Providing Superior Fireproofing Solutions Since 1982
If your commercial property in the Houston area requires effective firestopping solutions to meet code or further enhance the safety of occupants and property within the structure, you want to work with a team of specialists intimately familiar with the technologies, techniques and materials important for effective, efficient firestopping solutions.
Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing specializes in installing and maintaining firestopping systems for commercial buildings, and we can help you find the perfect options to meet your obligations, ensure the safety of people and your investment and keep upfront and long-term costs under control.
Call our Houston office at (281) 999-7000 or contact us online to learn more about commercial firestopping solutions from Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing.
Commercial Firestopping Systems
Commercial firestopping involves a variety of systems designed to meet different considerations. Firestopping’s role begins with measures you take to prevent a fire from starting, extends into measures intended to limit the spread of fire and culminates in measures to keep occupants and property as safe as possible if a fire spreads beyond a small area.
While your commercial property may only be required to meet key regulatory standards, there are many reasons and methods to further protect your investment against one of the most potentially costly and destructive events your building could face. We do this by implementing appropriate firestopping to meet your needs.
Firestopping encompasses a wide variety of materials and assemblies used to provide passive fire protection in a building. To achieve this, we use firestopping such as:
Fire-resistant insulation, such as mineral wool, to slow the spread of fire
Fireproof or flame-resistant materials and assemblies for windows, doors and walls
Fire-rated joint assemblies, which keep heat-related expansion from causing catastrophic structural damage
Fire-rated cable penetrations, which ensure the openings used for cables and other penetrants don’t compromise firestopping materials
Many other specialty products and custom assemblies that maintain firestopping potential in a building without compromising its function
Call (281) 999-7000 today to learn more about the commercial firestopping solutions we may implement in your Houston building.
Why Firestopping Matters for Houston Buildings
Firestopping is one of the first and final lines of defense against serious damage and loss of life from a fire inside your building. In the worst-case scenario, fireproofing gives people time to exit the building; in most cases, it gives you time to extinguish the fire with minimal damage and harm.
Firestopping solutions aren’t just best practices and a sound investment; some level of firestopping in your construction is legally mandated through various fire codes. You may also have further stipulations for your fireproofing as part of your insurance, membership in industry organizations, etc.
Firestopping as Part of Your Fire Protection System
The systems that can extinguish a fire all need time to work. That’s time you won’t have in a building that burns too quickly, which allows a fire to spread from room to room at a shocking pace.
Active fire protection systems prevent fires from starting and can extinguish fires before they spread and cause major damage — but in the middle, you have your passive firestopping, slowing the flames and giving you much-needed time to resolve the emergency.
Firestopping FAQ
What’s the difference between firestopping and fireproofing?
Part of making sure your new build meets local fire codes is ensuring it has complete fire protection. This protection includes a combination of firestopping and fireproofing. Firestopping systems work to stop fires from spreading from one area to another. Fireproofing protects the structural portions of your building to prevent collapse or serious damage.
Where do you apply fire caulking?
As part of a firestopping system, fire caulking is a sealant that’s usually applied around penetrations like pipes, around doors or at joints between adjoining walls or floors. The fire caulking in your building should prevent the spread of smoke or gases in the event of a fire.
Do you have to firestop both sides of a wall?
Some components of a firestopping system can be applied to one side of the wall only, but some materials should cover both sides for comprehensive fire protection. For example, fire caulking is applied to both sides. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced contractor, like Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing, to make sure your building has an effective firestopping system.
Where is firestopping required?
Firestopping is required by local and national codes in most commercial buildings. A firestopping system is used to seal any penetration to prevent smoke or gas from spreading throughout the building. This could include flooring, wall assemblies and ceilings between floors of the building.
Why Choose Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing for Commercial Firestopping?
When you need commercial firestopping solutions, you want to work with a team that intimately understands the ins and outs of the products involved, how to work with construction and building maintenance and how to put you in a position to control the safety of your building with a complete understanding of how your system works and what it can do.
Our team has specialized training direct from the manufacturers of top firestopping materials, handles all the necessary paperwork and testing to keep your building perfectly in compliance and can minimize liability, costs and paperwork headaches.
Call (281) 999-7000 or contact us online today to start a commercial firestopping project in the Houston area.
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Client Testimonials
Alpha is performing well on the UT Scaffold Center project. Alpha’s personnel assigned to the project have been respectful of others and have executed their work plan safely. The completed waterproofing of the existing grade walls, elevator pit, and dock leveler were coordinated closely with grading and concrete trade partners. These installations met project schedule, budget, and quality objectives.
Toby Lilliston, DPR Construction
It is my pleasure to recommend Alpha Insulation & Waterproofing, Inc. as a preferred contractor for the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin…I am pleased to say that they are part of our desired team of contractors that make our projects a success.
Ryan Schulze, City of Milwaukee
Alpha is a hands on company that has the knowledge and vision to deliver a quality product to the customer. What impressed us the most about Alpha was their follow up; they truly care about their scope. They want to be the best and it showed at the end of the day.
Aaron Burns, Crossland Construction Company
I had the great fortune of working with Alpha on a recent TDADS (Health and Human Services) project. Alpha played a pivotal role in the project passing on the first inspection. Their problem solving and timely issue resolution proved to be immeasurable. We thank Alpha for the tremendous job they did for us and for really making us look good to the client.
J.P. Waller, The Beck Group
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