Where to find compliant NFPA 285 test data

Designers, specifiers, and code officials are unfamiliar with the best ways to locate information regarding National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285 test data and tested assemblies. This article provides guidance on how and where to find compliant tested assemblies and the extension of test data through engineering analyses.
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Why all components matter in firestopping materials

In the absence of a large-scale fire catastrophe, a sense of complacency may be influencing the specification of firestopping materials. In recent years, North America has seen a trend of pre-insulated back pans coming from overseas which contain foreign mineral wool that has not been tested to ASTM E2307....
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Failures: Rules of (gasket) engagement

A close-range examination revealed the gaskets were not driven to the required depth within the joints to engage the locking barb with the corresponding raceway in the outboard aluminum trim. Instead, they were retained in the joint through compression alone, leaving them susceptible to disengagement over time.
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