industry trade associations require a certain number of continuing education units (CEU) to be earned over a specific period…

Customer-driven design has long been a hallmark of our approach at STI. I was explaining this to members of our team recently when I recounted the story of the “Closet Flange Firestop Gasket” and how it came to be. Back in 2006, we visited a jobsite in New Brunswick, NJ, a short distance from our corporate headquarters. The plumber on…

We are excited to announce the launch of our newly designed website, www.stifirestop.com. After months of hard work from Marketing, Engineering, Product Management, and Software Development departments, we were thrilled to have launched the new website on January 8, 2020. We strived to make the new website easier to navigate, faster, and more user-friendly. As a leader in the Firestop industry, it is important for…

Window wall systems have increased in popularity for highrise construction. They are more economical than conventional curtain wall, while emulating the aesthetic look of such systems. A window wall system sits atop the floor slab. There is not a traditional joint like that which exists with traditional curtain wall. However, there is a gap between…

Intumescent firestop products, which are those materials that when heated will swell and expand in volume, are typically the best overall performers for most applications. Plastic piping firestop systems almost universally require some form of intumescent material since the combustible pipe will soften and eventually be consumed by the fire. However, a solution exists in the form of an intumescent wrap strip, collar…

STI E-Wrap Endothermic Wrap was originally designed for protection of electrical circuits in order to maintain circuit integrity for crucial power and communications systems during the event of a fire. However, the application potential of E-Wrap is much farther reaching and STI continues to blaze a trail, exploring applications where E-Wrap can be used to protect essential service systems and penetrations. For example,…

When comparing a field condition to a UL Tested system there are many factors that must be evaluated to ensure that the proper solution is selected. One of those factors is the minimum and maximum annular space that the UL System allows for. The topic of annular space is not something new, especially to those that have been in the business for…

Entrepreneurship is part of the American Dream.  But even in a stable economy, most start-ups don’t  survive. In these lucid times, established companies too are experimenting to find greater resilience and flexibility.  The co-founder and CEO of Specified Technologies, Inc., Charbel Tagher, shares some of what he has learned over 30 years nurturing a start-up in the construction industry to its thriving maturity today….

 A growing trend across the nation is the revitalization of old office buildings, train stations and retail spaces to create residential lofts and hotels. Many of these structures are decades old and in most cases were constructed of materials that have not been tested like modern walls and floors to ASTM E-119. STI’s Engineering Services…

 We all rely on signs to help us navigate in unfamiliar surroundings. Anyone disembarking from an airplane outside of their home base needs the guidance of signage to find the baggage claim and ground transportation. Imagine trying to take a hike in the woods without a properly blazed trail. The well-known song might opine that…

 Firestop Clash Management, a plugin for Autodesk Revit®, now includes the ability to identify and assign firestop systems for construction joints. Whether the construction joint is needed for applications such as floor to floor, floor to wall, wall to wall, head of wall, or bottom of wall, FCM has it covered. For those already familiar…

 Any type of building, no matter the industry, achieves the most success when collaboration is maximized. This is especially true when it comes to the construction industry. Collaboration is found everywhere on the jobsite, within each trade and also with different trades. Harnessing the power of collaboration increases productivity and energizes team members to bring…

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced healthcare facilities to become even more resourceful. Facilities are relocating equipment traditionally contained within the patient room such as IVs, Infusion Pumps, and patient monitoring equipment, into the corridor in an attempt to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and reduce the frequency of contact between nurses and infected patients. We…

When it comes to versatility and firestopping, many thoughts come to mind. The ubiquitous red caulk that we see liberally applied on construction projects is obviously very versatile. Versatility in the sense of firestopping is defined as being able to adapt or be adapted to a variety of applications. While firestop caulk is used in…

 Third-party tested and listed designs (e.g. UL Systems) specify wet and dry film thicknesses for applied coatings. Where dry film thickness is specified, it should supersede. Always follow the parameters of the tested and listed design for coating thickness specifications.  Dry film thickness (DFT) is directly proportional to percentage of volume solids in the coating. …

Specified Technologies Inc., an industry leader in developing innovative firestopping systems that help stop the spread of fire, smoke, and hot gases for over 30 years, has partnered with BIMsmith, the leading product research platform for building professionals, to expand its robust offering of Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools to the architecture and engineering community….

Sleeves are commonly used in concrete floors. Sometimes the sleeve is a form to create an opening for a penetrating item. Other times, the sleeve may project beyond the top surface of the floor to help deflect or prevent entry of water. Sleeves can be metal or plastic. Sleeves can impact how firestopping systems are…

To Our Valued Customers and Partners: We continue to keep you informed of our status. Over the weekend, New Jersey issued Executive Order 107, which resulted in the temporary closure of many non-essential businesses and requirement for residents to stay home. STI’s headquarters is based in NJ. STI can remain open under the guidelines. To do our part,…

Occasionally STI’s Engineering Services will be asked to comment on what degree of movement is acceptable for a through-penetration firestop. It is easy for contractors and architects to determine the allowable movement capabilities of a joint system since the test standards, which are either ASTM E1966 or UL 2079, used to investigate the performance of…

Recently, we launched our Quick Clip® Perimeter Fire Containment System. This patented system is comprised of U-shaped steel brackets for support of curtain wall insulation that are secured to the vertical curtain wall mullions without the need to drive screws into the mullions. Self-locking fasteners are used to secure the insulation panels in place. The…

In today’s world, technology is the forefront to everything we do. The same holds true with construction and how things are being designed. One of the most talked about topics in the construction industry is the use of BIM (Building Information Modeling). With BIM, most people think of 3D modeling and the power of visualizing…

A question that arises with reasonable frequency for STI’s Engineering Services group is what procedures to follow when a large steel panel is installed as a membrane penetration within a gypsum wallboard assembly. Since it is a membrane penetration, which by definition only breaches a single side of the rated wall assembly, this condition will…

Sustainable building practices have reached a fever pitch. Programs such as LEED and Living Building Challenge are helping us to make our buildings greener. Our focus as a society has changed significantly in the last 20 years, and we are witnessing the advent of a new type of construction material – wood. Well, wood is…

New Fuel Pipe Protection with E-Wrap, Systems FP-3 and FP-4 – Two new systems are available for the protection of fuel oil pipe using E-Wrap Endothermic Wrap. FP-3 is for a single pipe and FP-4 covers double containment piping applications. The testing to promulgate FP-3 and FP-4 was conducted in accordance with UL 1489 “Standard for…

A landmark publication came out in June 2019, when ASTM published ASTM E3157, “Standard Guide for Understanding and Using Information Related to Installation of Firestop Systems”. This new Standard Guide is chock full of good information that will help construction project stakeholders avoid many common firestopping errors. The stated purpose of the industry task group…

What are the typical applications in wood frame construction? In multi-family construction, there are two considerations. Penetrations that occur through fire-rated floor/ceilings or wall assemblies and penetrations in non-fire-resistance rated construction that are required to be fireblocked or draft stopped. What products does STI have specific to these applications? For all fire-rated penetrations, we have…

An important criterion for a first-class property environment is the establishment of risk management and loss prevention programs to assure the reliability of fire and life safety systems. One risk management strategy, offered by Specified Technologies Inc., is a program called Barrier Management ProgramSM (BMP). Barrier management entails identifying all types of fire rated assemblies…

The need for firestopping at penetration and joint locations in new buildings is a fairly well understood requirement within the construction industry. The owner of the building may not be intimately familiar with the individual firestop products and how they perform to protect the structure in the event of a fire, but they are counting…

E-Wrap® Endothermic Wrap is STI’s latest solution for Circuit Integrity and Survivability of critical infrastructure in the event of a fire. E-Wrap® is a flexible, high-temperature insulation wrap that releases chemically bound water when exposed to high temperatures. E-Wrap® easily cuts by hand with a straight razer and is lighter than all other competing solutions…

There are times when dissimilar piping materials need to be connected during new or retrofit construction work. Old materials being replaced might be difficult to source or it could be advantageous to use a more economically priced pipe material for sections of the line. Whatever the reason, be it supply or cost considerations, the immediate…

A no-fly zone is an exclusion zone where aircraft are not permitted to fly, sometimes at the peril of being shot down. In the context of firestopping, we often see specifications create an exclusion zone at the top-of-wall to prevent penetrants from being installed in close proximity to the head-of-wall joint. Colloquially, this exclusion zone…

Firestop Locator launched earlier this year, and the user base continues to expand. It is the tracking program you need to digitally document all the items in your facility or on your jobsite. The map-based app gives you the easiest way to track and report on items such as Penetrations, Construction Joints, Doors, Dampers, and…

Many of STI’s existing UL systems for firestops within concrete floors contain an option that allows their use in assemblies constructed of hollow-core precast concrete units. These listings will limit the opening diameter to 7 inches or less for round openings or to a maximum 7 inch by 7 inch square opening. UL offers a…

UL Systems that permit point contact will often specify a bead of sealant to be applied at the point contact location between penetrant and periphery of the opening. The UL Systems somewhat generically list the sealant applied at that location as a bead having a minimum diameter. This can sometimes cause confusion. To begin, let’s…

Structured Cabling is a constantly evolving aspect of building design, on a seemingly daily basis new solutions come onto the market that require integration into a building’s physical infrastructure. What we think of as a state of the art today is quickly relegated to the dust bin of history as even newer systems become available….

F-B-5011 – A new firestopping solution for insulated PEX Tubing penetrations within FinFrock Dual Deck floors. A SpecSeal® Cast-In Firestop Device is installed at the bottom slab and SpecSeal® Series SSS, LCI, SIL300 Sealant or grout is installed at the upper slab for max 1 inch diameter PEX tubing with up to 1-1/2 inch thick…

Floor, shower and tub drains seem like fairly straightforward building features that don’t warrant a great deal of attention. Unfortunately, these types of drains can result in firestopping headaches for both manufacturers and installers. The test procedures can often be more rigorous relative to a regular through-penetration and the International Building Code (IBC) requires equal…