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Fireproofing contractors are professionals who work to prevent fires from occurring. Whether in commercial buildings or residential homes, preventing a fire requires careful consideration of the entire building’s fire protection strategies. This includes evaluating the building’s exterior walls, doors, windows and roof. The best approach is to conduct a thorough fire risk assessment. In addition, fireproofing contractors use various fire-resistive materials to provide additional fire protection to an existing structure.
NFCA represents fireproofing contractors
The National Fireproofing Contractors Association (NFCA) represents fireproofing contractors, inspection agencies, material suppliers and manufacturers of fireproofing materials and equipment. It works to improve the industry through education and standards.
NFCA offers educational programs and webinars. In addition to these, NFCA is a member of ASTM Committee E06, which is dedicated to updating current test methods. You can watch past webinars in the Member’s Only section.
NFCA also hosts an Annual Conference. This year’s conference will be held April 21-22 in Tempe, AZ. If you’re interested in participating, registration is open now.
NFCA’s Board of Directors met last week. They discussed the future of the organization. Among other things, they discussed a proposal to disapprove a proposal to change the designations for mastic, SFRM, IFRM and spray-applied fireproofing.
Modern fire engineering is more effective than traditional fire-fighting strategies
Firefighters are having difficulty adapting to new building and construction techniques. Many of the problems they face are chronic. The fire service must develop new strategies to address the changes.
Among these strategies is an emphasis on modern fire engineering. Unlike traditional fire-fighting strategies, this approach takes a more strategic approach. This approach has been proven to be effective in a variety of projects. It also provides benefits to the designer, contractor, and owner of the building.
In order to be successful, a firefighter must understand key fire behaviors and actions. They must also know how to identify hazards and structural components that are exposed to direct fire. These factors can influence the flow path of a fire and the development of a contained fire.
NFCA’s FREE October Webinar
The National Fireproofing Contractors Association (NFCA) is hosting a FREE October Webinar for fireproofing contractors. NFCA is a trade association devoted to improving the fireproofing industry. Its members include manufacturers, associates, and fireproofing contractors. This is a great opportunity for you to learn about fireproofing technology and innovations. You’ll get an introduction to NFCA’s certification programs and a sneak peek at the future of the industry.
One of the most important steps you can take in becoming a better fireproofing contractor is to understand the benefits of being certified. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of each session. So what are you waiting for? Register today. NFCA will be announcing details for 2021 and 2022 shortly.
UL’s Qualified SFRM Fireproofing Contractor Program
The National Fireproofing Contractors Association (NFCA) and Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) partnered in 2007 to develop the UL Qualified SFRM Fireproofing Contractor Program. Designed to provide a quality assurance program for contractors who apply fireproofing, NFCA member SFRM Fireproofing Contractors are certified to install SFRM according to tested system designs.
SFRM materials have undergone comprehensive testing to ensure compatibility with substrate coatings. Depending on the specific product, a variety of testing is performed, including adhesion, density, cohesion and water overspray. Testing is conducted on specimens that are otherwise identical to installed fire-resistive materials.
SFRMs are manufactured with a specific density and bond strength to meet code requirements. Medium density SFRMs are now available to meet high-rise building code requirements. In addition, several new low-density products are now meeting bond strength requirements for high-rise applications.