Fire protection is one of those things that can be easily forgotten about until you need it. And then it’s too late. As an authorized distributor of 3MTM products, Agilix Solutions helps customers put their industry-standard solutions to work for a wide variety of applications – including fire protection. In this article, we’ll explore some of the revolutionary fire protection products 3MTM has developed to help companies meet compliance requirements and reduce the risk of damage and injury due to fire.
3M Fire Protection Products
3M Firestop & Fireblock Foams
When it comes to foam solutions, you’ll find two general categories: fireblock and firestop. So what’s the difference, and which foam solution is best suited to your application? The first major differentiator is that fireblock foam is installed in non-rated construction, which eliminates the need to provide a UL System Detail to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). It resists the free passage of flame through a building and is approved as a fireblock. Firestop foam on the other hand is used in rated construction and must be installed according to a UL System Detail. It’s designed to contain a fire for a rated period of time, depending on how it’s used. Firestop foam is tested to ASTM E814, which is the “Standard Test Method for Fire Tests of Through-Penetration Fire Stops.”
So what happens if firestop foam is used in non-rated construction? It might be overengineered and more expensive than what’s necessary, but it won’t cause any harm. Conversely, using fireblock foam in rated construction could allow fire to penetrate the rated assembly and spread between rooms and floors quickly, putting lives and property at severe risk.
Firestop Sealants from 3M
3MTM’s Firestop Sealant
products are designed specifically to keep smoke and noxious gas from spreading between spaces in your facility. The pipes and cables traveling throughout your buildings create gaps between walls and floors. 3M’s fire barrier sealants are designed to fill those spaces with a focus on easy application and excellent adhesion.
3MTM offers firestop sealants in a variety of solutions and sizes, ensuring they have the right formula for your needs:
3MTM Fire Barrier Sealant IC 15WB+
This is a latex sealant designed for use as a one-part fire, smoke, and toxic gas sealant. It’s been tested up to three hours in accordance with ASTM E 814 (UL 1479). It has an STC sound barrier rating of 54 when tested in a STC 54-rated wall assembly and provides an L-Rating for smoke seal. It’s water-based, allowing for easy cleanup and routine disposal without special handling requirements. It features a halogen-free and no-sag formulation and boasts a tack-free drying time of 8 – 12 minutes at 73°F.
3MTM Fire Barrier Sealant CP 25WB+
This is a high-performance, intumescent latex-based sealant offering outstanding fire performance in a non-halogen formula. Approved for the majority of caulk-through penetration systems, it’s firestop tested up to four hours in accordance with ASTM E 814 (UL 1479). It has the same STC sound barrier rating of 54 and L-Rating for smoke seal as the IC 15WB+ formula.
3MTM Fire Barrier Sealant FD 150+
This formula offers an economical alternative to costly firestopping applications. It’s used to firestop metal pipes or cables through concrete or gypsum, and in dynamic head-of-wall systems. It matches the four-hour firestop rating of the 25WB+ offering, while also offering a Fire Resistive Joint System tested up to 4 hours. Water-based for easy cleanup and disposal, it remains pliable to allow for normal pipe movement and dries tack-free in 30 – 60 minutes.
3MTM Fire Barrier Water Tight Sealants
3MTM offers three different formulas of Fire Barrier Water Tight Sealant products. The Fire Barrier Water Tight Sealant 3000 WT Intumescent Sealant forms a barrier to fire and water in through penetrations. It’s a high-performance sealant designed specifically to prevent moisture intrusion while protecting buildings and occupants against the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gas.
The 3MTM Fire Barrier Water Tight Sealant 1000 NS (non-slump) and 1003 SL (self-leveling) are ready-to-use, one-component silicone elastomers. They’re both formulated to cure upon exposure to atmospheric humidity to form a flexible seal. Both remain elastomeric after application and provide weather resistance. They bond to most common construction materials making them extremely versatile.
Putties & Mortars for Moldable Protection
3MTM Fire Barrier Molded Putty Stix MP+
is a one-part, ready-to-use, re-enterable, intumescent putty that can be easily formed to firestop through penetrations and blank openings in fire-rated assemblies. It’s often used to fill voids in large openings or complex firestop systems. 3MTM Fire Barrier Moldable Putty Pads MPP+ are a one-part firestop material used in a variety of fire-rated assemblies, like electrical box protection and wall openings. It comes ready to use in thick pads. Both putty solutions carry up to 4-hours fire ratings per ASTM E 814 (UL 1479), have an L-rating for smoke seal, and offer an STC Sound Barrier Rating of 52 when tested in an STC 56-rated wall assembly.
3MTM Fire Barrier Mortar is a lightweight, non-structural cementitious firestop product with variable mix ratios for use in through penetration applications. It offers up to 3-hour fire protection in tested and listed systems and comes ready to mix with potable water. Its variable mix ratio enables both self-leveling and no-sag application consistencies and it boasts excellent adhesion, bonding to concrete, metals, wood, plastic, and cable jacketing.
And We’re Just Getting Started…
We’ve really just covered a small slice of the fire protection products 3MTM has developed to protect your people and ensure your structure meets compliance for fire protection. Reach out to your local Agilix Solutions branch to connect with a 3M™ expert who can help you quickly navigate through the extensive 3MTM product offering to identify a short list of suitable systems for your specific applications.