Questions from the Field is a selection of questions NPCA Technical Services engineers received from calls, emails and plant evaluations.
Stormy Asks: How can I help after destructive storms hit a nearby region?
NPCA technical experts answer: In the wake of a destructive storm, there will be significant need to rebuild infrastructure in affected areas. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains a list of contractors who can assist in national emergencies and disaster recovery efforts. The System for Award Management (SAM) contains a Disaster Response Registry listing contractors willing to remove debris, distribute supplies and provide reconstruction or other disaster or emergency relief supplies or services.
If you are interested in being part of the recovery and reconstruction efforts, visit https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Operations/Contracting-in-Disasters.
For information on the Disaster Response Registry, including how to register your business, visit acquisition.gov/content/disaster-response-registry.
All contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management at SAM.gov to be able to bid on contracts. Registration is free, and new registrations take an average of 10 to 15 business days to process. FEMA projects also require registration through SAM.gov. You can learn more about working with FEMA at fema.gov/business-industry/doing-business.
Please note that the U.S. Department of Defense, which includes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, requires precast concrete be provided by a plant that is certified by either the NPCA or the ACPA. Your company can be a subcontractor on a federal contract without registering, however, you may still find SAM.gov useful for searching for awarded contracts in your area.
Blaze Asks: Is there any guidance on fire ratings for precast concrete walls?
NPCA technical experts answer: Precast concrete is a great noncombustible construction solution when considering the threat of fire. Precast can prevent fire spread, serve as a fire boundary and contain many of the hazards associated with fire (heat, smoke, toxic gas from burning components). Additionally, as a supremely durable material, precast is a product that endures in a fire and can likely be reused in the rebuild after the fire.
When assessing a material’s capability in a fire, there are several different considerations – the structural end point, heat-transmission end point and flame-passage end point. It is important to know which of these considerations is critical for the owner and assess each product or project based on its design. The best way to determine the fire rating of your product is to get your product tested.
ACI 216.1-14, Determining Fire Resistance of Concrete and Masonry Construction Assemblies, Table 4.2 Fire Resistance of Single-Layer Concrete Walls, Floors, and Roofs details general fire resistance based on aggregate type and minimum equivalent thickness.
The International Building Code (IBC) codifies requirements for fire design that can be used by precast manufacturers. PCI also has MNL 124, Design for Fire Resistance to further explain many of the criteria included in the IBC.