Playing with Fire? How to Select Your Perfect Fire-Rated Fit.

Navigate through the decision-making process of selecting appropriate passive fire protection with confidence.

Shaping the Ultimate Toolbox of PFP Solutions.

Passive Fire Protection – one of the most highly discussed topics in modern-day construction projects.  However, there are a multitude of questions that arise when discussing the implementation of passive fire protection into these projects. Whether you need to determine which form of passive fire protection you need to specify, or which material aligns with your demands, it is critical to identify the answers to these questions to ensure no timely delays or astronomical labor + material costs. To reduce the negative effects of not answering all the key questions, we composed a quick guide of the top five key questions to consider when specifying passive fire protection into your project.  Shall we kick things off?

Identifying the Application.

Constructing a new K12 library addition? Developing an elegantly designed modern façade structure? In new construction and redevelopment projects, there is always a demand for a proper passive fire protection system – the question is which one to specify?  Often, passive fire protection solutions and materials are implemented in the case, where an opening is left unprotected. This opening can be presented in a wall, ceiling, floor/ceiling assembly, ventilated air cavity, and so forth. To ensure your structure is properly fire rated, it is critical to check with your local building codes and review where passive fire protection are mandatory.

It’s important to note each application requires different forms of passive fire protection, due to numerous unprotected openings and building code standards varying on the structure’s purpose and classification. To provide clarity on where to begin in the decision process of selecting the appropriate passive fire protection solutions and materials, Tenmat offers a helpful resource on where we can direct you to the appropriate fire-rated solutions, depending on your chosen application. To view and use this tool, please click here.

Determining the Best Material for Your Project.

With the construction landscape demanding ongoing improvements in PFP technology, manufacturers have developed and presented multiple versions of firestopping solutions and materials. As a result, it is imperative to decide which material composition works best for your application. For example, in a ventilated rainscreen cavity, a material which can meet the demands of both the cavity’s performance levels and stringent building code regulations – is critical to the outcome of the project’s success. If you specify a fire-rated solution not appropriate for the application itself, it can jeopardize the functionality of the structure itself, the integrity of the fire-rating as time passes, and the lead times + costs of an active project.

To determine which material is ideal for your structure, it is important to properly research how each material performs in the circumstance of an active fire. Adding on, it is vital to also ensure the material + solution was properly fire tested and certified by a third-party testing facility – verifying the material’s integrity. However, the composition of the material itself isn’t the only element that needs to be accounted for. Let’s explore further on how solution’s composition plays a significant role further into the decision-making process.

Meeting Your Fixture’s Requirements.

In addition to a solution’s material composition, it is ideal to review what type of opening the solution will be protecting. Whether it be an unprotected ceiling opening caused by an in-ceiling loudspeaker or an unprotected wall penetration from an optical cable, it is ideal to assess on which solution will effectively reinforce the opening. In the current landscape, available fire-rated solutions and materials are very specific on what openings they can protect – which is ideal to an extent.  However, we often find these solutions are so detailed – to the point, they can only cater to certain manufacturers and/or brands.

To avoid this issue, Tenmat has formulated its advanced passive fire protection solutions and materials to meet the standards of a diverse range of applications – while standardizing our products to meet various manufacturers and models of fixtures. With its ability to be activated by heat, our intumescent technology can meet a multitude of demands, whether it be the designated unprotected opening, the sizing of the opening, or the type of fixture presented – regardless of model or manufacturer.

Compliance with Building Code Standards + Regulations.

When specifying passive fire protection, one of the most arguably important factors is the solution’s ability to meet the required building code regulations. With each application, the standards of passive fire protection vary. For example, the level of passive fire protection for a healthcare facility will contrast differently than the level required in a new construction multi-family.   Hence, it is critical to properly research on if your fire-rated solution can properly upload the fire rating standard, whether it be a one-hour rating or two.

To follow up from the previous statement regarding the selection of properly tested and certified fire-rated solutions, let’s get into why this is important. When specifying passive fire protection into your project, it is imperative that these solutions are protecting the lives and properties in our communities – not just stating it. To solidify its capability in protection, these solutions undergone these tests to see it can withstand the conditions of a real fire outbreak. As a result, building code regulations explicitly rely on these properly tested and certified solutions to safeguard our present and future communities.

Installation & Integration.

Now, that we covered all aspects of the fire-rated solution itself – let’s talk about the installation of the solution. Often, installation of passive fire protection tends to be one of the last considerations in the selection of the decision-making process; however, it is critical. Whether you are implementing fire-rated solutions in new construction and redevelopment projects, installing a labor-heavy and/or expensive solution can be damper on any job. Therefore, it is ideal to research and invest in the most cost-effective solution for your project. For example, if you need to install a fire-rated solution in a pre-existing ceiling, it would be favorable to specify a fire-rated solution, such as Tenmat’s Fire-Rated Covers which can easily be installed into the ceiling. If you were to go forward with a solution, whereas you need to bring down the ceiling, such as a traditional drywall box, it would eventually lengthen the time of the project and cost you high amounts in both material + labor costs. Furthermore, it is extremely important to consider the installation process of your fire-rated solutions and materials.

Closing the Door on Doubt.

Selecting the right passive fire protection for your project is not just about compliance—it’s about ensuring safety, efficiency, and long-term reliability. By understanding your application, choosing the best material, meeting fixture requirements, adhering to building codes, and considering installation logistics, you can confidently navigate the complexities of fire-rated solutions. At Tenmat, we are committed to providing high-performance passive fire protection products that align with your specific project needs. Whether you’re specifying solutions for a large-scale development or a specialized retrofit, our expertise and innovative materials are here to support you every step of the way.

Ready to take the next step in fire safety? Explore our comprehensive range of fire-rated solutions and find the perfect fit for your application today. Click Here to Learn More.

P.O.V. – Intumescent in Life Safety Applications

Installing intumescent materials for fire safety.

Intumescent products and materials have been in the market for several decades. An intumescent is a material which reacts and expands aggressively when exposed to heat or fire. Depending on the requirements of the application, the expansion rate can be up to 30 times the original size of the product. The pressure generated by the intumescent when expanding can be tailored for each application, but it can also easily crush plastic pipework. Once expanded, the intumescent product creates a tough and solid char, which can prevent the spread of fire, heat, and smoke for many hours.

Intumescent products have been a key component in applications such as fire door seals, pipe and penetration seals, and linear gap seals. Over the years, many of these products have been supplied to protect both buildings and their occupants, making them a trusted and widely approved firestop solution.

Intumescent products compared to traditional firestopping products

In the past, traditional firestopping products such as mineral fiber and sheet rock were the mainstay of the industry. When construction materials and practices were largely limited to just a few different options, they worked very well, as the basic construction materials—for example, brick and block—did not “move” much in the event of a fire. When a construction material does not “move” or deform in a fire, then a firestop which does not react can work perfectly well.

Today, buildings are constructed using a greater variety of materials, including masonry, timber, steel, metallic, and polymeric materials—all of which expand at different rates in a fire. Some degrade quickly, while others distort. When construction materials “move” in a fire situation, gaps are opened and shapes and sizes of penetrations change, which in turn, allow fire and smoke to pass through. In these situations, traditional firestop materials simply do not work well, as they do not respond to the changes taking place. In comparison, intumescent products react and expand to fill all the gaps and changes created by the fire, and therefore, can maintain a high-performance fire barrier for an extended duration. The key requirement of a good firestopping product is one which will fill, insulate, and seal all gaps in a building fire compartment as a fire develops and movement occurs.

Another reason for building movement is due to seismic activity. This often happens over time, before a fire occurs, and can cause gaps and cavities in the fire compartment to appear and grow in size. Traditional firestopping methods cannot usually seal such changes in construction, or they become dislodged or damaged, so the fire compartment is compromised long before any fire-related events. Intumescent firestopping products have been tested and shown to fill any large gaps and cavities present before a fire occurs.

A further benefit of intumescent products is their installation, which is generally simpler. Traditional firestops tend to require a great deal of skill and time to install correctly, as they often require combinations of both wet and dry processes. Intumescent products tend to be designed for the specific application, and the skilled parts of the product are incorporated at the factory in controlled conditions and not onsite.

Types of intumescent products

While it is a widely accepted opinion that intumescent products represent much safer solutions for many firestopping applications, it is not the whole story. All intumescent products are not created equally. Today’s products can be divided into two basic groups: dumb and smart intumescent materials.

Dumb intumescent materials

A dumb intumescent is typically a rubber-based material which is extruded or pressed into sheets, with no structure to the dispersion of the intumescent particles within the application. The main reason it is called “dumb” is because when it expands, it has no sense of direction and will expand in all directions equally. Additionally, if a random gap exists, it will flow through it as well, rather than in the direction required to stop the fire spread.

The only way to use such dumb intumescent materials successfully is to totally encase them in a fire-resistant canister or box, so the expansion can only occur in the direction required, and all other directions are sealed. A typical example of their use would be in fire collars, where the intumescent is contained within a steel shell around the pipe to direct the expansion inwards.

Another disadvantage of rubber-based intumescent is the high organic content, which means it creates a great deal of smoke in a fire situation—which can be dangerous for both occupants and firefighters alike.

 

Dumb intumescent materials are generally produced in high volume, with no particular design application in mind. These materials are then supplied to “convertors” who incorporate them into products, which must be encased, to make them work in the manner required.

Smart intumescent materials

Smart intumescent materials are very different because of the way they work. The materials are generally produced for a specific end application from the start of the production process. Smart intumescent materials can be fine-tuned to provide expansion in only the direction required for the application, and they can even be formed into the finished product shape.

Unlike other types of intumescent materials, smart ones do not use rubber as the basic matrix. Instead, they use mineral fibers, which are layered along with intumescent particles in the forming process to produce a multi-layered product. This structure allows accurate control of both the rate and direction of expansion.

Vacuum forming allows complex 3D shapes to be created while having full control over the direction of expansion.

Since smart intumescent materials have their expansion rate and direction inherently controlled at the factory, they do not require the same levels of encasement as dumb products, meaning the finished product design can be simplified in many ways regarding weight, cost, and ease of installation.

Another benefit of smart intumescent materials is they tend to have very low organic content, mainly due to their structure being of mineral fibers and not rubber. As a result, they produce very low smoke in a fire. Some smart materials are even classified as “low smoke zero halogen,” which is good news for building occupants and firefighters.

Conclusion

Building materials and construction techniques have changed significantly in recent years, and the materials used to firestop these buildings have not kept pace with these changes. This has been unfortunately demonstrated by a number of high-profile building fires. Traditional firestopping simply cannot cope with the building movement which occurs in a modern building fire. Therefore, intumescent materials must be considered, as they offer the required advancements in firestopping technology. However, it is important to remember not all intumescent materials are the same, and smart intumescent options offer different benefits compared to dumb intumescent options.

Ultimately, in the war against rapid fire spread in buildings, having the best weapons is good place to start.