Health Care Questions & Answers


Hospital complex

  1. Do my homes and day care centers need to meet Life Safety Code requirements?
  2. What items in my homes have to be certified to meet flame retardant requirements?
  3. We have acoustical ceiling panels that were certified to meet code when they were installed years ago and they need to be re-painted. Will this affect the flame retardancy?
  4. Our homes have FRB wooden molding and handrails in our halls that have been previously varnished and we have been issued a violation of flammability requirements. Do we need to remove these and install metal fabricated systems?
  5. We are not able to move all of our consumers out of the residences and are very concerned with the odors associated with flame retardant paints and varnishes. What do you suggest?
  6. Can we apply your products and still get certification for code compliance?
  7. Do you have certified applicators that can perform the applications?
  8. We are not sure of what our needs are. Can International Fire Shield provide us with an evaluation of our facilities?
  9. Are your products accepted for use by my local code enforcement officials?
  10. Can we purchase your products locally?
  11. How long are your Certifies of Fire Resistance issued for?
  12. Can we have our personnel trained to properly apply your products?
  13. Do we have to mix your products?
  14. We have exposed polyurethane foam insulation sprayed in our attic and basement. Do you have an ignition barrier that can be applied?
  15. We have blue board insulation installed in our attic and basement that was installed prior to our being gifted out home. Should we be concerned with its flame spread and the toxicity of this material if it catches fire?
  16. How do we know when we need to retreat items that have been treated with your products?
  17. We keep MSDS on all of the chemicals we use in our homes on file. Are your product safe to use in a health care facility?
  18. Do you have specifications that can be incorporated into our organization?
  19. Do you have a Class "A" paint for our walls?
  20. I have curtain materials labeled IFR that state they never need to be flame-proofed. Do I need to address this?
  21. I have upholstered furniture labeled Cal Tech 117. Do I need to treat this?
  22. Are IFS's Programs and Solutions expensive?


1.Do my homes and day care centers need to meet Life Safety Code requirements?
Yes. If your organization received reimbursement from CMS, you are required to comply with fire code regulations.
↑ Back to the top
 
2.What items in my homes have to be certified to meet flame retardant requirements?
Decorative materials such as window curtains, upholstered materials, wall hangings, artificial vegetation, wainscoting, paneling, and other interior finishes such as walls, ceilings, floors (see Code Req. ???)
↑ Back to the top
 
3.We have acoustical ceiling panels that were certified to meet code when they were installed years ago and they need to be re-painted. Will this affect the flame retardancy?
You need to have a Class "A" flame retardant paint applied to maintain the flammability characteristics to comply with code requirements.
↑ Back to the top
 
4.Our homes have FRB wooden molding and handrails in our halls that have been previously varnished and we have been issued a violation of flammability requirements. Do we need to remove these and install metal fabricated systems?
No. These items can be treated with Class "A" and Class "B" flame retardant paints and varnishes.
↑ Back to the top
 
5.We are not able to move all of our consumers out of the residences and are very concerned with the odors associated with flame retardant paints and varnishes. What do you suggest?
We manufacture a line of fire retardant paints and varnishes that are water-based and do not require mechanical ventilation. They dry to the touch in 30 minutes and can be re-coated in two hours. This allows for your consumers to reside in the home during application and drying. There are times that one of our solvent based products may be needed and that would require that your residents be relocated over a period to allow for evaporation and dissipation of any associated order.
↑ Back to the top
 
6.Can we apply your products and still get certification for code compliance?
You can send personnel to Fire Retardant University (FRU) for training.
↑ Back to the top
 
7.Do you have certified applicators that can perform the applications?
Yes, IFS can supply certified applicators.
↑ Back to the top
 
8.We are not sure of what our needs are. Can International Fire Shield provide us with an evaluation of our facilities?
IFS can send certified evaluators to your facilities or self-evaluation sheets to get a general idea of need.
↑ Back to the top
 
9.Are your products accepted for use by my local code enforcement officials?
IFS Products are all UL, ULC and ICC Classified, thoroughly tested and acceptable to all code enforcement officials.
↑ Back to the top
 
10.Can we purchase your products locally?
All product orders come into our corporate office (Auburn, NY) and are then drop shipped to your facility from the nearest plant.
↑ Back to the top
 
11.How long are your Certificates of Fire Resistance issued for?
Textiles - 5 years; Finishes - for life.
↑ Back to the top
 
12.Can we have our personnel trained to properly apply your products?
You can send personnel to Fire Retardant University (FRU) for training.
↑ Back to the top
 
13. Do we have to mix your products?
Our products are ALL premixed with Quality Control Programs to ensure proper performance always.
↑ Back to the top
 
14. We have exposed polyurethane foam insulation sprayed in our attic and basement. Do you have an ignition barrier that can be applied?
We do - 1500° Series Foam Barrier.
↑ Back to the top
 
15. We have blue board insulation installed in our attic and basement that was installed prior to our being gifted out home. Should we be concerned with its flame spread and the toxicity of this material if it catches fire?
Yes. Your basement (accessible) needs a thermal barrier intumescent system and your attic needs a Class "A" rating/ICC classified product - Inspecta-Shield Plus.
↑ Back to the top
 
16. How do we know when we need to retreat items that have been treated with your products?
IFS has a patented UV Identification & Software Program LINK to ensure and constantly monitor your Fire Retardants.
↑ Back to the top
 
17. We keep MSDS on all of the chemicals we use in our homes on file. Are your product safe to use in a health care facility?
Many of our products are water based. LEEDS is accepted and tested for Health Hazzards LINK.
↑ Back to the top
 
18. Do you have specifications that can be incorporated into our organization?
All specs - Product Specs and Service Specs - are listed on our website and can be downloaded for external use.
↑ Back to the top
 
19.Do you have a Class "A" paint for our walls?
Yes! Our 1500° FRL Flat Latex and topcoat is a Class "A" Latex FR Paint that is available in a wide array of colors.
↑ Back to the top
 
20.I have curtain materials labeled IFR that state they never need to be flame-proofed. Do I need to address this?
Please refer to our section on IFR's.
↑ Back to the top
 
21.I have upholstered furniture labeled Cal Tech 117. Do I need to treat this?
Please refer to the Cal Tech 117 Bulletin.
↑ Back to the top
 
22.Are IFS's Programs and Solutions expensive?
No! All facilities can be put on a 5 year cycle and amortized - thereby spreading the cost over a 5-year period. This system would be acceptable to the State Fire Marshall's Office as IFS's Programs and Solutions are accredited.

By using our Certified Application Program and coordination cycle, your initial costs would be reduced to approximately $800 per house.

International Fire-Shield, Inc. is working with OPWDD's Capitol Improvement Fund for Fire-Safety Plans (LSC) for reimbursement for the use of our programs.

Facilities adopting our whole program will be eligible for insurance credits (through qualified insurance companies) therefore reducing the amount of financial exposure to minimum amounts if any!
↑ Back to the top