860-610-4084 Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm 164 School Street East Hartford, CT 06108
A Fire Trol Column is a prefabricated, fire rated structural steel column designed to provide passive fire protection while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing finish. Unlike field applied fireproofing systems, Fire Trol Columns are manufactured in a controlled facility and arrive on-site ready for installation.
Intumescent coatings are field applied that expand when exposed to high temperatures, insulating the steel during a fire. They preserve the original shape of the structural member, but require careful surface preparation, controlled environmental conditions during application, inspections and ongoing maintenance. Fire Trol Columns are factory-manufactured fire rated assemblies that arrive at the jobsite with the fire protection already incorporated. Because the fire protection is completed in a controlled environment, these columns can help improve quality consistency, reduce field labor and minimize weather related installation delays.
Exposed structural steel can be fire-rated using several passive fire protection systems approved by building codes and tested assemblies including: Fire Trol Columns, Intumescent coatings, spray applied fire proofing, dry wall and concrete encasements.
There is no single solution that is the most cost effective for every project. You should consider the following while you evaluate your options: the desired appearance of your fire rated steel, the projects schedule, labor availability & maintenance expectations.
Yes. Fire Trol Columns are designed to provide a finished architectural appearance suitable for projects where exposed structural steel is a key design feature.
Both systems provide passive fire protection, but they differ significantly in appearance, construction and installation. Concrete encasements are poured onsite, increase the overall size of the column considerably, add weight and don’t tend to be aesthetically pleasing. Fire Trol columns are fabricated off site, are slim in appearance, reduce field applied fireproofing and simplify coordination during construction.
Architects typically specify Fire Trol Columns by identifying the required fire resistance rating, structural requirements (along with the structural engineer), finish, dimensions and applicable performance criteria within the project specifications and drawings.
Prefabricated systems arrive at the jobsite with the fire protection already incorporated into the assembly. This can help reduce field applied fireproofing, improve quality control through factory manufacturing, minimize weather related installation delays, decrease waste and simplify coordination between trades. Field applied systems, including spray applied coatings and intumescent coatings are installed after the steel is erected and may require additional inspections, environmental controls and extra coordination during construction.
The earlier the better. Early coordination allows the architect, structural engineer and steel fabricator to integrate the required fire rating, structural design, connection details and architectural finish into a single coordinated solution. This approach can reduce redesigns, minimize field modifications and improve constructability during installation. Engaging the Fire Trol team during schematic design or design development can help identify the most efficient solution before construction documents are finalized.
Typical applications include: airports, healthcare facilities, K-12 & Higher Education facilities, government buildings, courthouses, museums, prisons, corporate offices, mixed use facilities, convention centers ~ any place where your structural steel is architecturally exposed and requires a fire rating.
Yes. Manufacturers such as Fire Trol produce UL-certified assemblies that meet required fire-resistance ratings.
Yes. The finished steel shell is intended to provide an architectural appearance suitable for exposed conditions.
Yes. Because the fire protection is incorporated into the assembly, significantly less field-applied fireproofing is required.
Yes – only the connection and the structural column at the connection site will receive field applied fireproofing. The structural steel fabricator will apply this when they fire rate their decking, joists, etc.
Fire Trol offers Wide Flange, HSS and Pipe sections.
No, changing the required rating after fabrication will require a new column. Early coordination is very important.
The building code and project design team determine the required fire-resistance rating based on occupancy, construction type and location of the building.
Yes. In many cases, the same WF, HSS or Pipe structural steel shape can be incorporated into different UL-certified fire-rated assemblies. The required fire rating is achieved by the tested assembly design, not simply by the steel shape itself.
Selecting the correct fire-resistance rating during schematic design helps avoid redesigns, specification changes and coordination issues later in the project. Early coordination also improves constructability and helps keep projects on schedule.
Not necessarily. The required fire rating is based on the tested UL assembly rather than the size of the structural steel alone. Prefabricated fire-rated columns are engineered to provide the required fire resistance while maintaining a clean architectural appearance.
Fire-Trol® Columns are manufactured to meet applicable fire-resistance requirements using tested and code-compliant assemblies. Fire ratings are established through recognized testing standards and are listed through UL (Underwriters Laboratories).
Fire-Trol® Columns are available with 2-hour, 3-hour, and 4-hour fire-resistance ratings to meet the requirements of a wide range of commercial, institutional, and public projects.
The required rating is determined by the building's occupancy, construction type, structural design, and applicable building codes. Fire-Trol manufactures each column assembly to match the project's required fire rating while maintaining an architecturally finished appearance.
Whether protecting columns in hospitals, schools, airports, government facilities, or office buildings, Fire-Trol provides fire-rated assemblies that combine passive fire protection with exposed structural steel aesthetics.
Yes. Fire-Trol® Columns are commonly specified for projects utilizing Type I and Type II construction, where structural steel often requires passive fire protection to comply with the International Building Code (IBC).
Because every project has unique structural and code requirements, architects and engineers should verify the required fire-resistance rating and applicable UL assembly during design.
Fire-Trol works with the design team, structural engineer, and steel fabricator to ensure the selected assembly meets the project's fire protection requirements while supporting the desired architectural appearance.
The finished dimensions of a Fire-Trol® Column depend on several factors, including the size and shape of the structural steel, the required fire-resistance rating, and the selected assembly.
Unlike field-applied fireproofing, which can create inconsistent thicknesses and irregular surfaces, Fire-Trol Columns are manufactured with a finished steel shell that provides consistent dimensions and a clean architectural appearance.
Because every project is unique, Fire-Trol can provide preliminary dimensions during the design phase, allowing architects and engineers to coordinate floor plans, curtain walls, ceiling details, and clearances before construction begins.
Fire-Trol® Columns are designed to complement modern architectural projects while providing durable passive fire protection.
Columns are typically supplied with a factory-applied primer, allowing them to be finish painted to match the project's architectural color palette. Depending on project requirements, additional finish options may also be available.
Because the exterior is fabricated from steel, the finished appearance offers clean lines and consistent surfaces that integrate well with architecturally exposed structural steel applications. Carbon steel is the most popular steel used for the shell, but stainless is a gorgeous option for the right application.
Project-specific finish requirements should be discussed during the design phase to ensure compatibility with the desired aesthetic and performance expectations.
Fire-Trol® Columns are delivered to the jobsite as prefabricated assemblies, reducing the need for field-applied fireproofing after steel erection.
Installation is coordinated with the structural steel erection sequence and project schedule. Because the fire protection has already been incorporated into the assembly during manufacturing, contractors can avoid many of the environmental and scheduling challenges associated with field-applied fireproofing systems.
This prefabricated approach can improve construction efficiency, reduce coordination between trades, and provide a consistent finished appearance throughout the project.
Yes. Fire-Trol provides digital design resources to help architects, engineers, and designers incorporate fire-rated columns into their projects.
Available resources may include BIM objects, CAD details, Revit families, product data, specification language, and technical documentation. These tools help streamline design coordination, improve project documentation, and simplify communication between project team members.
Click here for the latest digital resources.
Fire-Trol works closely with architects, structural engineers, steel fabricators, and contractors throughout the life of a project.
Support may include product selection guidance, specification assistance, budgeting information, BIM resources, shop drawing coordination, technical documentation, and responses to design questions during construction.
By engaging early in the design process, Fire-Trol can help project teams coordinate fire protection, structural requirements, and architectural aesthetics before fabrication begins, contributing to a smoother construction process and successful project outcome.
A Health Product Declaration (HPD) provides architects, designers and building owners with detailed information about the materials and chemical ingredients used in a building product. As projects increasingly prioritize occupant health, wellness and material transparency, HPDs help design teams make more informed product selections.
Fire Trol offers HPDs to support architects pursuing healthy building goals and to simplify the material selection process. An HPD allows designers to understand product composition and document material transparency for green building programs and owner requirements.
Even when a project is not pursuing LEED or another certification, specifying products with published HPDs demonstrates a commitment to transparency and responsible material selection.
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a standardized document that reports a product’s environmental impacts based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). It provides transparent, 3rd party verified information about factors such as global warming potential, energy use, water consumption & resource utilization.
For architects & engineers an EPD offers credible environmental data that can support sustainable design decisions and help meet owner or project requirements.
Fire Trol provides product specific EPDs allowing designers to evaluate environmental impacts with confidence while specifying a fire rated structural steel solution.
Although both documents support sustainable design, they serve different purposes.
An HPD focuses on what a product is made of, disclosing ingredients and material health information that supports occupant wellness & transparency.
An EPD focuses on how a product impacts the environment throughout its life cycle, reporting measurable environmental data such as embodied carbon, energy use & emissions.
Together, HPDs & EPDs give architects and engineers a more complete understanding of a building product, allowing them to balance health, sustainability and performance when making specification decisions.
A product specific EPD reports the environmental impacts of a single manufacturer’s product and manufacturing process, providing data unique to that product.
An industry wide EPD represents average environmental impacts across multiple manufacturers with an industry or product category.
Yes, and in several ways. As a prefabricated system, Fire Trol helps reduce jobsite waste, minimize field applied fireproofing activities, and promotes consistent manufacturing quality. Fire Trol also publishes HPDs and product/brand specific EPDs to support transparency and informed material selection.
Prefabrication shifts much of the manufacturing process from the jobsite to a controlled production facility. Because our columns arrive as completed fire rated assemblies, contractors, fabricators/erectors spend less time coordinating multiple fireproofing activities on site and more time advancing the overall project schedule. This offers several benefits, including:
Construction schedules often depend on multiple trades working in sequence. Field applied fireproofing can introduce additional coordination, inspections, curing times and weather considerations that may affect project timelines. Prefabrication nearly eliminates all of those because all fabrication is done off site.
Absolutely! Manufacturing products in a controlled factory environment typically generates less waste than completing the same work on an active construction site. This is accomplished by reducing excess packaging, material handling and field applied fireproofing waste. Resulting in cleaner construction, prefabrication popularly aligns with many owners’ sustainability goals.
Factory manufacturing provides a controlled environment where material, fabrication and quality inspections can be performed under consistent conditions. Unlike field applied systems that may be affected by weather, temperature or site conditions, prefabricated fire rated columns are manufactured using established quality procedures before shipment. This provides consistent dimensions, uniform finishes, & reliable product quality while reducing variables that might be introduced during field applied fireproofing.
Designers are always on the lookout for solutions that improve constructability while maintaining design intent. Fire Trol columns provide passive fire protection, architectural aesthetics, and factory-controlled manufacturing all in a single assembly. Detailing, field coordination, & scheduling are amongst some of the areas that time can be saved and also where many times time is lost or mistakes are made.
The sooner the better. Schematic design and design development phases, when a building’s structural system, occupancy classification, construction type & fire resistance requirements are first established. This early specification will allow the design team to evaluate aesthetics, dimensions, constructability & budget prior to construction documents being finalized.
Fire-rated columns are an important consideration during space planning because their finished dimensions may differ from those of unprotected structural steel.
Understanding column dimensions early allows architects to coordinate floor plans, glazing systems, wall assemblies, ceiling layouts, and circulation paths more accurately. Early planning also helps avoid conflicts with adjacent building systems and architectural finishes.
Considering these factors early helps identify the solution that best aligns with the project's performance, aesthetic, and construction goals.
Passive fire protection is designed to help maintain the structural stability of a building during a fire by slowing the transfer of heat to structural members. Unlike active fire protection systems, such as sprinklers or alarms, passive fire protection requires no activation to perform its intended function. It is incorporated into the building itself and works continuously to help provide occupants with additional time for evacuation and first responders with additional time to perform emergency operations.
Architecturally exposed fire-rated steel is commonly used in buildings where structural steel is intended to remain visible as part of the architectural design while also meeting fire-resistance requirements. These projects often combine high occupant loads with signature architectural spaces where exposed steel contributes to the overall design aesthetic.
Typical applications include:
Early collaboration helps resolve connection details, dimensional coordination, scheduling, finish requirements, and fire-resistance considerations before fabrication begins. This collaborative approach can reduce design conflicts, improve constructability, and support a more efficient construction process.
Compared with work completed entirely in the field, factory manufacturing can improve dimensional consistency, reduce variability caused by weather or site conditions, and enhance overall quality control. For fire-rated structural steel, prefabrication can also simplify installation and reduce on-site coordination between trades.
Material transparency documents, including HPDs and EPDs, provide standardized information that helps project teams evaluate products based on measurable criteria rather than assumptions. As sustainable design continues to evolve, transparent product documentation supports informed decision-making and helps meet owner expectations for responsible material selection. Owners, architects, and designers are placing greater emphasis on understanding the environmental and health impacts of building materials.
Some fire protection methods may require periodic inspections, repairs, or recoating if they become damaged during the life of the building. Others are designed as durable, factory-manufactured assemblies that require only routine visual inspections as part of a building's normal maintenance program. When evaluating fire-rated structural steel solutions, architects and building owners should consider not only the initial installation costs, but also long-term durability, ease of maintenance, and the potential impact of future renovations or repairs. Selecting a system with durable finishes and minimal maintenance requirements can help reduce lifecycle costs while preserving the building's appearance over time.
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East Hartford, CT 06108
860-610-4084
info@fire-trol.com
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