Fireproofing a commercial building is vital, and it is your best investment against fire, to protect the structure and the lives inside. Sprayed, intumescent, or rigid board fireproofing minimizes damage, slows the fire, and delays any potential collapse to give those inside more time to escape. Passive fireproofing, combined with the active fire protection of sprinklers and alarms, is required in most municipalities to comply with fire codes for hospitals, schools, and other public spaces.

Oaks Brothers Inc. is your specialty commercial exteriors and insulation expert with decades of experience and fireproofing systems to protect your real estate investment and everyone inside.

What’s the best fireproofing system for my building and why?

Fireproofing is applied in several different ways to the structural surfaces of a commercial or industrial building. Depending on the fireproofing you choose, application to the steel structure will prevent buckling and delay collapse. Fireproofing can also be applied to concrete walls and roofs. 

Protecting and fireproofing your structure is typically applied with one of the following: spray/cementitious, CAFCO-board, or Intumescent paint.

Sprayed fireproofing 

Spray-applied Fire Resistive Materials, or SFRM, are sprayed onto surfaces of the building for easy and efficient coverage. Sprayed fireproofing is a cost-effective way to meet local building codes and can provide protection to floors, roof assemblies, steel beams, columns, and joists.

Cementitious Fireproofing

Cementitious fireproofing is an SFRM, which is made from cement or gypsum and is mixed with aggregates. When sprayed onto steel and concrete, it is a cost-effective way to protect a building. Cementitious fireproofing is a coating that hardens and forms an insulating layer to prevent heat from being transferred.

CAFCO-board fireproofing 

CAFCO-board fireproofing is a rigid, compressed mineral wool strand and resin board that is made up of recycled materials. The board, which also blocks sound, is fastened to the structure to prevent fire damage. It is often wrapped around a building’s structural elements, including beams, columns, floors, and roofs. It’s easy to install and is often used in areas where spraying is not possible.

Intumescent fireproofing

Intumescent fire coating, or IFRM, is lightweight and applied like paint. It can be color-coated to blend with a building’s design. When exposed to heat, it swells and chars to protect and insulate the steel, wood, and drywall underneath. The carbonaceous foam layer slows the fire by protecting the structure for up to 3 hours, allowing more time for evacuations.

Oaks Brothers Inc. can help you choose the best fireproofing to not only protect your building but also to enhance its aesthetics. With our expertise in Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems, or EIFS, we can install the best fireproofing system for your structure.

What services are included in fireproofing?

It is always important to ask which services a contractor provides with a fireproofing installation. Does the scope of work involve not only applying the fireproofing cementitious or intumescent materials, but also the management of permitting and inspection schedules, as well as maintenance? 

You can also ask about how the contractor guards against dust and debris, and whether they offer any active fireproofing services, such as sprinklers, fire alarms, extinguishers, or integrated life safety doors.

Getting a detailed breakdown of the scope of work included will help you ensure the best contractor and outcome for your investment.

What experience do they have with fireproofing?

Asking for references, how long the fireproofing company has been in business, and any other information about previous fireproofing work will help you determine whether a fireproofing contractor is a good fit for your building.

Ask about similar projects and what kinds of buildings – commercial, industrial, or residential – the contractor has worked on. Fireproofing contractors with experience installing Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems, or EIFS, will have more hands-on experience with the materials they are coating.

Finally, as you put together a fireproofing plan for your building, ask whether the contractor focuses only on passive fire protection – coatings and barriers – or whether they also offer active systems – such as sprinklers and alarms.

Are they licensed, bonded, and insured? 

It is important that your fireproofing contractor be licensed and bonded in your state or region and that their technicians are certified.

In addition to asking for references from other customers about their work, a contractor who is licensed, bonded, and insured guarantees they have met state requirements for competence and have secured a surety bond for consumer protection against poor work or failure to pay subcontractors. 

Check their general liability insurance, too. That way, you can be sure they can cover any potential damage or any accidents or injuries that might occur, in order to protect your assets from claims. 

To verify that a fireproofing contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured, just go to your state’s Labor and Industries website.

Who performs the work?

While a commercial fireproofing contractor may provide everything your building needs to protect it against fire, it’s important to find out who will be performing the work. Are they certified in-house technicians or subcontractors?

Subcontractors should be licensed and insured, while any technician, even in-house, should hold up-to-date certifications to ensure they meet industry standards for quality and safety.

Among the certifications to look for are ones from the manufacturer, such as Isolatek, to prove that the technician is licensed to purchase and install their products, whether they are CAFCO, Sprayfilm, or Intumescent coating systems.

There are also state certifications and contractor organization certifications, like the National Fireproofing Contractors Association. Check your fireproofing contractor for certifications in your state and for the product they will be installing.

Oaks Brothers’ technicians hold a wide range of certifications from the states they work in, as well as for the products they install, to ensure a quality outcome that will last for years. 

Compliance with local fire safety codes?

As you invest in fireproofing for your commercial building, ensure that the contractor’s work meets the latest local codes and that their installers are manufacturer-trained for each system. Among the codes and certifications are IBC, NFPA, and AHJ.

• IBC – International Building Code regulations protect against fire hazards.
• NFPA certifications are the industry standard for fire safety.
• AHJ – Authority Having Jurisdiction is responsible for enforcing codes and fire safety.

And finally, ask your fireproofing contractor how they document their work and track compliance with local codes to ensure your building is covered..

How much does commercial fireproofing cost?

Commercial fireproofing can range from $2 a square foot to $12 a square foot, depending on the complexity of the project. This cost typically covers passive cementitious or intumescent systems, while active systems – such as sprinklers or smoke alarms – will add to that cost. 

Fireproofing costs will also vary depending on whether the building is under construction, which is a more budget-friendly install, or is older and in need of retrofitting. The size of the building and more complex layouts will also make a difference in the cost.

Be sure to request a detailed cost breakdown that covers the materials, labor, and any extra work involved, as well as information on warranties or follow-up services. That way you can compare contractors and the costs associated with each item to ensure you get the best quality and value for your investment.

Warranty/quality control on materials and labor?

Once your building is fireproofed, it is important that your contractor ensures its protection for years to come. That’s why it’s in your best interest to ask about ongoing maintenance and inspections before you commit.

Find out if they offer thermal imaging to check the condition of fireproofing materials for delamination, thin coating, or gaps to make sure repairs can be made and the building remains protected. Thickness checks, which use specialized gauges to measure sprayed or painted coatings, ensure fire-resistive materials maintain their proper density.

Quality assurance and quality control during installation also prevent problems before they can occur. Find out what your contractor’s QA/QC process is for your peace of mind.

Fire Protection Services from Oaks Brothers Inc.

Oaks Brothers Inc., the best commercial fireproofing contractor in Arkansas and throughout the Southeast United States, specializes in spray, intumescent, and rigid board fireproofing to protect against structural damage and loss of life. 

As exterior cladding experts, we can help you choose the right fireproofing material for your commercial or industrial building, without compromising aesthetics.

We have decades of experience fireproofing hospitals, schools, and other large commercial buildings in the Southeast, including the Oklahoma City Convention Center; the Don W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium at the University of Arkansas; the Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, Mississippi; the Unity Health building in Searcy, Arkansas; and the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville.

Contact Oaks Brothers today to find out how we can protect your building from fire and safeguard the lives of everyone inside.