Advice On Fireproofing New Building Construction Projects
Published by Fred at June 21st, 2010Fireproofing is the act of making a new structure as resistant to fire as possible. This might include using special materials, specific landscaping placement, and innovations in architecture. Fireproofing is not only required in minimal code laws, but important for keeping a reputation as a great building company.
Just a few decades ago, it was popular to use a substance named asbestos. It was used in what is called a firewall- or a barrier between rooms that helps deter the spread of a fire. Asbestos has been found to cause complications such as cancer. If you are modifying an existing building, be sure to remove asbestos installations to prevent any dangers to the family or business.
The material used for the firewall of the building construction is important. Whether or not the building is residential is usually a factory in which material is used. Industrial-grade applications such as a department store will require the use of something such as concrete- a slight more expensive material that adds a lot of weight to a structure, but also remains to be one of the most powerful firewall materials. Residential constructions will likely have more lightweight solutions that are also less expensive to implement by your team.
A home’s roof should also have a fair fire rating to prevent the fire from spreading too quickly. Wooden shingles obviously have a low fire rating, while asphalt, metal, or clay shingles have an excellent resistance to fire. If one does insist of wooden shingles, they must be treated with special primer to prevent them from catching fire or drying out from poor weather.
The question on whether or not to buy a sprinkler system is likely to be answered with a “definitely!” Water damage will make for costly repairs, but the infrastructure of the home will still be just fine. Compared to a drastic fire, which demolishes a home more often than not, the cost difference can be drastic. Water sprinkler systems can cost several thousand dollars or more for the right solution. In the end, it’s money well saved for your business or family.
Some builders like to use fireproof paint to coat the walls. Fireproof paint works by using a flame retardant, of which expands as heat comes into contact with the paint coat. When the fire runs out of fuel, it will quickly die down and be unable to burn the interior of a home. Fireproof paint can be purchased as non-toxic, so it’s safe to be used in homes with children and small pets. The trade-off is that it is more expensive than your average gallon of paint.
Final Thoughts
Find more fire prevention tactics via fire departments, industry leaders such as MasterGuard, city ordinances, and Internet sources. As much prevention as you can implement will be a solid idea. When disaster does strike, one can be much more certain that family members or business stock will be fine.
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