This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: E3038 − 22a

Standard Practice for

Assessing and Qualifying Candidates as Inspectors of
Firestop Systems and Fire-Resistive Joint Systems1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3038; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-

1.1 This practice is intended to assist an authority having mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
jurisdiction (AHJ) or authorizing authority (AA), or both, in 1.6 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
establishing minimum qualifications for candidates who desire that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
to conduct inspections in compliance with Practices E2174 and (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
E2393. as requirements of the standard.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
NOTE 1—Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) is defined in Practices
E2174 and E2393.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
NOTE 2—Authorizing authority (AA) is defined in Practices E2174 and ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
E2393. Examples of the AA include, but are not limited to, the responsible Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
architect, engineer, building owner, or their representative. mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.2 This practice makes available a procedure for a candi- Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
date to provide evidence to the AHJ or AA, or both, of their
specialized knowledge and technical competence related to the 2. Referenced Documents
firestop industry. 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
1.3 This practice determines the technical proficiency of a E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
candidate based upon a minimum amount of education, E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
experience, and knowledge possessed, which is needed to E699 Specification for Agencies Involved in Testing, Quality
ensure candidate competence to conduct inspections in com- Assurance, and Evaluating of Manufactured Building
pliance with Practices E2174 and E2393. Components
E814 Test Method for Fire Tests of Penetration Firestop
1.4 The purpose of this practice is to allow the AHJ or AA, Systems
or both, to assess the ability of the candidate to comprehend E1966 Test Method for Fire-Resistive Joint Systems
and use inspection documents to conduct inspections in com- E2032 Practice for Extension of Data From Fire Resistance
pliance with Practices E2174 and E2393. Tests Conducted in Accordance with ASTM E 119
NOTE 3—Inspection document is defined in Practices E2174 and E2174 Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Firestop
E2393. The firestop submittal, when approved for use, should have Systems
sufficient details, including, but not limited to, the firestop manufacturer’s E2307 Test Method for Determining Fire Resistance of
product data, a design listing of the tested firestop, and when required a
judgment (Alternative Means and Methods). The judgment is commonly
Perimeter Fire Barriers Using Intermediate-Scale, Multi-
referred to as an “Engineering Judgment” in the firestop industry. These story Test Apparatus
judgments are not always issued by an engineer or a registered design E2393 Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire
professional. Resistive Joint Systems and Perimeter Fire Barriers
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the E2750 Guide for Extension of Data from Penetration
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Firestop System Tests Conducted in Accordance with
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- ASTM E814
E2837 Test Method for Determining the Fire Resistance of
Continuity Head-of-Wall Joint Systems Installed Between
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E06 on Perfor-
mance of Buildings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.21 on
2
Serviceability. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2022. Published November 2022. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2016. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as E3038-22. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E3038-22A. the ASTM website.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 E3038 − 22a
Rated Wall Assemblies and Nonrated Horizontal Assem- 3.2.2 firestop industry, n—the field of work related to
blies firestop systems and fire-resistive joint systems.
2.2 ISO Standards:3 3.2.2.1 Discussion—Fire-resistive joint systems are well
ISO/IEC 17020 Conformity assessment—Requirements for known as described in Test Method E1966. However, Test
the operation of various types of bodies performing Methods E2307 and E2837 also address specific types of
inspection fire-resistive joint systems called perimeter joint protections
ISO/IEC 17065 Conformity assessment—Requirements for (also known as perimeter fire barriers), and continuity head-
bodies certifying products, processes and services of-wall joint systems, respectively.
ISO 10295-1 Fire tests for building elements and 3.2.3 firestop industry inspector, n—the individual possess-
components—Fire testing of service installations—Part 1: ing the credentials set forth in this Practice, and who is
Penetration seals authorized by the AHJ or AA, or both, to conduct an inspection
ISO 10295-2 Fire tests for building elements and under Practices E2174 and E2393, or both.
components—Fire testing of service installations—Part 2:
Linear joint (gap) seals 4. Summary of Practice
ISO/DTR 12470-1 Fire-resistance tests—Guidance on the 4.1 This Practice sets forth the minimum qualifications
application and extension of results from tests conducted required to be eligible as a candidate to conduct inspections
on fire containment assemblies and products—Part 1: under Practices E2174 and E2393.
Loadbearing elements and vertical and horizontal separat-
ing elements 4.2 This Practice sets forth the information that needs to be
2.3 UL Standards:4 documented by the candidate and a procedure to submit that
UL 1479 Standard for Fire Tests of Penetration Firestops information directly or indirectly to the AHJ or AA, or both.
UL 2079 Standard for Tests for Fire Resistance of Building 5. Significance and Use
Joint Systems
2.4 Other Documents: 5.1 This Practice is intended to provide a means for the AHJ
FCIA Firestop Manual of Practice5 or AA, or both, to verify evidence of a candidate’s experience,
FM 4991 Approval Standard for Firestop Contractors Class knowledge, and qualifications.
Number 49916 5.2 This Practice is not intended to set forth individual
AC291 Accreditation Criteria for Special Inspection Agen- credentials for an AHJ or AA, or both.
cies7
5.3 This Practice is not intended to establish any perfor-
IFC8 Firestop Inspection Manual9
mance criteria of firestop systems or fire-resistive joint sys-
IFC Guidelines for Engineering Judgments10
tems.
International Building Code 11 NOTE 4—The performance criteria of a firestop system or fire-resistive
joint system is found in many national and international test methods.
3. Terminology Some of these methods include, but are not limited to, Test Method E814,
3.1 Definitions—Terms defined in Terminology E631, Ter- UL 1479, ISO 10295-1, Test Method E1966, UL 2079, ISO 10295-2, Test
minology E176, and Specification E699 will prevail for terms Method E2307, Test Method E2837, etc.
not defined in this Practice. Terminology E631 definitions shall 6. Procedure
apply when there is a conflict between Terminology E176,
Specification E699, and Terminology E631 definitions. 6.1 The candidate shall be acceptable to the AHJ or AA, or
both. The candidate shall meet at least one requirement in 6.2,
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: Prerequisites, and all of the requirements contained in 6.3,
3.2.1 candidate, n—the individual seeking the designation Inspector Qualifications.
and recognition as a firestop industry inspector.
6.2 Prerequisites—The candidate shall meet and provide
documentation for at least one of the following requirements,
3
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO which is acceptable to the AHJ or AA, or both:
Central Secretariat, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva,
Switzerland, http://www.iso.org. 6.2.1 Have a minimum of two years of experience in
4
Available from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), UL Solutions Headquarters, building construction within the firestop industry conducting
333 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062, http://www.ul.com.
5
inspections under the direction of an inspector; or
Available from Firestop Contractors International Association, 4415 W. Harri-
6.2.2 Have a minimum of two years of experience in the
son Street, Suite 540, Hillside, IL 60162, https://www.fcia.org/FCIA-MANUAL-
OF-PRACTICE. firestop industry conducting quality control; or
6
Available from FM Global, 270 Central Ave., Johnston, RI 02919-4949,
http://www.fmapprovals.com/approval-standards.
NOTE 5—Some methods used to assess quality control entities and
7
Available from International Accreditation Service, 3060 Saturn Street, Suite systems include, but are not limited to: Specification E699 that provides a
100, Brea, CA, 92821-1732, https://www.iasonline.org/resources/accreditation- means for evaluating agencies conducting quality control; ISO/IEC 17065
criteria-for-special-inspection-agencies-ac291/. that affords a method to accredit organizations that oversee quality control
8
International Firestop Council, 2660 S. Utica Ave., Tulsa, OK 74114 processes; ISO/IEC 17020 used to establish bodies performing inspection,
9
Available from http://www.firestop.org/inspection-guidelines.html. etc.
10
Available from http://www.firestop.org/engineering-judgement-guidelines.
11
6.2.3 Have a minimum four years of full-time (or at least
International Building Code is a registered trademark of and available from
International Code Council (ICC), 500 New Jersey Ave., NW, 6th Floor, 6160 h) experience in the selection or installation, or both, of
Washington, DC 20001, http://www.iccsafe.org. firestop systems or fire-resistive joint systems, or both; or

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 E3038 − 22a
NOTE 6—“Full-time” is considered “working the full number of hours 6.3.2.2 Option 2—Attend a 6-h educational program that is
considered normal or standard.”12 One can reasonably estimate that there acceptable to the AHJ or AA, or both, and planned with the
are ≈250 working days per year.13 The number of working days less a
maximum of 30 days for allotted “days off,” which is commonly referred
explicit purpose of educating parties specifically interested in
to as vacation and sick time, provides 220 working days per year. A typical the firestop industry.
work day varies for men and women but using seven hours a work day is
conservative.14 7. Conflicts of Interest
NOTE 7—Experience can be documented in many ways. These methods 7.1 The candidate shall be able to assure compliance with
are just a few examples. One way to document experience is by a letter
from an employer, past or present. Another way to document experience
the following:
is by letters from an organization(s) that engaged the services of the 7.1.1 The candidate shall be completely independent and
candidate reporting the time spent performing the selection or installation, divested from the installer, contractor, manufacturer, or sup-
or both, of firestop systems or fire-resistive joint systems, or both. One plier of any material being inspected.
more way to document experience is a collection of project records. 7.1.2 The candidate shall not be a competitor of the installer,
6.2.4 Hold license as a registered design professional with contractor, manufacturer, or supplier of any material being
two years of experience in the firestop industry. inspected.
7.1.3 The firm which employs the candidate shall be com-
NOTE 8—Typically, a registered design professional is an individual
who is registered or licensed to practice their respective design profession pletely independent and divested from the installer, contractor,
as defined by the statutory requirements of their country’s professional manufacturer, or supplier of any material being inspected.
registration laws required for construction undertakings within certain
jurisdictions. NOTE 10—Some organizations, operating within government controlled
facilities, are regulated and overseen by a national government’s agencies,
6.3 Firestop Industry Inspector Qualifications—The candi- for example, United States Department of Defense (DOD), United States
date qualified under this Practice shall meet all of the following Department of Energy (DOE), and United States Federal Aviation Admin-
istration (FAA), etc. These organizations may have both inspections
requirements:
controlled by an internal quality assurance department and installations
6.3.1 Firestop Industry Examination—Score a minimum of performed by the contracting department within the same organization,
80 % on an examination, which is acceptable to the AHJ or which is regulated by one or more national government agencies. The AHJ
AA, or both, and contains subject matter directly related to the is the national government. Provided that the government regulates the
firestop industry and to inspections conducted under the scopes entire organization (for example, installation and inspection), 7.1.3 is not
intended to supersede these types of governmental programs and
of Practices E2174 and E2393. regulations, which establish independence from internal organizational
NOTE 9—Examinations related to the firestop industry are offered by burdens and self-sufficiency from monetary incentives. A notarized sworn
many independent third-party national and international organizations. affidavit by the organization that the operations are regulated and overseen
Some of these organizations and programs that contain firestop industry by a national government’s agency can address 7.1.3.
examinations include, but are not limited to, the following: IAS Certificate 7.1.4 The firm which employs the candidate shall not be a
of Accreditation15 based on AC291, Accreditation Criteria for Special competitor of the installer, contractor, manufacturer, or sup-
Inspection Agencies; IFC Recommended Training and Education for
Third-Party Firestop Inspectors program;16 and firestop installer programs
plier of any material being inspected.
such as the FM 4991 DRI program;17 and UL Qualified Firestop NOTE 11—The following is just one example of an individual’s affidavit
Contractor Program;18 etc. Sources of knowledge and preparation for such that would satisfy Section 7, Conflicts of Interest: “I state under penalty of
firestop industry examinations are essential. Some of these sources that applicable law that I am not involved in any shared activities (for example,
contain such firestop industry information include, but are not limited to, resources, finances, contracts, marketing branding, sales commission or
the Practice E2032, Guide E2750, International Building Code, ISO/DTR any other inducement, such as the referral of new clients) that prohibits me
12470-1, FCIA Firestop Manual of Practice, IFC Firestop Inspection from being impartial. Further, I am also free from commercial, financial,
Manual, and IFC Guidelines for Engineering Judgments, etc. or other pressures that will influence or compromise my impartiality. In
6.3.2 Training—Perform one of two options. addition, I will maintain in confidence any communications and docu-
ments that are part of the project and the inspection reports, all of which
6.3.2.1 Option 1—Attend at least two hours of educational will be considered confidential information. As proof of this commitment,
training seminars directly related to firestop systems or fire- I will execute an enforceable and legally binding agreement to this effect.
resistive joint systems, or both, conducted by at least four If I am compelled by law or required by contractual commitments to
different organizations; either (a) manufacturers of firestop release confidential information, the AHJ or AA, or both, shall be notified
of the information released, unless law or contractual commitments
industry products or (b) firestop industry trade associations, or
prohibit that notification. I am not engaged in the manufacture, supply,
a combination of both (a) and (b). installation, purchase, ownership, use, or maintenance of materials and
systems used in firestop systems or fire-resistive joint systems, or both.
Also, I am completely independent of, and divested from, the installer,
contractor, manufacturer or supplier of any material used for firestop
12
See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/full-time. systems or fire-resistive joint systems, or both. For a period of at least 2
13
See http://www.workingdays.us/workingdays_holidays_2016.htm. years, I have not been involved in, or been employed by, a company
14
See http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm. involved in the production, supply, installation, or maintenance of any
15
Confirm that the Scope of Accreditation on Certificate of Accreditation material used for firestop systems or fire-resistive joint systems, or both.”
includes firestop systems (Test Method E814), fire-resistive joint systems (Test
Method E1966), perimeter joint protections (Test Method E2307), and continuity
head-of-wall joint systems (Test Method E2837).
8. Documentation Submittal
16
17
See http://www.firestop.org/inspection.html. 8.1 The candidate shall submit all documentation required
See http://www.fmapprovals.com.
18
See https://marks.ul.com/about/ul-listing-and-classification-marks/promotion-
by this Practice for verification (1) directly to the AHJ or AA,
and-advertising-guidelines/qualified-firestop-contractor-program-marking-general- or both; or (2) to an individual or organization approved by the
and-specific-guidelines/. AHJ or AA, or both.

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 E3038 − 22a
8.2 The Documentation Submittal shall at least contain the NOTE 13—Examples of “other evidence” include, but are not limited to,
following: a certification card, a certificate, a published register or list of inspectors
8.2.1 Evidence of compliance with 6.2, Prerequisites, qualified under this Practice, etc.
8.2.2 Evidence of compliance with 6.3, Inspector 9.2 The firestop industry inspector shall adhere to the
Qualifications, and following requirements to maintain compliance with this
8.2.3 Evidence of compliance with Section 7, Conflicts of Practice:
Interest. 9.2.1 Any provisions or requirements, or both, set forth
NOTE 12—Though not a requirement of this Practice, self-certification directly by the AHJ or AA, or both.
is normally a legally binding act upon the document’s author. Typically
these types of self-certification documents in 8.2 are notarized sworn 9.2.2 Any provisions or requirements, or both, set forth by
affidavits rather than just letters. the individual or organization approved by the AHJ or AA, or
8.3 Documentation Submittals shall be completed at least both.
once for each different AHJ or AA, or both. NOTE 14—An example of a provision set forth in 9.2.1 or 9.2.2 would
8.4 Thereafter, the frequency of Documentation Submittals be maintaining some continuing education (CE). CE hours and continuing
shall be determined by the AHJ or AA, or both, for verification education units (CEU, also known as CEC—continuing education credits)
and certification to compliance with the provisions of the are measures used in continuing education programs. Another example of
a provision set forth in 9.2.1 or 9.2.2 would be a company training
Practice.
program sanctioned by a manufacturer of firestop industry materials; a
8.4.1 Approval by an AHJ or AA, or both, does not certification body that certifies firestop industry materials; a fire test
constitute approval for another AHJ or AA, or both. laboratory that tests firestop industry materials and documents their
8.4.2 Approval for one project does not necessarily consti- installation process or installs these materials; or a firestop industry trade
tute approval for another project. association. An example of a requirement set forth in 9.2.1 or 9.2.2 would
be to maintain at least 6 h of CE or training every year, which are directly
9. Evidence of Compliance related to the firestop industry, from any provider that is acceptable to the
9.1 After Section 8, Documentation Submittal, is received, AHJ or AA, or both.
reviewed, and verified by either (1) or (2) in 8.1, a letter or
other evidence stating compliance with this Practice shall be 10. Keywords
provided to the candidate, who then will be considered a 10.1 firestop; fire-resistive; fire barrier; inspection; inspec-
firestop industry inspector, and to the AHJ or AA, or both, tor; joint; perimeter joint
when required.

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