Are all fire-rated fire wraps tested for all conditions? The answer is, unfortunately, no. Ceramic fire wrap for non-grease applications, for example, is only 2-hour tested for Type A conditions. There are four fire conditions to consider for code compliance:
- Type A (fire outside)
- Type B (fire inside)
- Horizontal
- Vertical
Flamebar® duct systems satisfy all four requirements and have been incorporated into local high-rise projects by BCH.
What is Flamebar®?
Flamebar® is a fire-rated duct system which utilizes pre-fabricated ductwork with a fire resistant coating, Flamebar® BW11, in lieu of typical fire wrap. This proprietary coating allows systems to meet and exceed two-hour and four-hour test standards. The system, manufactured by Conquest Firespray, is tested for fire inside and fire outside in both vertical and horizontal configurations and offers many advantages compared to typical installations of fire-rated duct.
There are many potential benefits of using Flamebar® and several applications where BCH Mechanical has used it successfully, in conjunction with our General Contractors, to save time and money in risers, typically in buildings greater than 4 to 5 stories with vertical shafts.
The Specific Benefits Include:
- Saves time- We can install the Flamebar vertical risers at early stages before the roof is dried, allowing us/the General Contractor to not have to build a fully rated shaft.
- Minimizes cost in many applications- The additional mechanical cost with the fire-rated systems is usually more than covered without having to install the rated shaft.
- Code compliant in most municipalities- Nearly every jurisdiction that has reviewed the application has accepted the usage. Though we still need to make sure, with a smaller municipality that has not used it before. We have successfully used these systems in Pinellas and Hillsborough County.
- Requires less coordination- BCH can coordinate the full shaft application and work with the Flamebar team to engineer exactly what is purchased.
Potential Applications
- Supply air, exhaust air, and conditioned outside air, running multiple floor (most used applications)
- Shaft replacement – excellent for retrofit applications
- Smoke control systems
- Laboratory exhaust
Would you like to learn more about Flamebar® duct system? Contact a member of the BCH Estimation team. We would be happy to help you determine whether this duct system would be an asset to your next project. We run comparison analysis regularly to determine the viability and the savings potential on all our design build and design assist projects.
BCH Mechanical has been a trusted name in Florida construction since 1976, delivering innovative design, high quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service. BCH capabilities include HVAC, plumbing, medical gas, piping, sheet metal, LEED, Design/Build, 3D-CAD/BIM coordination, and HVAC service. Visit BCH on the web: www.bchmechanical.com.