The hot and dry summer season increases the risk of wildfires, every year and tragedy strikes regularly, displacing thousands of people. It’s becoming more and more important to have knowledge of fire resistant building materials, especially if you are building a home, or making an addition. Fire retardant materials can save you a lot in the event of a fire, and can also help you net better premiums on fire insurance. Do you want to be safe? Then check out these 5 fire resistant building materials:
Structural Fire Resistant Building Materials
Concrete
Already a common building material for its ease of production and durability, concrete is particularly useful because of its fire resistance. It has very low thermal conductivity, which means it takes a long while for heat to pass through it. Believe it or not, concrete is more fire resistant than steel, and is often used to protect it.
Brick
Widely seen in older buildings, brick is an all around solid choice for home-building. Given that bricks are essentially made in ovens, there is a clear degree of fire resistance inherent in them. Of course, bricks are more than just a fire retardant building material. Individually, they possess structural integrity, even in the face of high temperatures, and thus do not crumble away as easily as other materials might.
Finishes and Insulation
Stucco
Thought of primarily as a medium for art, a stucco plaster is actually quite the effective finish if one is seeking flame retardant materials. A stucco finish can be spread over other building materials to make them more resistant.
Gypsum
Another common mainstay of layered fire resistant building materials, gypsum, more commonly known as drywall, is It is made of layers of paper surrounding a sheet of gypsum, the core of which includes specially treated water, which prevents the spread of fire for some time.
Rock Wool
Rock wool, or perhaps more accurately, mineral wool, is an excellent insulator. This is because of the way that sheets and bundles of the stuff partition air. It is decently effective on its own, but typically does better as part of a combined fire defense
Make no mistake: if you want your property to last, make sure it is built with fire resistant building materials. Most are quite affordable, and offer invaluable protection, especially in hot, dry seasons. Don’t forget to check your house for weaknesses, such as air leaks, poorly insulated walls, failing windows. Regular yard maintenance is also strongly recommended so the flames don’t have it easy.
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