By Nicholas Martinez | January 11th, 2010 | | Print

Nicholas C. Martinez

SAFETY MEASURES: FDNY Chief Brad Walls is sounding the alarm over a building material he believes holds an "inherent danger."

FDNY Chief Brad Walls surveyed the facade of the Whitestone Shopping Center as his firefighters from Battalion 47 approached the flamed-filled Lollipops Diner.

Before the firefighters could turn their hoses on the blaze, the restaurant’s front window melted and the fire jumped to the awning. The overhang burst into flames and rained melted plastic onto the sidewalk like a fire-laden waterfall.

Concerned for his firefighters’ safety, Walls pulled back the battalion.

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One Response to “Chief’s Concerns Over Wall Covering”

1. Comment by Robert Mault
   January 20th, 2010 at 2:35 pm

   I am a member of the ASTM committee on Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) and carry three national EIFS Inspector certifications. I have been involved with EIFS since 1985.

   This fire sounds suspiciously like a fire involving Urethane coated foam shapes similar to the fire on the roof area of the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in 2008. These Urethane assemblies are not EIFS in any shape, fashion or form and are not recognized by the EIFS Industry. Urethane coated foam shapes, to my knowledge, have never been subjected to the very stringent fire tests that EIFS have. The fire performance between the two is drastically different.

   Unless something fundamentally changes in the manufacturing process of Urethane, I cannot imagine it passing any of the rigorous and documented fire tests that EIFS have. EIFS are recognized in the 2009 International Building Code and the International Residential Code (IBC/IRC). Urethane assemblies are not.

   Without researching the true nature of the building components of the fire described in your article, you are merely passing on misinformation. I would consider articles such as this one inflammatory and misguided, if not untruthful. As such, this article should not be circulated, unless accompanied by a rebuttal, which you may consider my response to be.

   Publishing articles, such as yours, without full investigation and a rebuttal, tends to give misinformation credibility and is damaging to the EIFS industry. If you wish to learn more about EIFS, please visit my website at http://www.eifs-inspections.com or the EIFS Industry Members Association at http://www.EIMA.com.
   I would be happy to discuss this with you at any time.

   Robert J. Mault, CEI, ASTM, CSI

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