Masonry Magazine April 2003 Page. 50
MCAA CAA News
Fire Safety, continued from page 46 with walls used to encase stair and elevator shafts, which serve as escape routes for occupants.
While the ASTM E-119 allows manufacturers seeking a two-hour fire rating two choices for when the hose stream may be applied, the more rigorous choice applies the hose stream to the wall immediately following two hours of fire exposure. Achieving a fire rating is easier if they opt to use an identical duplicate wall assembly for one-half the fire duration and then apply the hose stream. This is referred to as the "back-up test."
In the test at Omega Point Laboratories, the more rigorous method was used. The hose stream was applied to the fire side of the gypsum wall at thirty pounds of pressure per square inch from a distance of twenty feet following two hours of fire exposure. O'Hara said, "The failure was dramatic with most of the gypsum wall rapidly deteriorating and collapsing almost instantly as the hose stream was applied."
According to O'Hara, "There is no basis for allowing manufacturers of building products to short-change end-users with less rigorous tests. In real fires, firefighters and building occupants are not given that kind of second chance. Yet many product manufactures eagerly opt to conduct the easier test with a duplicate assembly."
Experts at the National Concrete Masonry Association believe modern building and fire codes in the United States should require walls used for containment to be able to withstand rigorous fire testing and restrict the spread of fire. Mark B. Hogan, president of the National Concrete Masonry Association said, "These tests dramatically show the difference in the integrity provided by concrete masonry walls in comparison to walls made of gypsum materials. Unfortunately, both the public and building designers are left unaware of this stark difference since both types of walls receive the same rating, Uniform rigorous test requirements would provide designers with the information they need to make critical decisions about how they can use containment walls to protect the lives of occupants, as well as property investments."
According to O'Hara, "Tests of masonry construction never require a back-up or duplicate-hose stream test. Firewalls with the equivalent protection of concrete masonry are needed to appropriately protect escaping occupants and fire fighters. Giving fire ratings to products that provide real compartmentation is in the best interests of public safety."
New faces of Engineering Program Honoree
Rashod Johnson, Director of Engineering for the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), was honored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) with a nomination to the New Faces of Engineering program sponsored by the National Engineers Week, held February 16-22.