ULtimate Fire Wizard Hits UL.com

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1 timate Fire Wizard Hits.com Simplifying fire-resistance design searches by Rich Walke The timate Fire Wizard, an Internetbased tool that is designed to allow users to quickly identify fire-resistance-rated designs that meet their project specifications has recently been launched on the website. For nearly 60 years, architects, designers and code authorities have relied on fire-resistance-rated wall, floor-ceiling, roof-ceiling, column and beam designs for code-compliant installations. Nearly 2000 designs are currently available through s Fire Resistance Directory or Online Certifications Directory. We recognized that the designs took a lot of time to locate and the search could become a daunting task for less (continued on page 6) In this issue: 2 New Year Resolutions for Do-It- Yourselfers 3.com Building Code Authorities Page Launched 4 Duct Tape 6 C s Jack Robertson retires 7 Questions & Answers

2 The Code Authority 02 -ese Definitions of terms frequently used at Code Correlation Database An application on.com that covers more than 20 editions of various model codes. The database identifies the correlation between particular model code section numbers and Product Category Codes. The database also provides hyperlinks to the Guide Information and other specific information pertaining to each Category Code. The database is simple to use, and accommodates two distinct searches: Identifying Product Category Guide Information that corresponds to a particular code section, and identifying code sections that correspond to a particular Product Category. The Code Correlation Database can be found at New Year Resolutions for Do-It-Yourselfers Every January, many of us will commit to New Year resolutions, and many of these include home fix-up projects. It s a good idea to keep safety in mind when using power tools on these projects. Some of the safety tips recommends for do-it-yourselfers using power tools include the following: Wear safety glasses to protect from debris. Don t wear loose fitting watches, bracelets and long sleeves as they can get caught in moving parts. When operating a loud power tool, wear earplugs to minimize damage to your ears. Follow instructions, not intuition. As with any household appliance, power tools need to be maintained and used in accordance with the manufacturer s warnings, precautions and instructions. Be sure to check the switch on a power tool or garden appliance to make sure it s OFF before you plug it in. Never leave an active power tool unattended. Unplug power tools before leaving the room and store them out of children s reach. Periodically inspect your power tools for frayed power cords and cracked or broken casings. If the product is damaged, have it repaired by a qualified technician, or replace it. Never carry tools by the cord and never yank the cord when removing it from a receptacle. When disconnecting the cord, always grasp the plug, not the wire. Look for the Mark when purchasing power tools, gardening appliances and electrical products. The Mark means representative samples of that product have been tested to stringent safety standards to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal injury hazards. For more safety tips for do-it-yourselfers, go to the.com Consumers perspective and look for the link on the seasonal safety tips. Good luck completing all of your New Year resolutions and stay safe. Managing Editor

3 The Code Authority.com Building Code Authorities Page Launched The Code Authorities pages of.com have been enhanced to better meet the needs of building officials. 03 Building and life safety codes rely on the use of tested and certified products to meet safety and performance objectives. Code authorities rely on to provide world-class safety certifications, standards and technical information on products regulated by these codes. In an effort to make this technical information more accessible to building officials, a suite of Building Code Authorities pages were added to the.com Code Authorities perspective. This new content is designed to provide technical information that is easy to locate, and in a format that coordinates with building code requirements. The Building Code Authorities home page can be found at It includes content and links to pages that focus on the following building code related topics. Contractor Certification Programs programs that certify qualified contractors for applying spray applied fire-resistive materials and through-penetration firestop, joint, and perimeter fire containment systems. Exterior walls certifications that are used on exterior wall constructions, including information on fire-resistance ratings, exterior wall coverings, metal composite materials and external insulation and finish systems (EIFS). Fire protection systems certified products used in automatic sprinkler, standpipe and other extinguishing systems; portable fire extinguishers; fire detection and annunciation systems; smoke control systems; and systems designed to assist emergency responders. Fire-resistance and smoke protection features evaluated materials, systems and assemblies used for structural fire resistance and fire-resistance-rated construction separation of adjacent spaces to safeguard against the spread of fire and smoke within a building and the spread of fire to or from buildings. Interior finish materials classified interior finish materials regulated by the building code, including products certified to 723 (ASTM E 84), 1715 and NFPA 286. Means of egress certified products used to comply with means of egress illumination, door hardware and exit signage requirements. Plastic and foamed plastic building materials certified foam plastic insulation, plastic veneer, interior plastic finish and trim and light-transmitting plastics that comply with requirements referenced in the building code. Roof assemblies certified roof assemblies, roofing materials, and roof deck constructions and materials investigated for fire performance, hail resistance and resistance to wind uplift. The Building Code Authorities pages are a tool that building officials and design professionals can use to provide safe, code-compliant buildings. by Howard Hopper For additional information on these web pages, please contact Howard Hopper at San Jose, Calif. at Howard.D.Hopper@us. ul.com or at Helpful hint Custom Designing Your.com Home Page s website includes a veritable wealth of information designed to meet the needs of a wide range of stakeholders, including code authorities, consumers, manufacturers, and personnel in a variety of industries located around the world. A Code Authorities perspective within.com consolidates information relevant to regulatory authorities and other interested industry professionals in an easy to navigate format. In order to enhance your web experience at.com, we recommend you designate the Code Authorities home page as your.com home page. This will allow your web browser to navigate to this page whenever you enter the.com website. The Code Authorities home page is located at Once you are on this page, check the box on the left that indicates Make this my Home Page. Selecting this will automatically navigate you to this page whenever you enter com. However, rest assured that it will NOT make this your web browser s overall home page.

4 The Code Authority Duct Tape Adhering to the Code 04 by Maggie Carroll It may look like ordinary duct tape, but will it perform as intended in the code? There are many duct tape products on the market but many can let you (and eventually the ductwork) down. Check to make sure those tapes used in sealing Listed air ducts have been properly listed and labeled for their intended application. Poorly performing tape can lead to a multitude of issues, for example: separation of ducts leading to inefficient energy use, clean air contamination or pest infiltration fire propagation and smoke generation hazards uncontrolled air flow, leading to mold and fungus growth premature HVAC equipment failure (due to stress on system attempting to maintain set temperatures) high energy cost to consumers (due to loss of heat/cooling air). To address these potential issues, model codes require duct tape used as air duct closure systems to be labeled and listed to 181A (for rigid fiberglass ducts) or to 181B (for flexible ducts). Model codes that require these labeled and listed products include: Model mechanical codes (such as NFPA 90A, the International Mechanical Code and the Uniform Mechanical Code) Key energy conservation codes (such as the International Energy Conservation Code, California Energy Commission requirements and US Department of Energy requirements) 181A and 181B were developed to specifically address concerns raised by AHJs and other professionals for this product in its expected use. Requirements for some of these tape types were originally published in a standard in 1981, with the most recent revisions published in Testing requirements include tensile strength, various peel and shear adhesion testing, freeze/thaw testing, surface burning characteristics testing, mold growth and humidity test, temperature/pressure cycling and burning test. Samples are tested at extreme high and low conditions to most closely duplicate the environments the products may encounter in the field. The requirements in these standards are maintained through an ANSI consensus process involving stakeholders from the HVAC industry, manufacturers, government, users, standards/testing organization and authorities having jurisdiction, among others. In addition to the duct tape, there is one more component to the air duct closures system to keep in mind for flexible ducts the mechanical fasteners (clamps) which are also evaluated to 181B. For proper application of the 181B-FX tapes (pressure-sensitive tapes for use with flexible air ducts), the requirement is typically two wraps with the tape and then the application of a listed and labeled mechanical fastener (clamp or draw band) identified as 181B-C to aid in ensuring that the assembly does not pull apart. Duct tapes complying with these standards are Listed under the Air Duct and Air Connector Closure Systems category (ALKW), which can be found in the Online Certifications Directory at database. Products Listed under this category have been investigated for use with Listed air ducts and air connectors of the types specified in the individual Listings. They are intended for use in accordance with the installation instructions provided with the Listed air ducts or air connectors.

5 The Code Authority 05 Verification of the proper marking (see sidebar below) will verify that the tape and mechanical fasteners used in installations have been evaluated for mechanical strength, material integrity, burning characteristics, and adhesion properties to ensure their proper use with the Listed air ducts. Tapes are also evaluated in accordance with 723 (ASTM E84) for flame spread and smoke developed to comply with code requirements for uses such as in plenums. The codes seem to agree all duct tapes are not created equal. Look for the Mark to affirm compliance with the standards referenced in the Code. You should also note that tests similar types of tapes, adhesives, caulking and sealants for 723 flame spread and smoke developed properties only, and not to the full complement of requirements used to certify duct closure systems. These products are Listed for use in accordance with mechanical and energy conservation code requirements that require 181A or 181B Listing, unless they are marked with the appropriate 181A or 181B markings. For more information on air duct and air connector closure systems, contact Maggie Carroll in San Jose, Calif. at or at Markings and Listings Products that comply with these requirements can be easily identified by their markings: The Listing Mark for these products includes the symbol, the word LISTED, a control number assigned by, and one or more of the following product designations: 181A 181A, Part I covers pressure-sensitive aluminum tapes identified as 181A-P for use with rigid fiberglass air ducts. 181A, Part II covers heat-activated aluminum tapes identified as 181A-H for use with rigid fiberglass air ducts. For these products, the marking should be visible every 36 inches along the length of the product. The marking should also include the manufacturer s name or symbol, model number, and date of manufacture. 181A, Part III covers mastic closure systems identified as 181A-M for use with rigid fiberglass air ducts. The marking should be visible on the container of mastic. The marking should also include the manufacturer s name or symbol, model number, date of manufacture, minimum time set of mastic and the words Since field temperature/humidity conditions may vary, longer set times may be required for specific installations. 181B 181B, Part I covers pressure-sensitive tapes identified as 181B-FX for use with flexible air ducts. The marking should be visible every 6 inches along the length of the product. The marking should also include the manufacturer s name or symbol, model number and manufacturer s location. 181B, Part II covers mastic closure systems identified as 181B-M for use with flexible air ducts. The marking should be visible on the container of mastic. The marking should also include the manufacturer s name or symbol, model number and date of manufacture. 181B, Part III covers mechanical fasteners identified as 181B-C for use with flexible air ducts (this marking may appear on the product or the smallest unit packaging). The marking should also include the manufacturer s name or symbol, model number, the max. diameter, the clamping tool to be used and the wording For use with Non-Metallic Air Ducts and Air Connectors on the smallest unit packaging.

6 The Code Authority 06 timate Fire Wizard Hits (continued from cover) experienced people just entering the profession, said Chris Hasbrook, vice president and General Manager of s Building Materials & Systems Industry. Given the value of fire-resistance-rated designs, developed the Wizard as a way to help architects, designers and code authorities to leverage the information commonly found in our directories and streamline the process for identifying the designs that meet project specifications. The online Wizard incorporates an intuitive process for entering design parameters, and even allows comments to be embedded in the search summary to assist in the design and material procurement process. It uses a simple three-step process to significantly reduce the time needed to identify suitable designs. A user first enters design parameters on the Wizard s convenient pull down menus, then views designs that meet the search parameters before selecting the designs that best meet project specifications. A search summary, identified as a design list can be viewed and printed out for future reference or as part of the construction plan package. To access the timate Fire Wizard go to For additional information on the timate Fire Wizard contact Rich Walke at Northbrook, Ill. at Richard.N.Walke@us.ul.com or at Test drive the timate Fire Wizard Follow these easy steps to test drive the new timate Fire Wizard. 1) Go to the Wizard home page at 2) Click on the center Search for a design that fits your needs link. A search box will open allowing you to enter design parameters, including the assembly type, construction group, protection type, hourly rating, and even keywords for design details. 3) Click the Search button and the Wizard will load the search results for your review. You can view designs by clicking on the individual Fire-resistance design numbers. 4) When the individual design opens scroll down to view the design details. If the design appears to meet your needs, you can add it to a design list of your selected designs. You can also add personalized comments on the design(s) selected, such as This is the design used in the Main Street Mall project or Use for East exterior wall. Click the Save button to save the design and any comments entered. 5) When you are finished reviewing and selecting designs, click the X in the top right portion of the screen to return to the main menu. 6) From the main menu you can print or view your selected designs along with any comments entered. You can also view and print the entire design list. The selected designs or design list may be included in the plan submittal package, or other project documentation. C s Jack Robertson retires In October Jack Robertson retired from C after serving more than 10 years in the Regulatory Services department. Jack worked out of Victoria, British Columbia and provided technical support for code officials throughout western Canada. Jack was an active participant in many Canadian code official conferences and meetings, and worked hard to assist code officials in finding safe, code compliant solutions. Prior to joining C Jack served as the Director of the Building Standards Branch with the province of British Columbia. His friends and colleagues will miss his sparkling personality and can-do attitude in helping to resolve product acceptance issues.

7 The Code Authority 07 Questions & Answers engineers answer questions concerning and its operations, Standards for Safety, product certifications, and the code applications for which products are certified. A means of egress door is required to have panic hardware that complies with section of the International Building Code. The hardware is required to be Listed in accordance with 305, and the force to unlatch the door cannot exceed 15 lbs. If panic hardware bears a Listing Mark, has it been tested to confirm it can unlatch with a maximum 15 lbs opening force? Yes, Listed panic hardware has been subjected to tests to verify that a horizontal force of 15 lbs or less on the actuating bar will activate the latch. In fact, the Standard for Safety for Panic Hardware, 305, includes a variety of performance tests to evaluate the ability of the panic hardware to operate as intended. These tests include operation before and after a 100,000 cycle endurance test, and after being conditioned at 400 F and 3 F. 305 also requires the actuating bar, also called the push pad or cross bar, to extend across not less than one half of the width of the door leaf. This is also consistent with Section requirements. This hardware is Listed under the Panic Hardware (FVSR) category. The Listing Mark appears on the hardware and includes the symbol, together with the word LISTED, a control number, and the product name Panic Hardware. For additional information on panic hardware, contact Howard Hopper in San Jose, Calif. at Howard.D.Hopper@us.ul.com or at Connect Regulatory Support Goes Mobile! Regulatory Services is proud to present Connect for the iphone and ipod touch delivering instant access to: Online Certification Directory Regulatory Support Code Correlation Database Access to.com Pocket guide to Inspections One-Touch Access

8 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PA I D 333 Pfingsten Road Northbrook, IL United States of America Permit No Northbrook, IL The Code Authority 08 Calendar of Events If you would like The Code Authority to consider publishing your upcoming events, contact Howard Hopper by at Howard.D.Hopper@us.ul.com. Please type TCA Calendar in the subject line. January 20 21, 2011 Labor-Management Initiative Conference Phoenix, AZ January 31 February 4, 2011 Educode training conference Las Vegas, NV February 7 12, 2011 NFPA Training Seminar Week Houston, TX February 17, 2011 Western Regional Fire Code Development Committee San Francisco, CA February 22-24, 2011 Electric West Long Beach, CA Visit us at booth 333 April 28-30, 2011 International Sign Expo Las Vegas, NV Visit us at booth 3448 The Code Authority Published by Regulatory Services Department of Underwriters Laboratories Available to assist regulatory authorities W:: ul.com/codeauthorities T:: E:: RegulatoryServices@us.ul.com Managing Editor Howard Hopper T:: E:: Howard.D.Hopper@us.ul.com Address changes and additions Diane Fonzino E:: Diane.E.Fonzino@us.ul.com All rights reserved. Reprints with permission of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. BDI