7 . INSPECTION PROCESS
The performance of any passive fire protection system to impede the spread of smoke and fire is directly proportional to the quality of the installation . Firestop inspections provide quality control and quality assurance that the firestop systems installed on a project meet the required fire resistance requirements defined by the building code and local jurisdiction .
The International Building Code ( Section 1705 , 2024 ) requires inspection of firestopping systems for high-rise buildings , Risk Category III , and Risk Category IV projects . Inspection of these projects are to be performed by a third-party special inspector who is specifically licensed to perform these inspections . The third-party inspectors must follow ASTM E2174 “ Standard Practice for On-Site Inspection of Penetration Firestops ” and ASTM E2393 “ Standard Practice for On-Site Inspection of Fire-Resistant Joint Systems and Perimeter Fire Barriers ”. These ASTM standards provide guidelines for conducting visual inspection and destructive testing of firestop installations .
For projects outside of the special inspection requirements , general inspection of passive fire protection systems is still imperative to ensure life safety of the building and its occupants . Since it is not feasible to inspect every firestop penetration or the entire length of a fire-resistive joint , the referenced ASTM standards for on-site inspection can provide general guidelines for the percentage of work to inspect .
The firestop inspection process typically begins by obtaining the approved firestop system documentation . During the construction phase , the Contractor should maintain documentation of all the listed firestop systems and engineering judgments that were utilized on the project . These firestop system details should serve as a blueprint for the firestop installer to properly select and install the appropriate firestopping materials . These documents will also serve as a blueprint for inspectors when verifying the proper installation of the firestopping materials .
Some of the recommended guidelines and best practices for performing a quality on-site inspection of firestopping installations include :
• Coordinate / schedule the on-site inspection during the installation phase and again at a final walk-through .
• Contractor should not conceal any firestop systems until after the work has been inspected and approved .
• Review the construction documents to identify the location of the fire rated wall / floor assemblies within the building .
• Obtain a copy of the approved firestop system submittal package for the project .
• Compare the installed firestop system with the corresponding firestop detail within the approved submittal package .
• Observe empty containers , boxes , or other packaging to identify the specific firestopping products installed are as specified in the submittal package .
The following sections of this guidebook provide more detailed guidelines for inspecting specific types of firestop systems on a project .
Fig . 7 : Sealant thickness measurement when wet
Inspection Guidebook 15 / 28