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temperature tops -10 C for only four months each year, Adler had to be innovative in the application process. The company developed a multi-stage application process. Stage one saw Adler working in the warmer environment of Whitehorse, where installers applied the material to some beams. Those beams were then flown to Cambridge Bay to be installed. Stage two involved the fireproofing of beams on site, where Adler subcontractors utilized numerous portable heaters to keep the application station warmer than -10 C. Intumescent coating isn't the only product Adler is working with these days. The company noticed an upswing in requests for epoxy intumescent materials as well. This material can handle exceptionally high heat and it weighs less than intumescent and cementitious products. Epoxy intumescent materials are more expensive, but for certain applications, the cost of the material is offset by the savings elsewhere. For example, companies that build modular structures for pipes, electrical systems and other oil well infrastructure, in Alberta's petroleum patches, are turning to epoxy intumescent materials. The weight reduction means lower costs to transport structures from build sites to wells. "I think for now, designers are just exploring the cost benefits of epoxy for mods," Cruickshank says. As the various benefits are realized, Adler's epoxy fireproofing business will grow even more. Refreshed protection for older structures Adler sees business opportunities among customers building new structures. Meanwhile, Affinity Firestop Consultants Inc. often assists clients with older buildings. One customer recently hired Affinity to review the fire barrier systems and provide an audit in its corporate headquarters, built in the 1980s. The audit commenced within the parking garage below the office tower, which makes sense, says Affinity principal Rob Hlady. Garages have cars full of fuel, electrical services where surges can occur and mechanical systems that can also feed a potential fire. Those elements make garages especially dangerous if a spark produces flame. The client asked Affinity to verify that the building was up to the latest fire codes. It wasn't. The edifice lacked sufficient fireproofing and firestopping. In certain places the fireproofing had been damaged as the occupants added data cables and other modern systems. Some parts of the building had no fireproofing or firestopping at all. That was no surprise, Hlady says, since the structure was built before firestopping regulations and enforcement came into effect. Over four months, Affinity inspected remediation of the fire resistant materials that was performed by the firestopping contractor. Hlady's team created design documents and schedules to detail the repairs. The detailed documents provided the contractor with current NBCC requirements for a two-hour FT firestop system for all existing service penetrations from the garage to the office levels. The detailing indicated that the metal pipes would have to be covered by thermal ceramic pipe wraps to maintain the integrity of the FT rating. Now, the current building code requirements have been met in this portion of the building, which suits the owner's corporate safety-conscious stance. "They now apply the same due diligence at the head office as they do in the operational areas," Hlady says. Better inspections and training save lives Another company, ProFire Safety Services, inspects hundreds of buildings each year for clients concerned about fire protection. According to CEO Mahendra Patel, customers appreciate his firm's comprehensive service. "Many fire protection companies only inspect alarms and others strictly cover sprinklers, or fire extinguishers and emergency lighting," Patel says. "We combine all of those areas. Why have two or three contractors?" He explains the trouble building owners and managers experience when they work with numerous specialty firms: "The sprinkler system is tied in to the fire panel. When a mechanical company inspects the sprinklers, they understand the mechanical side of the equation, but they might not fully understand the fire alarm aspects. Usually, the fire alarm company has to come out and bypass the panel so the mechanical company can work on the sprinkler system. And the fire alarm company has to come back and reset the system when the mechanical company is finished." Those additional steps – and service providers – increase the time and cost for inspections. ProFire does it all, saving customers time and money. Rounding out its services, Patel's crew offers fire warden training. "If there's an emergency and you have to evacuate the building, these are the people who will don the orange hats and vests, and they'll lead everyone else to safety," he says. Fire drills are important aspects of that training. Drills let people run through the safety procedures. Conducted annually, these dry runs may help save lives. "You learn which stairwell to take, who to follow and where to meet. You learn the quickest and safest way out of the building. And you figure it all out well before an actual fire happens, when it might be too late to learn," Patel says. Sometimes, people seem to miss the point. Patel recalls an individual at one building who insisted that the drills should be conducted after business hours or on weekends to avoid work disruptions. "When we and other companies in the fire protection business do a good job and the fire department does a good job, people become complacent. They think, 'It'll never happen to me,' but we're working to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone. And part of the solution is ensuring people are prepared." n photoS courteSy aDler inSulation & fireStopping december 2014 /55 Fire Protection Systems