NFCA's Week of Learning was a great success. Attendance was up 50% since the 2022 conference with over (160) registered including 2 new Supplier Members, 2 new Associate Members and 10 new contractor members.

Special thanks to our conference sponsors! Click here for complete list.

Don't forget, NFCA Members can access featured presentations are posted on the NFCA website - MEMBERS ONLY section.

Each project will be featured in the May FREE Webinar. Click here to register!

TOPIC: NFCA 2023 Award of Excellence Winning Projects

Thursday May 18, 2023: 10:00 am Central Time

For more information click HERE

NFCA @ ASTM – NFCA travelled to ASTM E06 Meetings in Denver recently to talk about standards related to fireproofing inspections. ASTM E605 and ASTM E605 both continue to be the standards referenced in the International Building Code (IBC) for SFRM. 

NFCA Week of Learning Technical Discussions – At NFCA’s Week of Learning Conference, discussions took place about a new NFCA Standard Practice that describes IFRM Finishes in the field. The purpose is to provide expectations of the architect/specifiers, general contractor, building owner and manager and fireproofing contractor. Manufacturers, contractors, working together. Thanks Tom Anderson, for leading this effort. 

When it comes to Attachments to structural fire-resistance-rated building elements, there is a certain size, thickness and distance that might be treated to slow heat transfer into the structural fire-resistance-rated element. The International Building Code language is not super specific about protection required. 

NFCA’s Accreditation Committee & Leadership continues to review the NFCA Spray Fire-Resistive Materials and Intumescent Fire-Resistive Materials education and exams, keeping them relevant as the industry changes. 

NFCA’s Education for the SFRM & IFRM Fireproofing Exams help contractor personnel become Designated Responsible Individuals (DRI) in NFCA’s Contractor Accreditation Program (CAP) and UL’s Qualified SFRM Fireproofing Contractor Program. Plus, inspection agency personnel can prove competence required by the International Building Code’s Chapter 17, Special Inspection through NFCA’s SFRM and IFRM Fireproofing Exams. 

Do you have a NFCA HAFK yet? The NFCA Handbook of Fireproofing Knowledge (HAFK) is THE industry text book. It’s the study guide for the NFCA’s SFRM & IFRM Fireproofing Exams – the first step to NFCA Contractor Accreditation and UL Qualified Fireproofing Contractor status. It’s also a way to prove competence in fireproofing. Leading Fireproofing Contractors and Fireproofing Inspection Agencies keep this document as a 3^rd party proof source when making a point about fire-resistance-rated building elements and assemblies. 

CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW

THANKS TO NFCA GOLD SUPPLIER MEMBERS:

THANKS TO NFCA SILVER SUPPLIER MEMBERS:

NEW OSHA INFO - The U.S. Department of Labor announced May 1 that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has begun a National Emphasis Program to prevent falls, the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries and the violation the agency cites most frequently in construction industry inspections. The emphasis program will focus on reducing fall-related injuries and fatalities for people working at heights in all industries.

OSHA Announces New Enforcement Standards – Our friends at Hendrick Phillips, Salzman and Siegel reported on an OSHA Announcement as well. OSHA has announced new enforcement standards and guidance, which became effective March 27, 2023. 

The new standards are intended to increase penalties in the hopes of ultimately deterring employers from committing serious violations of OSHA rules. The new guidance addresses two separate OSHA enforcement issues. First, regional administrators and area office directors will have broader discretion to issue citations for certain violations on an “instance-by-instance” basis. Since 1990, instance-by-instance citations have been limited to willful violations. Under the new enforcement standard, instance-by-instance citations may be applied to certain “high-gravity” violations, specific to falls, trenching, machine guarding, respiratory protection, permit required confined space, lookout tagout, and other-than-serious violations specific to record-keeping. Check out HPSS’s full report. 

Did your company promote someone? Retirement? Exciting company news? Let us know! Email kriston@nfca-online.org

The Membership Committee has been meeting every 60 days to share who is not a member, that should be. A big thanks to NFCA Manufacturer and Contractor Members for recruiting new companies at NFCA. 

Not a NFCA Member Yet?

Three types of memberships available! For detailed information Go HERE and JOIN NOW!

Don't forget to connect with members on LinkedIn and post NFCA & NFCA Member activities from time to time.

Fireproofing Question? We don’t promise to have all the answers, but do provide members with resources they can use to make decisions. Feel free to email us when you get stumped.