HoldRite is known for professional plumbing products that “convert makeshift methods into engineered solutions.” One of the company’s innovative product lines, HydroFlame, has become well-known for its unique ability to safeguard lives and property from the hazards of fire, water, poisonous gases and smoke damage while making the task of firestopping easier and more effective.

In March, in addition to its well-recognized line of UL-listed cast-in-place firestop devices, HoldRite officially launched its expanded HydroFlame line of firestop offerings. The expanded line now includes caulks, wrap strips and more. Designed by plumbers for plumbers, these products provide a single-source solution for maintaining the fire resistance rating of walls, floors and ceilings in both new and retrofit construction.

Plumbing Engineer spoke with Chip O'Neil about HoldRite HydroFlame. O’Neil is the vice president of business development for Reliance Worldwide Corp., the parent company of HoldRite.

PE: What is the full listing of products now included in the line?

CO: In addition to a feature-rich product line of cast-in-place firestop devices, we now offer a wide range of complementary products that include intumescent firestop caulking, smoke and acoustic caulking, intumescent fire wrap strip products, intumescent pipe collars and putty pads.

PE: What differentiates this line from others similar to it on the market?

CO: With the professional plumbing and mechanical contractor in mind, we can now offer them the most comprehensive overall firestop product line on the market. Our cast-in-place sleeve devices are the contractors’ favorites. The sleeves offer the ability to telescope and adjust in length to fit varying concrete slab thicknesses without the need for field modification or the use of extension accessories. 

The sleeves have the best pliable mid-body seal on the market and provide a water-tight UL W-rated seal at the floor level, eliminating the need to purchase and install any sort of caulk sealant or accessories. The sleeves also include Locator Whiskers that help the user to easily locate the sleeves following a concrete pour that may otherwise leave them hidden from view. These whiskers are also color-coded, either black or red, to identify the type of sleeve installed regarding whether they are for use with metal or plastic pipe penetrations.

The HydroFlame product line has stable and effective firestop solutions for toilet drains, shower drains, floor drains and bathtub drain penetrations through concrete floors. Our water dam accessories provide the simplest and most cost-effective solution when a water dam is desired above the floor level. When there is a need for plumbing fittings to be installed overhead “high and tight” to a ceiling, our offering of recessed aerator adaptors provides the extra needed space for piping sizes from 1 1/4 in. through 6 in.

PE: What benefits or features relating to fire and life safety does the line contain that are of interest to specifiers, engineers and contractors? 

CO: The entire HydroFlame product line carries UL listings, which are critical for a safe building that must be protected against the ravages of fire, toxic smoke and water intrusion, thus protecting both the building and its occupants. These products have gained UL listings following successful testing to ASTM E814 and UL 1479 standards, which is vital for ensuring that a safe building is being constructed. 

The cast-in-place firestop devices also possess a unique ability to provide UL-rated, water-tight floor penetrations. This protects the building from future damage caused by water intrusion from floor to floor, whether water originates from plumbing system problems, a fire sprinkler going off or from fire-fighting activity. 

These intuitive, user-friendly products provide fast, easy, effective methods for firestopping penetrations through fire-rated assemblies within a building and help to minimize installation errors, compared to many of the manually installed methods of firestopping. We assist with the creation of submittals, help with specification authorship and compliance, material take-offs, engineering judgment (EJ) assistance, CEU training sessions and training for installers, all at no cost. 

PE: Is there anything untraditional that may trip up or confuse engineers, designers and specifiers?

CO: No, this is the easiest firestop product line to specify, purchase and install, compared to any other firestop product line on the market.

PE: Are there any certification standards that are especially timely or notable for engineers, designers and specifiers?

CO: Yes. In addition to the building code requirements for one-, two- and three-hour fire ratings (F Ratings), smoke and gas containment ratings (L Ratings) and temperature transfer ratings (T Ratings), these devices also provide the added protection of water-tight floor penetration seals with our UL W Ratings. 

When it comes to building movement concerns — such as in the case of an earthquake, pipe expansion and contraction or other building system movement — our pliable mid-body seals provide for movement without damaging the firestop seal or the associated critical plumbing, mechanical or electrical systems that pass through these life safety devices. 

PE: Is the HydroFlame line currently available for ordering?

CO: The entire line of HydroFlame firestop products is available through wholesale plumbing distribution channels throughout North America. The line can also be purchased through a variety of STAFDA outlets nationwide.

For any further information, technical assistance, product demonstration, samples or training requests regarding the HoldRite HydroFlame line, call 800-312-0316 or visit www.holdrite.com.