One aspect that the building
code does not generally address
is that who is responsible for in-
stalling firestops. The inspector
is concerned with ensuring that
the openings and penetrations
have been protected as re-
quired and not with the fact that
who is responsible for the same.
However, from the owner’s, con-
tractor’s or installer’s viewpoint,
the issue of who is responsible
is critically important in ensuring
that penetrations are properly
protected and that the firestop
systems are installed where,
when and how they are sup-
posed to be. Therefore, at the
beginning of every project, the
owner, designer and contrac-
tors need to determine who is
responsible for complying with
the firestopping requirements.
The responsibility may fall to a
specialty contractor who is ex-
perienced and knowledge
able in the proper selection and
installation of the firestop sys-
tems; or to each subcontractor
or tradesperson to take care
of the penetrations they cre-
ate. The downside of expecting
each contractor to take respon-
sibility for the penetrations they
create is that they may not know
the variety of firestop solutions
available or have the experi-
ence to properly select or install
some of the systems. Further,
depending on the schedule,
they may not be on the job site
when some penetrations are
created or need to be protected.
Since assigning responsibility
for installing firestopping is crit-
ical from the cost perspective
and in ensuring that the building
is properly protected, this deci-
sion must be made beforehand
so that everyone involved in the
construction process knows
what is expected of them.
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