We all know the importance of fire safety in the workplace and in our homes. Utilizing fire-retardant materials is an effective method for containing and controlling potential fires.

The International Fire Code requires annual visual inspection of all fire-resistance-rated assemblies and the protection features – firestopping included. Fire doors can be the entry to building owners to help them satisfy the annual visual inspection requirement in NFPA 80 and the International Fire Code.

Meeting code without sacrificing design

Electric vehicles and motorized micro-mobility devices (e-bikes and e-scooters) are more popular than ever, but the potential for fire-related hazards associated with the lithium-ion batteries that power these forms of transport is real and often underestimated.

L.B. Hall Fireproofing, a minority- and women-owned fireproofing company located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, announced that Estefania Roa will become the company’s new CEO. In 2022, Roa became president and owner.

The value of the FCIA member, FM 4991-approved or UL-ULC qualified firestop contractor comes from the commitment to excellence. These important designations – FM 4991-Approved, UL-Qualified, ULC-Qualified and FCIA Member in Good Standing – are being recognized by 07 84 00 Firestopping specifications in many occupancies around the world.

FCIA’s Board of Directors met in Portland, Maine, and looked ahead to the future of the association and industry. The board, comprised of specialty firestop installation contractors from around North America, approached the discussions with one common goal: having FCIA members be recognized as the industry experts in the field of passive fire and smoke protection systems.

October product focus on Firestopping/Fireproofing.

All Weather Insulated Panels has introduced two new mineral wool panels to its existing category of fire-rated insulated metal panels. The pair of new mineral wool panels — HE42-MW and PL42-MW — are both non-combustible and provide hourly ratings.

October product focus on Firestopping/Fireproofing.

Specified Technologies announced the launch of its new corporate website. The new face of stifirestop.com is designed with customers in mind, increasing discoverability and ease of use while still empowering the core group of power-user customers.

What is the purpose of fire prevention construction? Read on to find out.

3A Composites USA announced that its ALUCOBOND FaceFastened system successfully passed third-party NFPA 285 testing on a wood-framed assembly, which is commonly used in low-rise, multifamily and mixed-use market segments.

ClarkDietrich is giving framing contractors greater flexibility in leveraging the firestopping power of its BlazeFrame family of products with the introduction of BlazeFrame Tape.

The Firestop Contractors International Association announced the appointment of Abhishek Chhabra as its director in the Middle East and Asia.

Batteries are increasingly being used in a vast array of applications, from consumer products and micromobility devices, known as e-bikes and e-scooters, to electric vehicles and utility-grade energy storage systems. As use of these devices has grown, so too has the number of fire incidents associated with them.

Specified Technologies announced that its SpecSeal LC Endothermic Firestop Sealant is now being offered in three colors: deep red, gray and white. Customers have been asking for both the white and gray for gypsum wallboard and concrete block spaces.

RectorSeal continues to press forward on the acquisition trail. On Feb. 6, RectorSeal announced the acquisition of Dust Free indoor air quality products.

Third-party contractor accreditation programs are required in specifications around the world. Special inspection agencies and their inspectors are required to demonstrate competence and relevant experience. This is demonstrated by passing a Firestop Exam.

Fireproofing works through a system of tests and instructions.

I was fortunate enough to attend the Specialties of the Drywall Trade Instructor Seminar held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3 at the IUPAT facility in Baltimore. It was obvious that a lot of planning went into setting up this building, with classrooms on the upper level and a lower level that is wide open, allowing plenty of room for the attendees to hone their skills on miles of drywall.

We had dodged more than one nor’easter up to that point, and were enjoying the effects of global warming, so when a friendly competition between three friends materialized into the Rock-Off for Michael’s Way, weather was not even a consideration.

When times are good, people become complacent. Riding in gas guzzling land-yachts and dwelling in cavernous McMansions tends to dull the senses and lulls people into a false sense of security. The scale that was once used to measure the distance between wants and needs became dangerously off-kilter.

I once witnessed a contractor mixing red chalk into a bucket of mud, and when I inquired what he was doing, he responded, “I’m making firestop.”

As some of you know, I grew up in a little town in northwestern Nebraska. Chadron was your stereotypical Andy-of-Mayberry town with only one stoplight and still only has one to this day. Frankly, it was a great place for a kid to grow up.

This past March, the message of National Ladder Safety Month reached millions of people. Now, the American Ladder Institute is seeking sponsors for the 2025 campaign so it can reach even more.

An important part of responsible power tool ownership is to appropriately dispose of rechargeable batteries at the end of their service life. Yes, lithium-ion batteries have revolutionized power tools and other devices by providing long-lasting, reliable power. However, no battery lasts forever.

On Sept. 17, JLG introduced new features for its ES electric scissor lifts, E18 vertical lifts and E18 stock picker, including standard AC drive motors, lithium-ion battery options and a range-extending genset charging option.

Festool released the CSC SYS 50 cordless table saw in 2023 and wants to give customers an opportunity to test it out themselves. Tradespeople can test out the tool and share their product photos and video reviews with Festool and other colleagues in the industry.

Diversified Fall Protection has appointed Gabe Galvan as EBM design director. Galvan will play a key role in leveraging the company’s newly acquired California Scaffold Inspection and Testing license. This license permits DFP to offer inspection, testing and design services related to exterior building maintenance and other equipment within California.

Nearly all contractors in the U.S. and Canada (98 percent) have had projects with serious quality issues in the last three years, such as errors, omissions and rework, according to the latest study released by Dodge Construction Network.

Milwaukee Tool has once again expanded its presence in the United States with the opening of its newest manufacturing facility, which is located in Grenada County, Mississippi.

MARSHALLTOWN held a ground-breaking ceremony on Oct. 23 at its new distribution center site in Kansas City, Kansas. The state-of-the-art facility will be a key hub in the company’s nationwide logistics network, with operations scheduled to begin in the fall of 2025.

In 2003 I signed the agreement with two other owners to sell our 200-employee construction company via a management buyout to five new owners in a deal that was structured over 10 years. 

Knowing the best times to buy or sell can be critical during the exiting of your business.

Five critical decisions that can sabotage your exit and retirement.

How to decrease taxes and increase savings to grow and protect the value of your business.

Is your company ready for your departure?

The largest obstacle in executing a management buyout is finding the financial ability to pay for the business.

Early November saw the end of one of the most contentious political presidential elections in quite some time.

The entire process of exit planning can be bogged down with the technical jargon of accounting, law, tax codes, estate planning, insurance and financial planning.

Most owners continue to be stuck in their business until they can clearly see the path to replace their income and maintain their lifestyles in retirement.

The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants and Fenestration Canada on Aug. 13 entered into a memorandum of understanding that extends IIBEC’s partnerships in the building enclosure industry while bolstering FENCAN’s promotion, protection and advancement of the window, door and skylight industry across North America.

The Rainscreen Association in North America announced that Laverne Dalgleish, COO of RAiNA and executive director of the ABAA, will be presenting on water-resistive barriers, the last line of defense, at the RAiNA Conference in Chicago on Nov. 7.

The Rainscreen Association in North America announced that Graham Finch of RDH will be presenting on how and why rainscreen walls work or when they don’t at the RAiNA Conference in Chicago on Nov. 7.

It is important to reduce embodied carbon in the built environment.

Sika has broken ground on a 29,000-square-foot admixture production plant, which is expected to be in operation in late-2025.

On Oct. 7, IIBEC sent a letter to the mayor and city council of Wilmington, North Carolina, recommending that they consider establishing a building façade inspection program in light of two recent building failures.

The Rainscreen Association in North America announced that Brian Nelson of Knight Wall Systems will be presenting on rocket science and understanding the modern cladding support system at the RAiNA Conference in Chicago on Nov. 7.