December 3, 2012 TO: PARTIES INTERESTED IN INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS FIELD-APPLIED TO PREFABRICATED WOOD I-JOISTS SUBJECT: Proposed Acceptance Criteria for Intumescent Fire-resistant Coatings Field-applied to Prefabricated Wood I-Joists, Subject (MO/MB). Dear Colleague: We are seeking your comments on the enclosed proposal for a new acceptance criteria, which is being posted for 30 days of public comment on the ICC-ES web site. Public comments will be considered in preparing a revised draft of the criteria, which we hope to present at a future Evaluation Committee hearing. The proposed new criteria establishes performance testing for evaluating intumescent fire-resistant coatings field-applied to prefabricated wood I-joists. The criteria is limited to the application noted in Section 1.2. Field application of the intumescent fire-resistant coating will need special inspection as noted in Section 6.8 of the criteria. Documentation on the application and field testing of the intumescent fireresistant coating after application is required as noted in Section 2.1.2. Use of the intumescent fire-resistant coatings field-applied to prefabricated wood I- joists will need to be authorized by the manufacturer of the wood I-joists, and testing conducted for each manufacturer as needed. The intumescent fire-resistant coating will need to be noted in the prefabricated wood I-joist evaluation report. Refer to Sections 3.2 and 6.0. Performance testing of the intumescent fire-resistant coatings is noted in Section 4.0 of the criteria and includes full-scale fire testing of pre-fabricated wood I-joists, durability of the coating, effects on mechanical properties, and corrosion effects of the coating. If it is of interest, please review the draft criteria and send us your comments at the earliest opportunity. At the end of the 30-day comment period, we will post on our web site the correspondence we have received. To submit your comments, please use the form on the web site and attach any letters or other materials. If you would like an explanation of the alternate criteria process, under which we are soliciting comments, this too is available on the ICC-ES web site.
2 Please do not try to communicate directly with any Evaluation Committee member about a criteria under consideration, as committee members cannot accept such communications. Thank you for your interest and your contributions. If you have any questions, please contact me at (800) 423-6587, extension 5685, or Michael Beaton, Senior Vice- President, at extension 3292. You may also reach us by e-mail at es@icc-es.org. Yours very truly, MPO/bc Encl. cc: Evaluation Committee Michael O Reardon, P.E. Regional Manager
www.icc-es.org (800) 423-6587 (562) 699-0543 A Subsidiary of the International Code Council PROPOSED ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE- RESISTANT COATINGS FIELD-APPLIED TO PREFABRICATED WOOD I-JOISTS AC450 Proposed December 2012 PREFACE Evaluation reports issued by ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), are based upon performance features of the International family of codes. (Some reports may also reference older code families such as the BOCA National Codes, the Standard Codes, and the Uniform Codes.) Section 104.11 of the International Building Code reads as follows: The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any materials or to prohibit any design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material, design or method of construction shall be approved where the building official finds that the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code, and that the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety. ICC-ES may consider alternate criteria for report approval, provided the report applicant submits data demonstrating that the alternate criteria are at least equivalent to the criteria set forth in this document, and otherwise demonstrate compliance with the performance features of the codes. ICC-ES retains the right to refuse to issue or renew any evaluation report, if the applicable product, material, or method of construction is such that either unusual care with its installation or use must be exercised for satisfactory performance, or if malfunctioning is apt to cause injury or unreasonable damage. NOTE: The Preface for ICC-ES acceptance criteria was revised in July 2011 to reflect changes in policy. Acceptance criteria are developed for use solely by ICC-ES for purpose of issuing ICC-ES evaluation reports..
Page 2 December 2012 PROPOSED ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS FIELD-APPLIED TO PREFABRICATED WOOD I-JOISTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose: The purpose of this criteria is to establish requirements for an intumescent fire-resistant coating field-applied to prefabricated wood I-joists to be recognized in an ICC Evaluation Service LLC. (ICC-ES), evaluation report under the 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Residential Code (IRC). The basis of recognition is IRC Section R104.11. Applicable code sections are listed in Section 1.2. The reason for the development of this criteria is that the code does not address the use of field-applied intumescent fire-resistant coatings for the uses described in Section 1.2. 1.2 Scope: This acceptance criteria is limited to intumescent fire-resistant coatings field-applied to prefabricated wood I-joists in new construction, utilized for fire protection of floors where recognition is sought for establishment of equivalent fire performance to the materials described in Exception 4 to Section R501.3 of the 2012 IRC. 1.3 Codes and Referenced Standards: 1.3.1 Codes: 1.3.1.1 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Residential Code ( IRC), International Code Council. 1.3.1.2 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Building Code ( IBC), International Code Council. 1.3.1.3 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Fire Code ( IFC), International Code Council.
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 3 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 1.3.1.4 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), International Code Council. 1.3.2 ASTM International, ASTM D5055-09 (-05 for the 2009 IRC, -04 for the 2006 IRC), Standard Specification for Establishing and Monitoring Structural Capacities of Prefabricated Wood I-joists. 1.3.3 ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria: 1.3.3.1 ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Prefabricated Wood I-Joists (AC14). 1.3.3.2 ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Corrosion-resistant Fasteners and Evaluation of Corrosion effects of Wood Treatment Chemicals (AC257). 1.3.3.3 ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Surface-applied Fire-retardant Coatings (AC363). 1.4 Definitions: 1.4.1 Intumescent Fire-resistant Coatings: Refer to Section 202 of the 2012 IBC. 1.4.2 Prefabricated Wood I-joist: Refer to Section 2.1.1 of AC14 and Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of this criteria. 2.0 BASIC INFORMATION 2.1 General: The following information shall be submitted: 2.1.1 Product Description: Complete information concerning material specifications, and the manufacturing process. 2.1.2 Application Instructions: The instructions shall include the following items: 2.1.2.1 Application of the intumescent fire-resistant coating is limited to interior assemblies and must occur once the structure is dried-in (having a sustained humidity of less than 80 percent). The coating must be applied prior to installation of mechanical, electrical or plumbing components.
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 4 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 2.1.2.2 The contractor shall be trained and qualified in the proper application procedures by the intumescent fire-resistant coating manufacturer before starting the first application. 2.1.2.3 Application and/or installation details for the intumescent fire-resistant coating. 2.1.2.3.1 The frequency of thickness measurements with a wet film gauge during the application of each coat necessary to ensure uniform thickness. 2.1.2.3.2 Details of the surface preparation of the material. 2.1.2.3.3 Minimum ambient temperature before and after application. 2.1.2.3.4 Product handling and storage requirements. 2.1.2.3.5 Restrictions or limitations on use. 2.1.3 Packaging and Identification: A description of the field identification of the intumescent fire-resistant coating shall be submitted. Identification provisions shall include the evaluation report holder s name and address, the evaluation report number and the name of the product. 2.1.4 Field Tests: The intumescent fire-resistant coating manufacturer shall identify the methods used to verify the presence and quality of workmanship of the intumescent fire-resistant coating during and after application, in accordance with the relevant methods described in the National Fireproofing Contractor s Association 400 Field Quality Assurance Procedure for Application of Mastic and Thin-Film Intumescent Fireresistive Coatings. 2.2 Testing Laboratories: Testing laboratories shall comply with Section 2.0 of the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Test Reports (AC85) and Section 4.2 of the ICC-ES Rules of Procedure for Evaluation Reports.
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 5 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 2.3 Test Reports: Test reports shall comply with AC85. 2.4 Product Sampling: Products shall be sampled in accordance with Section 3.1 of AC85. 3.0 TEST AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS 3.1 Fire Protection of Floors: Where recognition is sought for establishment of equivalent fire performance to the materials described in Exception 4 to Section R501.3 of the 2012 IRC, testing and analysis must be conducted in accordance with Section 4.0 of this criteria. 3.2 Substrates: Documentation shall be submitted to demonstrate that the prefabricated wood I-joists to which the intumescent fire-resistant coating is to be applied, comply with Section R502.1.4 of the IRC. The documentation shall consist of a current ICC-ES evaluation report on the prefabricated wood I-joists. Use of intumescent fire-resistant coatings with prefabricated wood I-joists noted above must be authorized by the I-joist manufacturer. Testing shall be conducted for each manufacturer. Recognition of the intumescent fire-resistant coating shall be described within the prefabricated wood I-joist manufacturer s evaluation report and the intumescent coating manufacturer s evaluation report. 4.0 TEST METHODS 4.1 Fire Protection of Floors: Where recognition is sought for a field-applied intumescent fire-resistant coating to establish equivalent fire performance to the materials described in Exception 4 of Section R501.3 of the 2012 IRC, the test shall meet the requirements and conditions of Sections A4.4.1, A4.4.2.1, A4.4.2.2 and A4.4.3 of AC14. Durability, mechanical properties and corrosion effects testing shall be conducted in accordance with Sections 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 of this criteria.
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 6 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 Conditions of Acceptance: The fire performance test shall meet the requirements and conditions of Sections A4.4.1.5 of AC14. 4.2 Durability of Intumescent Fire-resistant Coatings: The intumescent fireresistant coating shall be evaluated to ensure that environmental exposure does not affect the fire performance. Specimens shall consist of the minimum thickness of proposed web stock, with dimensions of 4 feet by 4 feet (1.2 m by 1.2 m). The coating shall be applied to each specimen in accordance with the manufacturer s quality documentation, except that it shall be applied only to one side (same side for all specimens). A minimum of 3 shall be used as matched control specimens (coated, but not subjected to the exposure condition). The remaining specimens shall be subjected to the exposure condition as described in Item a. The exposed specimens and control specimens shall be tested in accordance with Item b. a. Exposure Condition Evaluate effect of elevated temperature: A minimum of 3 specimens shall be conditioned in accordance with ASTM D5664 (temperature at 150 ± 4 F and relative humidity 50% for 108 ± 3 days). b. Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL) Tests: Each specimen shall be exposed to a uniform heat flux on the protected face using the radiant panel configuration described ASTM E1623 with an energy input of 50 kw/m2. The burn-through time, which is defined as the time elapsed between the start of the test and the time at which sustained flaming (i.e., the existence of flame on or over the surface of the specimen for periods of at least 5 seconds) appears on the unexposed side of the specimen, shall be recorded for each specimen. Due to potential artificial edge effects introduced by the sample holder where surface flames may curl around the specimen edges or heat transfer from the return
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 7 118 119 120 121 edges of the metal holder may be higher than in the field of the specimen, flaming within 5 inches of the edges of the unexposed specimen shall be allowed. These flames can be extinguished using a suitable means that will not affect the field of the unexposed specimen surface. 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 The average burn-through time for the exposed specimens shall be at least 90% of the average burn-through time for the control group. If the exposure condition results in an average burn-through time less than 90% of the average burn-through time for the control group, I-joist specimens may be subjected to the durability exposure condition and tested in accordance with Section 4.1. Conditions of Acceptance: The requirements of the durability exposure condition are deemed to comply when the test result satisfies the requirements of A4.4.1.5 of AC14. 4.3 Effect of Intumescent Fire-Resistant Coatings on Mechanical Properties: Intumescent fire-resistant coatings field-applied to prefabricated wood I-joists shall be subjected to testing to ensure that the I-joist mechanical properties are not affected by fire protection materials. One of the following two test programs shall be followed: a. Flange stiffness, flange tension, flange compression, and I-joist shear shall be evaluated per ASTM D5055. b. I-joist stiffness, moment and shear shall be evaluated per ASTM D5055. 138 139 140 141 Evaluations shall be based on the comparison between a control group (unprotected) and a matched group (protected) with each group comprised of not less than 20 specimens when flange materials are tested or not less than 10 specimens when I-joist
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 8 142 143 144 145 146 147 specimens are tested. The following conditioning environments shall be evaluated separately for both control and matched groups: a. Ambient: Condition based on an as-manufactured condition. b. Elevated Temperature: Condition both protected and control groups in accordance with ASTM D5664 (temperature at 150 ± 4 F and relative humidity 50% for 108 ± 3 days). 148 149 150 151 152 The average mechanical property of the matched group (protected) under each conditioning environment shall not be less than the 95% lower confidence bound on the average mechanical property of the control group (unprotected) under the same conditioning environment, as calculated as follows: 153 154 M m M c (1 t V ) N 155 156 where: 157 158 159 160 Mm Mc = average mechanical property (stiffness or strength) of matched group (protected) for the conditioning environment listed in this Section, = average mechanical property (stiffness or strength) of the control group (unprotected) for the same conditioning environment as Mm, 161 162 163 t = student t statistic with 95 % confidence (see Table 1 of ASTM D2915); t = 2.093 for 20 specimens (19 degrees of freedom) or t = 2.262 for 10 specimens (9 degrees of freedom),
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 9 164 165 166 167 168 169 V N = coefficient of variation for the mechanical property of the control group at the conditioning environment; V 0.2 (when V is greater than 0.2, use 0.2 in the calculation), and = sample size for the control group; N 20 when flange materials are tested or N 10 when I-joist specimens are tested. Conditions of Acceptance: The mechanical properties testing shall indicate 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 that the coating has no effect on the performance of a coated I-joist, or a proper reduction factor shall be applied. 4.4 Corrosion Testing for Intumescent Fire-resistant Coatings: Corrosion effects of fire protection materials on fasteners, if any, shall be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of AC257 that are applicable to evaluations of corrosion effects of wood treatment chemicals, with the following exceptions and conditions: 4.4.1 Instead of evaluating the corrosion effects of a treatment chemical, the corrosion effects of the fire protection material shall be evaluated. Thus, the provisions relating to AWPA Use Categories do not apply. Those provisions relating to minimum retention levels do not apply unless the fire protection is in the form of a woodpenetrating treatment chemical. 4.4.2 Control (benchmark) materials shall consist of unprotected prefabricated wood I-joist materials from the same type of materials (i.e., flange and web materials) on which the corrosion tests are performed. 4.4.3 The control and protected materials shall both be tested with steel coupons meeting ASTM A653 with a G60 coating designation. 4.4.4 The control and protected materials shall be tested under Exposure Condition 5 (Dry Use).
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 10 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 Conditions of Acceptance: The corrosion effect of the fire protection materials on a fastener complying with Section R317.3.4 of the 2012 and 2009 IBC, and Section R319.3 of the 2006 IRC, shall not be significantly greater than that of the control materials (without the fire protective material), as determined in accordance with Section 4.5.4 AC257. 5.0 QUALITY CONTROL 5.1 Intumescent fire-resistant coatings shall be produced at plants under an approved quality control program, with inspections conducted by an inspection agency accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) or otherwise acceptable to ICC-ES. 5.2 Quality documentation complying with the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Quality Documentation (AC10) shall be submitted for each facility manufacturing or labeling products that are recognized in the ICC-ES evaluation report. 5.3 A qualifying inspection shall be conducted at each manufacturing facility when required by the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Inspections and Inspection Agencies (AC304). 5.4 Field Inspection and Report Requirements: Field inspections and reporting shall include the following: 5.4.1 Installation shall be by applicators approved by the intumescent fire-resistant coating manufacturer as being qualified to perform such installations. A list containing the names and addresses of approved applicators shall be maintained and shall be made available to code officials or ICC-ES upon request. 5.4.2 An installation card or certificate provided by the intumescent fire-resistant coating manufacture shall be completed by the applicator shall be and available for review by the code official at the completion of each project.
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 11 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 5.4.3 A report on the special inspection shall be provided to the code official in accordance with Section 6.8 of this criteria, when required. 6.0 EVALUATION REPORT RECOGNITION Intumescent fire-resistant coatings field-applied to prefabricated wood I-joists evaluated under this criteria are limited to wood I-joist manufacturer's that have authorized the use of the coating and reference to the intumescent fire-resistant coating I shall be included in the wood I-joist manufacturer s ICC-ES evaluation report. The wood I-joist evaluation report shall include the following information: 6.1 The evaluation report shall describe the field tests required in Section 2.1.4 of this acceptance criteria, and shall include a condition of use that the field test will be performed by the applicator when requested by the code official. 6.2 The evaluation report shall include a sample installation card or certificate as required by Section 5.4.2 of this acceptance criteria. 6.3 The evaluation report shall specify if the coating is required to be maintained or renewed; the frequency of maintenance or renewal; and that the maintenance or renewal is subject to the approval of the fire official in accordance with International Fire Code (IFC) Section 803.4. 6.4 The evaluation report shall specify the conditions under which intumescent fireresistant coatings may be overcoated with paint. 6.5 The evaluation report shall include a condition of use that use of the coating is limited to exposed interior locations having a sustained humidity of less than 80 percent. 6.6 The evaluation report shall specify the substrate, thickness of coating and cure time for which performance has been established.
FOR INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTANT COATINGS Page 12 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 6.7 The evaluation report shall include a condition of use stating that application of the intumescent fire-resistant coating is limited to use on surfaces facing the interior of the building that the coating must be applied once the structure is dried-in as defined herein, to interior assemblies; and that the coating must be applied prior to installation of mechanical, electrical or plumbing components. 6.8 The evaluation report shall include requirements for special inspection and a condition of use that special inspection shall be provided when determined to be necessary by the code official in accordance with Sections 1705.1.1 and 1705.14 (using the relevant methods prescribed in AWCI Technical Manual 12-B) of the 2012 IBC, Section 1704.15 of the 2009 IBC or Section 1704.13 of the 2006 IBC, as applicable.