Appeal 20797

703.2, 703.3

Code Section 703.2 The fire resistance rating of building elements, components or assemblies shall be determined in accordance with the test procedures set forth in ASTM E119 or UL 263 or in accordance with Section 703.3. Where materials, systems or devices that have not been tested as part of a fire- resistance-rated assembly are incorporated into the building element, component, or assembly, sufficient data shall be made available to the building official to show that the required fire-resistance rating is not reduced. Materials and methods of construction used to protect joints and penetrations in fire-resistance-rated building elements, components or assemblies shall not reduce the required fire- resistance rating.
Code Section 703.3. The application of any of the alternative methods listed in this section shall be based on the fire exposure and acceptance criteria specified in ASTM E119 or UL 263. The required fired resistance of a building element, component or assembly shall be permitted to be established by any of the following methods or procedures:

1. Fire-resistance designs documented in sources.
2. Prescriptive designs of fire-resistance-rated building elements, components or assemblies as prescribed in Section 721.
3. Calculations in accordance with Section 722.
4. Engineering analysis based on a comparison of building element, component or assemblies designs having fire-resistance ratings as determined by the test procedures set forth in ASTM E119 or UL 263.
5. Alternative protection methods as allowed by Section 104.11.

Also see attached PDF with drawings and FPE report. The code requires that primary structural members have a fire resistance rating provided by the individual encasement or alternative method. The 1337 E. Burnside project has steel beams and columns at Level 2, supporting the Type III-A construction above. The proposed condition replaces the fire-rated gypsum wrapped assemblies at beams and columns in the indicated locations with spray-applied fire resistive materials (SFRM) to the minimum thicknesses recommended by the manufacturer. The beams indicated in plan demonstrate two conditions, at exterior perimeter bearing walls with a 2-hour fire resistance requirement, and as interior primary structural framing with a 1-hour fire resistance requirement per OSSC 2014, Table 601.
The proposed condition will provide 1-hour and 2-hour fire resistance rating at HSS tube steel column locations, with application of SFRM, utilizing UL Design Number Y710, BXUV.Y710. For providing 1-hour and 2-hour fire resistance ratings at wide flange beams, the proposed design utilizes the application of SFRM utilizing UL Design Number X854, BXUV.X854. Per Monokote® manufacturer recommendations, the method of applying the conditions of Wide Flange Columns to Wide Flange Beams is an appropriate conservative method. There is no exact UL match for SFRM at steel beams supporting wood structure. The attached charts for Monokote® Fireproofing MK-6/HY for UL Design Number X854 and Y710 indicates the required thicknesses. In the attached plan beam sizes, fire ratings and thicknesses have been noted.
Per the manufacturer direction, Monokote® Fireproofing should be applied to the wide flange beam at thicknesses from UL Design # X854 taking the W/D of the member as a column. In example, a W8x28 used as a beam has a W/D ratio of 0.819. A similar member used as a column will have a W/D ratio of 0.688 - the smaller number must be used. The rationale behind this judgment is such: a column, when subjected to fire testing, is placed in a furnace where the column is exposed to flames on every side. The coating thicknesses in the column design have been shown to protect the wide-flanged section from a maximum temperature of 1200 °F, and an average temperature of 1000 °F. Based on adherence data developed on the Monokote® Fireproofing on beams, it is assumed that the same temperature protection would also be afforded to a horizontal member under similar fire exposure conditions. Please note that the normal temperature criteria for a beam listed in the Standard, Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, ANSI/UL 263 (ASTM E119) are 1100 °F average and 1300 °F maximum; therefore, this judgment results in a conservative level of protection for the beam.

We are requesting this appeal because it is a standard industry practice to determine SFRM thicknesses of wide flange beams based on steel column calculation resulting in a more conservative methodology. SFRM protection at the steel beam and column locations will simplify the plane of the finished ceiling and provide a slight addition of height to room below.