Bill McHugh - FCIA

The Burn: Beyond Firestop

Hosted by John Zalepka

Intro

Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of how our guests and their businesses and organizations contribute to the promotion of life safety of whatever is being built. Our show is brought to you by Specified Technologies, Inc. Also known as STI Fire Stop. And since 1990 STI has been a leading global provider of innovative fire protective solutions that help stop the spread of fire, smoke and hot gases.

Our guest today is no stranger to these such topics. Bill McHugh has been involved in the construction industry for over 39 years, focusing on several industries, including roofing, waterproofing, fireproofing, and my favorite, firestopping. Over the past 33 years, Bill served in managerial roles at large and small corporations. He’s been in manufacturing, a contractor, distributor, and he’s presently an association management professional, which includes his work as executive director of the Firestop Contractors International Association, FCIA, and a few others that we’ll get into today.

Key Takeaways

Bill’s Background

Two-time NCAA Springboard Diving All American at North Central College

Degrees in Business & Speech Communication Theatre

Masters Degree from Western Illinois where he coached Diving

Fellow for Illinois Business Hall of Fame

Getting into construction

Randomly submitted resume and was hired at Grace Construction Products

Started in Roofing & Waterproofing

Introduced to Fire Resistance when he became District Manager

Real exposure to Firestop came when he worked for Polyguard Products.

Transitioned to distribution and eventually into contracting

Starting with FCIA

Became a student of the industry, business and started teaching as well

Teaching grew to regional presentations and eventually to presenting to national associations and writing articles/books.

Was asked to be a part of a new association in 1998.

Work within FCIA

Believed in the proper design installation inspection and maintaining protection.

Focus was always Firestop at FCIA

Worked with FCIA Committee to creat Firestop Manual of Practice.

Wanted programs to separate contractor and inspection organizations who don’t specialize in firestopping.

Everyone should come together on Code Development and Standards, and maintaining protection in existing buildings.

D I I M Philosophy

Design Installation Inspection and Maintenance

Certain jurisdictions do not adopt Chapter 17 of the International Building Code

FCIA developed the concept of independent inspections, the ASTM E2174, E2393 Standards, and with FCIA’s code consultant Bill Koffel, planted the standards in the 2012 International Building Code.

Need to have both inspection and a contractor understanding listings for firestopping safety.

Getting contractors involved in FCIA

Mission to involve people in the industry whether they are accredited or not.

Get people in, teach them the proper protocol, improve installed quality of firestopping.

Membership is expanding across the globe

The latest with the FCIA

Hybrid conferences and regular conferences.

Committees meet all