Nettles Welcomes Phil Hayes to Lead Our New Firestopping Division

Nettles is proud to announce the launch of our Firestopping division, led by industry veteran Phil Hayes. Based out of our Kansas City office, Phil will head up firestopping services across all of Nettles’ service territory, bringing more than two decades of specialized experience to a critical — and often overlooked — piece of commercial construction.

A New Division for Nettles

Firestopping is passive fire protection: sealing the through-penetrations, construction joints, and perimeter conditions that compromise a wall or floor’s fire rating once mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems run through it. With the addition of Phil and the launch of this division, Nettles is expanding beyond our roof deck and fireproofing roots to offer that same level of expertise in firestopping.

Meet Phil Hayes

Phil’s path into firestopping started in 2004 in Chicago, where he joined Local 17 of the Heat and Frost Insulators union as an installer. Within a few months, he was running his own crews. Over the next two decades, he built out a firestopping division from scratch for a previous employer after relocating to Ohio in 2016, and spent time running his own firestopping business before returning to the field. This experience gives him a rare, ground-level understanding of the trade, from swinging a tool to standing up an entire division. Phil’s focus is code-driven, quality-first installation; the kind of attention to detail that keeps projects on schedule and helps our partners avoid the costly rework and liability that come with firestopping done wrong.

Get to Know Phil

When he’s not on a jobsite, Phil is likely outdoors fishing, hunting, or working on his golf game. He also spends a good deal of his free time coaching his son’s baseball team, and as a sports fan, Phil’s enjoys college football, college baseball, as well as major league baseball.

Looking Ahead

Phil’s arrival marks the official launch of Nettles’ Firestopping division, and we couldn’t be more excited to have his expertise on the team. Whether you’re a general contractor bidding a project or a partner curious about what firestopping involves, Phil and the Nettles team are ready to help.