SBCA Continually Advocates for a Common Sense, Fact-Based Approach to Fire Safety

Editor’s Note: SBC Industry News has recently shared a series of firefighter-related news items that has made us reflect on the IRC code change proposal effectively banning the use of trusses and I-joists from residential markets that have basements. The news items contained in this SBC Industry News-Special Edition! provide a retrospective on the facts surrounding the need for a ½” gypsum wallboard membrane to be applied to everything but 2x10 floor joists that became part of the 2012 model code. It is clear this code change has altered the free market to favor 2x10s, where all other structural floor member alternatives are now more expensive. This is important news from a public policy point of view so we have included hyperlinks to other recent, related news items, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

The following public comment was offered by SBCA as a counter-proposal to the original AWC RB31-09/10 proposal.

RB31-09/10

R302.7, Chapter 44

Individual Consideration Agenda

This item is on the agenda for individual consideration because a public comment was submitted.

Public Comment:

Name: Larry Wainright, Qualtim, Representing the Structural Building Components Association

Delete and Replace the proposal as follows:
R302.7 Fire protection of floors. Floor assemblies, not required elsewhere in this code to be fire resistance rated, shall be provided with a ½ inch (12.7 mm) gypsum wallboard membrane, 5/8 inch (15.9 mm) wood structural panel membrane, or  equivalent on the underside of light frame construction.

Exceptions:
1. Floor assemblies located directly over a space protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section P2904, NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R or NFPA 13.
2. Floor assemblies located directly over a crawl space not intended for storage or fuel-fired appliances.
3. Portions of floor assemblies can be unprotected when complying with the following:
3.1 The aggregate area of the unprotected portions shall not exceed 80 square feet per story
3.2 Fire blocking in accordance with Section R302.11.1 shall be installed along the perimeter of the unprotected portion to separate the unprotected portion from the remainder of the floor assembly.

Add new standard to Chapter 44 as follows:
NFPA 13R—07 Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies Up to and Including Four Stories in height

Reason:
RB31-09/10 merely proposes to require a minimum of ½” gypsum wallboard on all unprotected floor assemblies with exceptions for sprinklered buildings and certain crawlspaces. SBCA’s position on this subject is to provide a requirement that applies equally to all building component types and does not provide a competitive advantage to specific types of construction where they would be exempt from the requirements.

Click here to see statistics of firefighter deaths. It is a global report that shows all firefighter deaths and their causes from 1980-2011. This report shows that less than 5% of all firefighter deaths occur from injuries sustained in structural collapses. Of the total structural products involved in firefighter deaths with roughly 60% involve conventionally framed systems and 13% involving trusses.

The following spreadsheet is a list of NIOSH reports showing firefighter fatalities that involved a structural collapse. Of those reports, 11 involved firefighter deaths from the collapse of solid sawn floor joist and roof construction and 9 (with potentially 2 more) involved I-joists, MPC wood trusses, and steel trusses combined. This shows that there is no compelling evidence to suggest that engineered products are any more dangerous than solid sawn materials in real fire situations.

Links to the full NIOSH reports are included for more details.

Related Articles:

• NIOSH Data Affirms AWC/NAHB Approach to Firefighter Safety not Fact Based
• Heroism: Remembering Another April Firefighter Death Linked to 2x Floor Joists
• AWC & NAHB Author Original Code Change Proposals Effectively Banning Floor Truss and I-joist Use
• How Floor Trusses Became an Endangered Species, the Politics of it All
• AWC/NAHB Provision Eliminates Free Market for Floor Trusses & I-Joists in Ohio
• SBCA Continually Advocates for a Common Sense, Fact-Based Approach to Fire Safety
• If 60% of Structure-Related Firefighter Deaths Occur in Conventionally-Framed Buildings, Protect Everything Equally
• Colerain Fire Reports & Videos Where 2 Firefighter Died from Fall Through Unprotected Floor Joists
• Remembering April 4, 2008: Colerain Ohio Residence, 2 Firefighter Fatalities from Fall Through Unprotected Floor Joists
• Deck Attached to Floor Trusses Dramatically Saves Construction Worker's Life in Apartment Building Fire
• 2 Firefighters Perish Battling Unprotected Basement Floor Joist Fire
• 3 Firefighters Injured in Roof Joist Constructed Building Fire