ASTM E2174-20a

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: E2174 − 20 E2174 − 20a
Standard Practice for
On-Site Inspection of Installed FirestopsFirestop Systems
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2174; 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 covers the establishing of procedures to inspect firestop products and firestop systems, including methods for
field verification and inspection.
NOTE 1—This practice is referenced in the International Building Code, Chapter 17, Special Inspections.
1.2 This practice addresses all types of firestop products that become firestop systems once installed to the tested and listed
system or judgment into fire resistive assemblies.
NOTE 2—Firestop System is defined in Test Method E814. Firestop products are the products used in constructing a firestop system.
1.3 This practice provides methods by which qualified inspectors verify that required firestops on a project have been installed
and that their installations are in accordance with the inspection documents.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C1241 Test Method for Volume Shrinkage of Latex Sealants During Cure
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
2.2 Other Standard:
UL 1479-94 Fire Tests of Through-Penetration Firestops
2.3 Other Document:
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 document.
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 April 1, 2020April 15, 2020. Published June 2020. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20192020 as E2174-19.-20.
DOI: 10.1520/E2174-20.10.1520/E2174-20A.
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 Underwriters Laboratories (UL), 2600 N.W. Lake Rd., Camas, WA 98607-8542, http://www.ul.com.
Available from International Code Council (ICC), 500 New Jersey Ave., NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, http://www.iccsafe.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2174 − 20a
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 accredited testing laboratory—a company engaged in conducting testing and possesses a valid evaluation report for testing
services and is recognized by the AHJ.
3.2.2 authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)—the designated authority, or their duly authorized representative, charged with the
administration and enforcement of the local fire code or building code, or both.
3.2.3 authorizing authority (AA)—the designated person, or organization, or their duly authorized representative, charged with
the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this inspection document.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—
Examples of the AA include the responsible architect, engineer, building owner, or their representative.
3.2.4 evaluation report—an approved document issued by the Model Code Body Evaluation Service or by the AHJ.
3.2.5 inspection document—any information provided to the inspector by the AA that is to be used as the basis for the inspection
process. This information shall include, but is not limited to, project specifications, contract drawings, Listed Designs, judgments,
manufacturer’s instructions and designs, building codes, and other documentation.
3.2.5.1 Discussion—
The approved firestop submittal typically includes the firestop manufacturer’s product data, a design listing of the tested firestop
system or the engineering judgment design with illustrated drawings or descriptive text or both for the purpose of verifying each
installation and conducting the field-inspection procedures.
3.2.6 inspection form—the document contained in this standard practice that is used to record information obtained during the
inspection(s).
3.2.7 inspector—an individual meeting the qualifications set forth in this document and who performs the inspection.
3.2.8 judgment—an evaluation of a field condition which does not conform to an existing tested and listed system.
3.2.8.1 Discussion—
Judgments are expected to be issued by a manufacturer or an accredited testing laboratory on the basis of an appropriate
combination of engineering principles and testing.
3.2.8.2 Discussion—
The judgment is commonly referred to as an “Engineering Judgment” in the firestopping industry. These judgments are not always
issued by engineers.
3.2.8.3 Discussion—
Some AHJs allow a judgment by the manufacturer if there is no tested and listed system for the non-typical condition, others do
not. Most AHJs will allow judgments by accredited testing laboratories.
3.2.9 listing label—identification applied to the product that includes the name of a quality assurance agency indicating that a
representative sample of the product or material has been tested and evaluated by the quality assurance agency.
3.2.10 quality assurance agency—a company that is engaged in conducting inspections, or certification, or listing and labeling
services, or any combination, and possessing a valid evaluation report for quality assurance and is recognized by the AHJ.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 This practice sets forth the minimum requirements to qualify an inspector to use this practice.
4.2 This practice identifies the types of firestops subject to the inspection procedures outlined in this practice.
4.3 This practice provides the minimum information required to verify compliance of installed firestops with inspection
documents.
4.4 This practice provides a standard inspection form that is to be used when inspecting firestop products and firestop systems.
4.5 This practice provides a standard report format that is to be used when reporting the inspection results.
E2174 − 20a
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This practice is intended to provide a standard set of guidelines that are to be followed when conducting and reporting on
inspections of installed firestop systems.
5.2 This practice is intended to provide a means to verify compliance of the installed firestop systems to the inspection
documents.
5.3 This practice is not intended to provide a basis for selecting installers or products or both.
5.4 This practice is not intended to establish any performance criteria of the inspected firestop systems.
6. Inspector
6.1 Qualifications—An inspector shall be acceptable to the AHJ and shall meet at least one of the following requirements:
6.1.1 Meet the criteria contained in Specification E699 for agencies involved in quality assurance; or
6.1.2 Have a minimum of two years experience in construction field inspections and have education, credentials, and experience
acceptable to the AA; or
6.1.3 Be a quality assurance agency accredited by the AHJ.
6.2 Conflicts of Interest:
6.2.1 The inspector shall be completely independent of, and divested from, the installer, contractor, manufacturer, or supplier
of any material being inspected.
6.2.2 The inspector shall not be a competitor of the installer, contractor, manufacturer, or supplier of any material being
inspected.
6.3 The inspector shall submit notarized statements to the AA assuring compliance with 6.2.
6.4 The inspector shall make a written submission to the AA requesting acceptance. If accepted, the AA shall present the
inspector with written confirmation of acceptance.
7. Inspection Documents
7.1 The inspection documents shall be reviewed by and acceptable to the AA and AHJ.
7.2 The AA shall be responsible for ensuring that the inspection documents do not contain conflicting information.
7.3 The AA shall provide the inspector with a complete set of inspection documents at least ten working days prior to the
inspection. The inspector shall review all inspection documents prior to conducting any inspection. When the inspector believes
that the inspection documents contain conflicting information or documentation that the inspector believes is insufficient to perform
the inspection, the inspector shall submit written notification of the potential conflict and obtain written clarification from the AA
before conducting any inspection.
7.4 As part of the inspection documents, Listed Designs shall be provided for every firestop, as a reference against which to
compare the installation. As an alternative for every case where a Listed Design does not exist for a particular application, a
judgment issued by the firestop product manufacturer or an accredited testing laboratory, and acceptable to the AHJ, shall be
provided as a reference against which to compare and inspect the installation.
8. Materials
8.1 The inspector shall verify that the materials and systems used for firestopping have been tested in accordance with Test
Method E814 or UL 1479-94, and are listed and labeled for the use intended.
NOTE 3—Listed and labeled refers to materials, devices or assemblies that have been tested by an accredited testing laboratory after which the test
results and description of the materials, devices or assemblies are published by an accredited quality assurance agency and the materials, devices or
assemblies bear a Listing Label.
8.2 All materials shall bear a Listing Label as defined in 3.2.9. Manufacturer’s container labels shall include the manufacturer’s
name, product name and product description. Other components of the firestop shall also be identifiable by labeling or other
method approved by the AHJ.
8.3 All materials shall be exactly as identified on the inspection documents.
8.4 All materials used in firestop systems shall have been tested or evaluated as part of the system in accordance with Test
Method E814 or UL 1479-94 as required by the building code or fire code, or both.
9. Inspection Schedule
9.1 The inspector and installer shall mutually agree upon a schedule for the notification of the following:
9.1.1 Inspection of firestop materials,
9.1.2 Start of installation, and
9.1.3 Anticipated completion of inspection.
E2174 − 20a
9.2 The inspection schedule shall not interfere with the installation process.
9.3 The installer shall notify the inspector within one working day when any item agreed to on the schedule must be changed
due to unforeseen circumstances, such as material delays, project change orders, or other installation conflicts.
10. Inspection
10.1 The inspector shall be permitted to enter the premises to review the applicable inspection documents, to observe the
installation in progress, to inspect completed work and to perform overall functions relative to their duty as inspector.
10.2 The inspector shall use the inspection documents in 7.3 to identify and locate fire rated assemblies on the project that are
subject to the installation of firestops.
10.3 The installer shall notify the inspector of the arrival of the materials (described in 8.1 – 8.4 inclusive) as agreed to in 9.1.
10.4 Prior to installation, the inspector shall verify that all materials received for the installation of the firestop meet the
requirements of 8.1 – 8.4 inclusive and record this information on the inspection form.
10.5 Prior to installation, the inspector shall verify any construction detail on the inspection documents that will not be visible
after the firestop installation and record this information on the inspection form.
10.6 The inspector shall not supervise or in any manner direct any aspect of the installation process. This includes, but is not
limited to, the following:
10.6.1 Handling and storage of materials,
10.6.2 The mixing of materials,
10.6.3 The cutting or fastening of materials, and
10.6.4 The preparation of substrates.
10.7 When work is started or completed per the schedule in Section 9, the installer shall notify the inspector. Inspection of
completed work shall take place within two working days from notification by the installer.
10.8 The inspector shall verify and document that the firestop systems required in the inspection documents have been installed.
10.9 The inspector shall verify that every firestop system inspected as required by
...