S+B James Construction Streamlines Fire-Rated Containment for Active Cancer Treatment Center Renovation
How STARC FireblockWall™ helped S+B James Construction navigate complex fire-safety requirements, reduce installation time and maintain a professional environment during a healthcare renovation.
The Challenge: Fire-Rated Containment in an Active Treatment Center
When S+B James Construction was tasked with replacing a linear accelerator and renovating adjacent spaces at a California hospital, the team faced a complex containment challenge.
The equipment, bathrooms and changing rooms were located in the middle of an active cancer treatment center. The project required modifications to existing corridor firewalls, while crowded utilities and limited space above the ceiling made conventional temporary containment difficult.
“The temporary barriers we originally planned for were challenging in the sense that part of our work was going to be modifying, and temporarily removing and relocating, existing corridor firewalls,” said Hayden Meyers, Project Manager at S+B James Construction. “This was compounded by all the utilities and the lack of space above the ceiling. We started exploring other options, looking for something that could be easily constructed, had HCAI approval, and met the needs of the project stakeholders, including patients and staff.”
S+B James Construction had previously used STARC RealWall™ on projects requiring sound attenuation and a professional appearance. But this renovation required a one-hour fire-rated solution.
The Solution: FireblockWall™ for Fire-Rated Temporary Containment
S+B James Construction reengaged STARC Systems and worked with the project architect to evaluate FireblockWall™, a reusable, one-hour fire-rated temporary containment system.
STARC had recently received OPM approval from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) for temporary construction barriers, when approved for a specific location, use and compliance.
FireblockWall meets ASTM E119, ASTM E84, NFPA 241, and IBC requirements—as well as ICRA Class V guidelines.
“Having that OPM approval makes it really easy for architects and engineers to add those items to their documents, so the process is pretty easy from that perspective,” Meyers said.
The system offered a practical solution for the project's fire-safety requirements while providing the clean, durable appearance needed in an occupied healthcare environment.
From conversation-one to on-site installed was a super-fast process-maybe four weeks. With another source, it would be at least eight weeks. It goes back to that OPM approval STARC has; it really streamlines the approval steps.
Hayden Meyers, Project Manager, S+B James Construction
The Results: Faster Installation, Less Disruption and a Professional Finish
Garrett Conrad, Project Engineer at S+B James Construction, worked alongside one of the company's carpenters to install approximately 45 linear feet of FireblockWall.
The installation took three days, including finishing touches. Conrad estimated a conventional wall would have taken at least a week longer to build, adding labor costs.
“Next time, it will probably only take two days,” Conrad said. “Training went well and was completed about a week before the installation. When it came time for installation, we ended up also using the installation guides as a reference and, considering it was our first time working with FireblockWall, the entire process was very efficient.”
The finished system also delivered aesthetic and maintenance advantages.
“FireblockWall has a nice, glossy finish,” Conrad said. “If you bump into it and leave a scuff, it cleans up easily. You can’t do that with drywall.”
The appearance complemented the high-quality printed jobsite signage used by S+B James Construction, creating a professional finish within the hospital.
Like any first-time installation, the project required adjustments. The team worked through soffit track and ceiling-grid alignment issues and received prompt support from STARC when replacement panels were needed.
For Meyers, the speed of the overall process was another significant advantage.
“From conversation-one to on-site installed was a super-fast process—maybe four weeks,” Meyers said. “With another source, it would be at least eight weeks. It goes back to that OPM approval STARC has; it really streamlines the approval steps.”
A Practical Solution for Complex Healthcare Renovations
The completed renovation demonstrated how S+B James Construction could address demanding temporary containment requirements with a system designed for fast installation, fire safety and a clean appearance.
By combining FireblockWall's reusable design with STARC's technical support, the team found a solution suited to the challenges of renovating an occupied cancer treatment center.
Facing a complex fire-rated containment challenge?
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