SESSION 36

 

• ​Technical Sessions

• Product Spotlight - Giatec Scientific, Inc.

• Product Spotlight

​​

.............................................

​

Investigating ICF Wall Construction Meeting the Requirements of NFPA 285

Description: Exterior walls play a critical role in building appearance as well as sustainability and energy performance. However, combustible components of exterior walls pose a significant risk to fire safety as they contribute to fire spread, causing fires to grow in intensity. The risks posed to life safety have been under significant focus following high profile, large loss fatal building façade fires such as Grenfell Tower, and continue to be scrutinized following the more recent fatal apartment fire in Valencia.  
The International Building Code requires exterior wall assemblies with combustible cladding, insulation, or other materials in some buildings meet specific provisions for limiting vertical and lateral flame propagation by meeting NFPA 285 compliance criteria. Recent updates to these codes allow engineering analysis to confirm compliance.
Insulating Concrete Form walls combine reinforced concrete for strength and durability and expanded polystyrene insulation for energy efficiency. ICFs differ from traditional concrete construction; the forms remain in place after the concrete is cured to provide thermal insulation. The EPS insulation means these walls include combustible components. 
This presentation reviews the development of NFPA 285 as well as a case study involving testing and engineering analysis of ICF wall assemblies to demonstrate compliance with updated code requirements for fire safety.

 

Learning Objectives:
1.    Understand what ICFs are and how they are being used in building construction
2.    Review historical development of NFPA 285.
3.    Discuss recent changes to the NFPA 285 test standard, particularly the new Annex B
4.    Discuss testing and analysis of two unique ICF wall constructions and analysis

 

Presented by: Shamim Rashid-Sumar, PE, FSFPE, Senior Vice President, Codes and Standards, NRMCA
 

Ms. Rashid-Sumar is Senior Vice President, Codes and Standards for the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. Based in New York, she works with National Model Building Codes and Standards organizations to advocate for resilience and sustainability through non-combustible construction and provides technical support regarding codes, standards, regulations and legislation at the national, state, and local level.  
Ms. Rashid-Sumar holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park. Shamim is a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and a member of the SFPE Board of Directors, where she currently serves as President-Elect.  
Shamim is a principal member of several NFPA Technical Committees, including Structures, Construction, Materials, Fire Tests, and Residential Occupancies. She is also a member of the ACI 216 Committee on Fire Resistance and Fire Protection of Structures, ACI 560 Committee on Design and Construction with Insulating Concrete Forms, ASTM E05 Committee on Fire Standards, the ICC Performance Code, and the ICC Multi-Hazard Resiliency for Residential Construction Committee. Shamim currently serves as President of the Alliance for Concrete Codes and Standards.