Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1386104
July/August/September 2021 I 55 www.fiberinstrumentsales.com FOR OUR FULL LINE OF PRODUCT OFFERINGS Sales Representatives Are Waiting For Your Call! 1-800-5000-FIS(347) Your search starts and ends with FIS! Why Look Any Further? As a stocking distributor of AFL products we carry One-Click Cleaners, Fiber Identifiers, Fusion Splicers, Enclosures and much more... Fiber Optic Solutionists TM Authorized Distributor FIS_AFL Coop half page ad BICSI.indd 1 FIS_AFL Coop half page ad BICSI.indd 1 2/17/2021 1:13:23 PM 2/17/2021 1:13:23 PM leakage significantly more than Device B. Consider that these results are for a single pathway opening; imagine the airflow impact when factoring all path- ways running into a data hall. The takeaway is that engineers and consultants should incorporate air leakage performance into the design phase, along with firestopping specifications. Airflow leakage due to MEP penetrations is not the only "beyond fire protection" challenge owners should consider. Additional concerns such as building movement and acoustics have emerged. Building Movement Movement of structural and non-structural building elements is another realistic challenge potentially impacting data center operation. Over the life cycle of a building, movement can occur beyond that expected for typical support of MEP penetrants. This can impact not only the firestopping performance, but also addi- tional attributes the specified solution was intended to address. An installed firestop system subjected to movement prior to fire exposure may not perform as intended in event of an actual fire occurrence. Many possible sources of MEP through-penetration movement exist, including: • thermal expansion/contraction • human impact • equipment vibration • water hammer (i.e., water hammer is a form of hydraulic shock that can occur when rapidly flowing water slams into a closed valve in a sprinkler or plumbing system causing vibration or movement.) • seismic events • high winds • floor deflections To evaluate better the movement of penetrations in relation to the installed firestop system technology (i.e., sealant versus preformed pathway device), the industry has established a comparison of movement capability through standardized test conditions.