When a building catches fire, it is most likely going to cause huge devastation to both life and the building itself. It can spread to neighbouring buildings. especially if conditions favour it. A lot of the time, these fires happen when people are asleep. The fact of the matter is, if a fire is going to happen, then it will. There is no material that can stop this. However, some building materials can lower the risk tremendously. These special heat resistant materials are strong against fire which can make a huge difference. Let’s take a look at what some of these are.
1. Fire-resistant Glass
Virtually all buildings use windows for visibility and light. A fire will cause intense heat and this can cause the glass to shatter. This can be dangerous because it is like an explosion as the pressure builds up. This can cause glass fragments to fly in a million directions and cause severe injury to those trying to rescue anyone. It can also injure people close by who may have gathered to watch the proceedings. A dual-paned glass will take a longer time to break in a fire. Tempered glass is also incredibly strong and is pretty effective. Steel framing is always the best to use while vinyl is not.
2. Concrete
Concrete is obviously one of the most used building materials and it is also a good fire-resistant material. It takes a very long time for fire to cause it to get damaged to the point where it is dangerous. It is also an excellent material for preventing fires to spread. It is even thought that concrete may be more fire-resistant than steel, so that is saying something! In fact, in many buildings, concrete is actually used to protect steal. However, a lot of this depends on how the concrete is made. As the saying goes, not all of it is made equally.
3. Stucco
Stucco is now a material that can be made to be a fire-resistant material. It is also quite durable, making it a good finish for building materials like wood and brick. Never neglect the roof because flames and sparks can cause it to ignite. Roof eaves, which can be a fire hazard, can be protected if it is encased with something like stucco.
4. Gypsum
A common interior finish used is gypsum board because it is fire-resistant. Structural materials use gypsum sheathing so that they get a good fire-resistant rating. Gypsum board is also called drywall and in general, they are treated with additives, making it even more fire-resistant. Some builders also use many layers of gypsum board because this will help to increase the fire-rating.
5. Bricks
Bricks are resistant to fires. The way they are made in the first place helps them to be fire-resistant. However, a brick on its own is more fire-resistant than a brick wall. This is because a wall is held together by mortar. Nevertheless, it is still one of the best and most commonly used fire-resistant building materials.
A lot of the time, using fire-resistant materials comes down to cost, the climate and various other factors. While it would be ideal to always use the best fire-resistant materials, this is not always the case.
