In every business or industry, no matter what it is, there’s a set of rules, written or unwritten, for the best way of performing tasks or meeting goals.  This is known as ‘industry best practices.’ The experts in a certain field have tested certain methods and come up with what works best. In flameproofing, this is true also. There are a certain set of standards in the flameproofing industry that yield the best results. While not everyone really needs to know flameproofing best practices, if you are needing flameproofing services, it’s definitely a good idea to have some inside info so you know you’re getting a first-rate job.

No matter what kind of work you do, there’s something of an ‘insider’s language.’  You know - it’s terms and phrases that people in the field completely understand, but it’s something of a foreign language to an outsider.  When you’re hiring someone to do work for you, it’s easy to feel a little out of your element when they start speaking in a language you don’t understand.

At Bronx Flameproofing, we never want you to feel that way.  Today, we’re going to give you a ‘cheat sheet’ to some of the insider language in flameproofing.  This will help when you’re speaking to a flameproofing company (hopefully, us!) about some upcoming work you’re having done.

When we think about flameproofing, we usually just think about the actual flameproofing process - the soaking or coating of materials and objects in fire retardant chemicals. But really, that’s just Phase 1. There’s actually a second part that is just as vital as the first.  That’s the field flame test. The field flame test ensures that items that have been treated are actually fire resistant.  It’s the only way to truly know if they are properly flameproofed and will do what they were treated to do in the event of a fire.  You definitely don’t want to wait until an actual fire to see if they will hold up!

As someone who runs his or her own business, you're familiar with all the big and small things needed for your company to be open to the public. Safety and fire safety is probably written on a scrap of paper in your big pile of things to do. But a smaller subset of fire safety is flameproofing, and that might not have made it to the list. It's required by the FDNY, the Building Department, and the Health Department (as well as your insurance carrier, by the way) to have certain materials and objects treated with fire retardants, if they aren't inherently non-combustible. If you're unsure about what's involved, taking an inside look at the C-15 Checklist can shed some light.

The C-15 Checklist is a document used by the FDNY to validate and sign off on the flameproofing company who will be performing your services.  A flameproofing company must be valid C-15 Certificate of Fitness holder, and this checklist is part of how the FDNY assesses them. When you know what the FDNY is checking for, you can have your own mental checklist when you are hiring a flameproofing company to perform the services you need.

Below is a copy of the C-15 Checklist:

Source

Familiarizing yourself with this information can help you better understand the process of flameproofing and what to expect with your treatment. This sheet can also help you have confidence in the company you hire, knowing that they themselves are meeting FDNY standards.

Bronx Flameproofing has been protecting the Metro NYC area from fires through flameproofing treatments for over 50 years. As a valid C-15 Certificate of Fitness holder, we are approved by FDNY to complete flameproofing procedures at all business sites according to their standards. If you still have concerns or items you'd like to further discuss, please call us today. We would be happy to speak with you! We can also offer you a free, no-obligation quote: 1-800-594-0117.