The State of Washington recently enacted legislation to advance the firestop and smokeseal industry by mandating that all individuals who apply firestop and smokeseal products must receive state-certified training.
Insulators Local 7, under the leadership of Business Manager Todd Mitchell, spearheaded the passage of the Fire-Resistant Material Applicators Law, RCW 49.105.
As written, the bill should help generate more work hours for Washington’s union Insulators.
This legislation is a significant step forward in benefiting qualified and legitimate contractors who perform the installation of firestop products. While there are other regulations and building codes in place to ensure quality installations, the Fire-Resistant Material Applicators Law offers an additional layer of protection to ensure the appropriate workforce is hired, with enforcement penalties that include debarment for non-compliant installations.
The bill shows the Washington State legislature recognizes passive firestop measures are critical design elements intended to control the spread of a fire until active fire protection measures, such as sprinklers or the fire department, can take over and control the fire.
Passive fire protection measures include fire-resistant materials, which help contain fire and smoke, limit the damage to critical infrastructure and ultimately save lives. However, for the passive firestop systems to work as designed, trained professionals must properly apply them.
This is where RCW 49.105 comes into play, as the legislature established a minimum training and certification program for applicators of fire-resistant materials.
The bill recognizes the need for fireproofing applicators to receive quality training. In order to accomplish this, legislators created a certification process, with a heavy focus on training.
In order to become certified, a firestop applicator must complete 24 hours of training through one of the following methods:
- An apprenticeship program registered with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council
- By fire-resistant material manufacturers that must include the application of at least four different types of fire-resistant material products
- Other certified training providers approved by the Department of Labor and Industries
Once an individual completes the initial 24 hours of training, they are required to complete refresher training every five years for recertification.
Insulator Registered Apprenticeship Programs and journeymen upgrade courses, led by industry-certified instructors, meet these criteria.
The penalties within the Fire-Resistant Material Applicators Law show legislators are taking this matter seriously.
Contractors who use uncertified firestop installers will face the following consequences:
- The first violation is a $2,500 fine.
- The second violation is a penalty of $3,000 and debarment from bidding for public works projects for one year.
- The third violation is a $5,000 fine and the contractor’s permanent debarment from public works projects.
The work to get this bill passed began more than two years ago, when it was first brought up as a life safety issue.
After it caught the attention of legislators, the State Building Trades got behind it as well.
Mitchell called the backing of the state building trades on this legislation a huge momentum swing.
“Having the buy-in and the support of my building trades was a huge benefit in passing the bill,” he said.
Now, with the legislation on the books, it will benefit Insulators Locals 7, 36 and 82, their affiliated members and signatory contractors by leading to more work opportunities in the state of Washington.
From a labor-management standpoint, any provisions and legislation that encourage proper firestop installations will benefit the affiliated members of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers and their signatory contractors.
While the passage of this legislation was significant, the firestop industry still needs contractors to perform this work.
Gaining additional firestop contractors who follow the proper installation specifications will create more opportunities and employment for members of Local Insulators Unions in Washington.
To read the Fire-Resistant Material Applicators Law, please use this link: RCW 49.105.
The Mechanical Insulators LMCT thanks Insulators Local 7 leadership on a successful two-year effort to get their bill passed.