FCIA worked with Underwriters Laboratories for 3 years in the development of the UL Qualified Firestop Contractor Program.  The program's objective is to give Specialty Firestop Contractors a credible 3rd party Quality Management System Program to set themselves apart.  This quantitative management system audit verifies that the contractor lives what they say in their quality manual every day, with special attention to how non-conformances are managed. 

UL Qualified Firestop Contractors and the ASTM E 2174 & ASTM E 2393 Standards for the Inspection of Firestop Systems, are complimentary programs.  A contractor who has invested in UL Qualification, inspected by a Consultant to the ASTM Standards, means quality contractors, with a project inspection to validate the installation quality process is working.

To become qualified, the contractor firm must employ a Designated Responsible Individual (DRI-UL), who must pass a rigorous industry test to become the key person in the firm responsible to upper management of the firestop contractor firm for the firestop systems selection and installation quality process. The firm must also have a written Quality Manual that outlines how firestop systems are

UL then audits the contracting firm's procedures in their Quality Manual to confirm that the firm's paper trail is in order for successful installation of Firestop Systems. A destructive test verifies that the paperwork process and the physical in place Firestop System match.
UL Qualified Firestop Contractor designation is only given those firms who have passed both the DRI Test and the Quality Management Audit Process. Follow up Audits are performed by UL Auditors yearly. DRI's must provide verification of CEU eligible Education sessions attended or retest again every three years.

FCIA worked with FM Approvals to develop FM 4991, Standard for Approval of Firestop Contractors, and a protocol for firestop systems installation. FM 4991 is the quality standard from which Specialty Firestop Contractors can be qualified for zero tolerance Firestop Systems installation. FM 4991 is the first program of its type to be accepted nationwide by architects and engineers through programs like ARCOM's MasterSpec, BSC SpecLink and Kalin Associates.

To become approved, the contractor firm appoints a Designated Responsible Individual (DRI), who must past a rigorous industry test to become the key person in the firm to monitor the quality process. FM Approvals then audits the contracting firm's procedures in their Quality Manual to confirm that the firm's paper trail is in order for successful installation of Firestop Systems. A destructive test verifies that the paperwork process and the physical in place Firestop System match.

FM 4991 Approval is only given those firms who have passed both the DRI Test and the Audit Process. Follow up Audits are performed by FM Approvals yearly by FM Personnel. DRI's must retest and provide verification of CEU eligible Education sessions attended every three years.

Standard for the Approval of Firestop Contractors, Class 4991

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