Fire safety is an important topic, but at the same time a very broad one. It gains particular importance in the case of wooden structures. How to effectively protect wood from fire?
Wood in construction – fire resistance
The use of wood in construction is not a new idea, as the material has been successfully used for centuries. It is relatively easy to modify and adapt to the needs of the object being erected. Unfortunately, but the material is also not without disadvantages, among which are pointed out the lack of resistance to water, fire, as well as biological corrosion.
Natural wood, under the influence of fire, produces a special protective mechanism. The top layer is charred, thereby insulating the core of the wood from fire. Everything is made possible by cutting off the supply of oxygen, which is necessary to sustain the fire. The burning of the wood then proceeds more slowly.
Why is increasing the fire resistance of wood so important? And when is additional protection necessary?
Among other things, roof trusses or load-bearing elements are made from wooden elements. If they are not properly protected, at the time of a fire they could very quickly be destroyed and the building could collapse. Fire resistance is one of the parameters that describe selected building materials. Thanks to it, you can find out how long a building element retains its functional functions (properties) under the destructive effects of fire. Fire resistance is given by the parameter R and expressed in minutes. If a given material has a fire resistance of R15, it means that its ability to carry the load of the structure is 15 minutes. The higher the value of the index, the longer the burning time of the element.
With the right treatments, the resistance of individual components such as floors, roof trusses, partition and structural walls, as well as OSB and other wood-based components can be increased.
Wood in building structures must be additionally protected against fire, especially if the structural load-bearing capacity would be insufficient in a fire situation. Especially if it is not technically possible to use other reinforcement options for the load-bearing structure. In addition, the obligation also arises when ceilings and walls are in a skeletal system.
How to increase the fire resistance of wooden structural elements?
Wood that is used in construction, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable law, must be properly protected. For this purpose, various methods and measures are used, selected according to the needs of a specific order.
One way to protect wood is to enclose the structure with fire-resistant gypsum boards. In addition to classic gypsum boards, cement and chipboard, particleboard and silicate-lime are also used. Fire resistance at a certain level is provided by all variants, but each of them has additionally different properties, such as acoustic protection or weathering.
The second way is the use of mineral wool, the so-called non-reactive insulation. Despite the effectiveness of this method, it is not widely used, as no tiles, etc. can be applied to the wool layer. The external texture created does not look very aesthetically pleasing.
Another method is to protect the wood with a spray compound. Its great advantage is that it can be applied to any shape.
Selected painting accessories are also very popular, such as:
- intumescent paints;
- varnishes;
- impregnates.
Fireproofing wood allows you to increase the fire safety of wooden structures, provided that they are made in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. To be sure that wooden elements will be characterized by high fire resistance, it is best to entrust the task to professionals, such as https://rs-mal.pl/. Effective wood fire protection is an investment in safety. Specialists will propose the best protection of wooden structures from fire, taking into account individual factors.
