The Construction Specifier’s feature, “Exterior cavity fireblocking: Exceeding fire performance,” was awarded article of the year in October at the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) National Conference in Houston, Tx.
The article by Antoine Habellion and Steven Gaynor delves into fireblocking requirements for ventilated facade assemblies, which have created challenges for designers who must balance fire safety with thermal performance. Leveraging their expertise in the topic, Habellion and Gaynor delve into the 2022 New York City Building Code, which mandates fireblocking for most exterior wall assemblies and eliminates previous exceptions. It also requires the use of approved materials like mineral wool, raising concerns about its impact on water management, moisture control, and the overall hygrothermal performance of buildings.
The award is presented to the author or authors of an original article published in The Construction Specifier during the 2024 fiscal year. Individual articles are nominated by the magazine’s editorial staff and judged by its editorial advisory board.
