Plumbers, electricians, HVAC, drywallers—they all need to hang from, drill through, or attach to, the fireproofed protected structure in a commercial building. The damage to the fireproofing may be a necessary evil for these trades to do their job, but fireproofing was designed to maintain the complete structural integrity of a building; so what happens when it is disturbed, removed or otherwise compromised?
It really doesn’t matter “who” or “how” the fireproofing was damaged, it just needs to be fixed. Period. Let me repeat that. The fireproofing needs to be fixed. Any damage to the fireproofing creates a life safety issue. It is imperative to maintain the fireproofing to maintain the hourly rating and for the integrity of the building and more importantly, its inhabitants. Damaged fireproofing is also a cost issue. It is not going to repair itself and any repair to it will create a cost. The question quickly becomes about who’s going to pay for it. Damaged fireproofing can also become a scheduling issue. Just try to get the Certificate of Occupancy with damaged fireproofing.