ASTM E3038-22a

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E3038 − 22 E3038 − 22a
Standard Practice for
Assessing and Qualifying Candidates as Inspectors of
Firestop Systems and Fire-Resistive Joint Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3038; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice is intended to assist an authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) or authorizing authority (AA), or both, in establishing
minimum qualifications for candidates who desire to conduct inspections in compliance with Practices E2174 and E2393.
NOTE 1—Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) is defined in Practices E2174 and E2393.
NOTE 2—Authorizing authority (AA) is defined in Practices E2174 and E2393. Examples of the AA include, but are not limited to, the responsible
architect, engineer, building owner, or their representative.
1.2 This practice makes available a procedure for a candidate to provide evidence to the AHJ or AA, or both, of their specialized
knowledge and technical competence related to the firestop industry.
1.3 This practice determines the technical proficiency of a candidate based upon a minimum amount of education, experience, and
knowledge possessed, which is needed to ensure candidate competence to conduct inspections in compliance with Practices E2174
and E2393.
1.4 The purpose of this practice is to allow the AHJ or AA, or both, to assess the ability of the candidate to comprehend and use
inspection documents to conduct inspections in compliance with Practices E2174 and E2393.
NOTE 3—Inspection document is defined in Practices E2174 and E2393. The firestop submittal, when approved for use, should have sufficient details,
including, but not limited to, the firestop manufacturer’s product data, a design listing of the tested firestop, and when required a judgment (Alternative
Means and Methods). The judgment is commonly referred to as an “Engineering Judgment” in the firestop industry. These judgments are not always
issued by an engineer or a registered design professional.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21 on Serviceability.
Current edition approved July 1, 2022Nov. 1, 2022. Published July 2022November 2022. Originally approved in 2016. Last previous edition approved in 20202022 as
E3038-20.-22. DOI: 10.1520/E3038-22.10.1520/E3038-22A.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E3038 − 22a
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E699 Specification for Agencies Involved in Testing, Quality Assurance, and Evaluating of Manufactured Building Components
E814 Test Method for Fire Tests of Penetration Firestop Systems
E1966 Test Method for Fire-Resistive Joint Systems
E2032 Practice for Extension of Data From Fire Resistance Tests Conducted in Accordance with ASTM E 119
E2174 Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Firestop Systems
E2307 Test Method for Determining Fire Resistance of Perimeter Fire Barriers Using Intermediate-Scale, Multi-story Test
Apparatus
E2393 Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire Resistive Joint Systems and Perimeter Fire Barriers
E2750 Guide for Extension of Data from Penetration Firestop System Tests Conducted in Accordance with ASTM E814
E2837 Test Method for Determining the Fire Resistance of Continuity Head-of-Wall Joint Systems Installed Between Rated Wall
Assemblies and Nonrated Horizontal Assemblies
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO/IEC 17020 Conformity assessment—Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection
ISO/IEC 17065 Conformity assessment—Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services
ISO 10295-1 Fire tests for building elements and components—Fire testing of service installations—Part 1: Penetration seals
ISO 10295-2 Fire tests for building elements and components—Fire testing of service installations—Part 2: Linear joint (gap)
seals
ISO/DTR 12470-1 Fire-resistance tests—Guidance on the application and extension of results from tests conducted on fire
containment assemblies and products—Part 1: Loadbearing elements and vertical and horizontal separating elements
2.3 UL Standards:
UL 1479 Standard for Fire Tests of Penetration Firestops
UL 2079 Standard for Tests for Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems
2.4 Other Documents:
FCIA Firestop Manual of Practice
FM 4991 Approval Standard for Firestop Contractors Class Number 4991
AC291 Accreditation Criteria for Special Inspection Agencies
8 9
IFC Firestop Inspection Manual
IFC Guidelines for Engineering Judgments
International Building Code
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Terms defined in Terminology E631, Terminology E176, and Specification E699 will prevail for terms not
defined in this Practice. Terminology E631 definitions shall apply when there is a conflict between Terminology E176,
Specification E699, and Terminology E631 definitions.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 candidate, n—the individual or company seeking the designation and recognition as a firestop industry inspector.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO Central Secretariat, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland,
http://www.iso.org.
Available from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), UL Solutions Headquarters, 333 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062, http://www.ul.com.
Available from Firestop Contractors International Association, 4415 W. Harrison Street, Suite 540, Hillside, IL 60162, https://www.fcia.org/FCIA-MANUAL-OF-
PRACTICE.
Available from FM Global, 270 Central Ave., Johnston, RI 02919-4949, http://www.fmapprovals.com/approval-standards.
Available from International Accreditation Service, 3060 Saturn Street, Suite 100, Brea, CA, 92821-1732, https://www.iasonline.org/resources/accreditation-criteria-
for-special-inspection-agencies-ac291/.
International Firestop Council, 2660 S. Utica Ave., Tulsa, OK 74114
Available from http://www.firestop.org/inspection-guidelines.html.
Available from http://www.firestop.org/engineering-judgement-guidelines.
International Building Code is a registered trademark of and available from International Code Council (ICC), 500 New Jersey Ave., NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC
20001, http://www.iccsafe.org.
E3038 − 22a
3.2.2 firestop industry, n—the field of work related to firestop systems and fire-resistive joint systems.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—
Fire-resistive joint systems are well known as described in Test Method E1966. However, Test Methods E2307 and E2837 also
address specific types of fire-resistive joint systems called perimeter joint protections (also known as perimeter fire barriers), and
continuity head-of-wall joint systems, respectively.
3.2.3 firestop industry inspector, n—the individual or company possessing the credentials set forth in this Practice, and who is
authorized by the AHJ or AA, or both, to conduct an inspection under Practices E2174 and E2393, or both.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 This Practice sets forth the minimum qualifications required to be eligible as a candidate to conduct inspections under Practices
E2174 and E2393.
4.2 This Practice sets forth the information that needs to be documented by the candidate and a procedure to submit that
information directly or indirectly to the AHJ or AA, or both.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This Practice is intended to provide a means for the AHJ or AA, or both, to verify evidence of a candidate’s experience,
knowledge, and qualifications.
5.2 This Practice is not intended to set forth individual credentials for an AHJ or AA, or both.
5.3 This Practice is not intended to establish any performance criteria of firestop systems or fire-resistive joint systems.
NOTE 4—The performance criteria of a firestop system or fire-resistive joint system is found in many national and international test methods. Some of
these methods include, but are not limited to, Test Method E814, UL 1479, ISO 10295-1, Test Method E1966, UL 2079, ISO 10295-2, Test Method E2307,
Test Method E2837, etc.
6. Procedure
6.1 The candidate shall be acceptable to the AHJ or AA, or both. The candidate shall meet at least one requirement in 6.2,
Prerequisites, and all of the requirements contained in 6.3, Inspector Qualifications.
6.2 Prerequisites—The candidate shall meet and provide documentation for at least one of the following requirements, which is
acceptable to the AHJ or AA, or both:
6.2.1 Have a minimum of two years of experience in building construction within the firestop industry conducting inspections
under the direction of an inspector; or
6.2.2 Have a minimum of two years of experience in the firestop industry conducting quality control; or
NOTE 5—Some methods used to assess quality control entities and systems include, but are not limited to: Specification E699 that provides a means for
evaluating agencies conducting quality control; ISO/IEC 17065 that affords a method to accredit organizations that oversee quality control processes;
ISO/IEC 17020 used to establish bodies performing inspection, etc.
6.2.3 Have a minimum four years of full-time (or at least 6160 h) experience in the selection or installation, or both, of firestop
systems or fire-resistive joint systems, or both; or
NOTE 6—“Full-time” is considered “working the full number of hours considered normal or standard.” One can reasonably estimate that there are ≈250
working days per year. The number of working days less a maximum of 30 days for allotted “days off,” which is commonly referred to as vacation
See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/full-time.
See http://www.workingdays.us/workingdays_holidays_2016.htm.
E3038 − 22a
and sick time, provides 220 working day
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