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Do firestop products need to be replaced after an earthquake?

Posted by Saab Woutsalmost 4 years ago
Do firestop products need to be replaced after an earthquake?

*Question asked during our webinar “Hilti Firestop Solutions on 01-04”*
Movement of construction joints may break the construction joint sealants. Any comments to review post-earthquake - Do all of these products need to be assumed to have failed and need replacement to confirm ongoing fire protection for the building?

seismic,firestop,construction joint,inspection,post-earthquake

1 Reply
Posted by Saab Woutsalmost 4 years ago
Hilti Verified

Yes! The movement of the construction joint may or may not break the seal at the construction joint. However, construction joints under some (not all) of the global testing schemes do go through a cycling test as a pre-condition before being imposed on to the fire test. The cycling test helps establish the movement rating of the joint as a system. Many of our systems for fire rating construction joints are rated for movement.

It is very hard to assess the post-earthquake condition of some of the firestop system without doing a destructive test, but it depends on which systems are installed. If these are preformed devices, then they can be inspected.

firestop,cyclic,construction joint,test