Steel framing for Norfolk’s new firehouse started going up before Memorial Day, weeks earlier than expected, as the construction firm managing the project responded to the abrupt closure of a plumbing contractor. Newfield Construction moved up structural work and delayed pouring of the building slab to keep the project moving forward. First Selectman Henry Tirrell said Encon, the HVAC contractor, was also able to step in to complete some tasks that should have been performed by Performance Plumbing. A payment and performance bond held by Travelers will protect the town, but Tirrell said it will take some time to develop a plan and identify a new plumbing contractor. The default was a major topic of the May 21 Firehouse Committee meeting at which Tirrell reported that he has billed the state for the first installment of the firehouse grant amounting to $850,000.