The information within these standards will help the designer prepare
the statement of special inspections required by Section 1704.3.
The special inspection program for observation of firestop systems
installation or destructive testing of installed firestop systems is
similar to all other special inspection programs required by Chapter
17 of the IBC which requires:
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The special inspection agency to be approved (Section 1704.2);
The special inspector to be approved and qualified (Section
1704.2.1);
The special inspection agency to be employed by the owner or the
design professional who is acting as the owner’s agent and not by
the contractor (Section 1704.2);
The design professional or applicant to submit a statement of
special inspections as a condition for permit issuance (Section
1704.2.3) with the statement identifying specific items related
to the inspections (Sections 1704.3 and 1704.3.1); and
The special inspection agency to submit reports documenting
the inspections, corrections and discrepancies to the code
official (Section 1704.2.4).
Section 703.7 will help owners, contractors and inspectors know
when protection of penetrations is required. This section mandates
walls requiring protected openings and penetrations to be identified
with some type of sign or marking to indicate that openings placed
in the wall must be protected. Identifying walls that require protected
openings helps to maintain the wall’s fire resistance or smoke
integrity throughout the life of the building. Of course, the lack of
such signage should not be deemed an indication that a wall is not
required to have a fire-resistance rating or protected openings and
penetrations. The code provides many exceptions to the need for
such markings.