NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 76
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFICATION
ON FIRE TESTED PRODUCTS
A look at how fire testing, labeling and certification shape
our built environment
By Karl Houser, P.E., Sr. Fire Protection Engineer Intertek - Building & Construction
W
We see certification marks all around
us-from gypsum board to smoke alarms
to fire doors. These marks represent
that a product has met the minimum
safety requirements set forth by the
relevant standard or code. This article
discusses the importance of testing and
Testing laboratories evaluate products
against recognized tests and standards.
certification to the fire and life-safety
aspects of a building façade, and how the
combination of certified products and
on-site inspection can help to mitigate
the incidence of exterior building fires.
Our Built Environment
The numerous exterior building façade
fires that have occurred abroad in recent
months offer a dramatic, visual example
of what can happen without rigorous
building and life-safety codes. While the
idea of product testing and certification
may not attract the general public, the
image of a fire traveling up the side of a
30-story building has captured the attention of a larger audience. For building
and construction professionals who are
familiar with codes and standards, inevitable questions
arise: How did these
fires happen? Could
these kinds of fires
happen here in the
U.S.? The general
consensus is that
it is less likely
to occur where
codes mandate
the proper tests;
where products are
tested, maintained
in a certification
program with a
listing and installed in accordance with
their listing, and where there is effective
jobsite inspection.
Exterior wall systems provide energy
efficiency, resistance to water infiltration and air permeability, and other
functions, not to mention their extraordinary aesthetic value. In order for these
important building products to function
safely, it is essential that both codes and
the requirements set forth by product
manufacturers be followed carefully.
After testing and certifying a product or system, thirdparty testing agencies provide a label signifying that
the product meets relevant codes and standards. Below are two common certification marks from Intertek.
WARNOCK HERSEY MARK
The Warnock Hersey Mark has long been one of the
building product industry's most recognizable certification marks and can be found on a variety of products,
76
NFPA JOURNAL SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
Exterior building façade systems may,
in some cases, have unusual fire propagation characteristics that affect how they
perform in a fire scenario-which is true
for many other building materials. These
characteristics can relate to the types
of building fires that have recently been
seen abroad. Building safety is dependent upon ensuring that products are
installed in a manner consistent with how
they have been shown to comply with accepted test standards. The relationship
between how a product is tested and how
it is installed can help in our understanding of the exterior building fires that have
occurred abroad.
Fire Testing
Fire testing standards are an important
element in mitigating the risk of fire
in tall buildings. NFPA 285, Standard
Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire
Propagation Characteristics of Exterior
Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies
Containing Combustible Components,
outlines a standardized fire test method
for evaluating exterior, non-load bearing
wall assemblies that include combustible
components. Other similar test standards
include CAN/ULC-S134, Standard Method of Fire Test of Exterior Wall Assemblies, and BS 8414-2, Fire Performance
of External Cladding Systems. Manufacturers look to testing laboratories
and most prominently on fire doors, solid fuel hearth
products, and on manufactured homes.
ETL MARK
The ETL Mark is one of North America's most recognized
certification marks. Previously only utilized as a mark of
conformance for primarily electrical products, the ETL
Mark is now utilized on building products and construction materials.
For information on NFPA Journal sponsored content visit Æ nfpaadvertising@nfpa.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - September/October 2016
Contents
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - Cover1
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - Cover2
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 1
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - Contents
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 3
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 4
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 5
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 6
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 7
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 8
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 9
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 10
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 11
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 12
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 13
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 14
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 15
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 16
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 17
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 18
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 19
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 20
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 21
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 22
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 23
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 24
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 25
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 26
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 27
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 28
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 29
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 30
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 31
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 32
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - I1
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - I2
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 33
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 34
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 35
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 36
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 37
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 38
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 39
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 40
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 41
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 42
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 43
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 44
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 45
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 46
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 47
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 48
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 49
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NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 77
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NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - 80
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - Cover3
NFPA Journal - September/October 2016 - Cover4
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