ABSTRACT
Be ever mindful that fireproofing will not adhere to rust. Bare structural steel that is left exposed to the weather must be fireproofed before it rusts. Also, note that water will ruin the fireproofing, so once the steel has been fireproofed, it cannot be left exposed to the weather. The dilemma is that leaving the steel exposed to the elements will result in the fireproofing not adhering to it. On the other hand, the application of fireproofing will be pointless if the steel is left out in the rain. There is obviously no perfect time to apply fireproofing. The general contractor must use good judgment and decide how to minimize the inherent risks. A common approach is to leave the structural steel exposed to the weather until the roof is watertight. After this, the fireproofing can be applied. Once the fireproofing has been applied, the general contractor should cover with visqueen any exposed fireproofing at the perimeter of the building and at any shafts open through the roof.
