However, the use of timber can dramatically increase the risk of an accidental or malicious fire becoming out of control. The statement below from a senior fire fighter highlights the problems associated with unprotected timber.
About 4 years ago I attended a four storey block of timber framed flats under construction. We could see the smoke as we approached, so I ordered the crew to don B.A. I got a glimpse of the building in between existing houses as we approached, flames were rapidly spreading up all four floors, so fast in fact, that the scene had changed some 10 seconds later as we entered the construction site to one of almost complete involvement, the building collapsed in on itself approximately 14 minutes after arrival, our efforts being mainly confined to (successfully) defending the buildings either side, also timber framed under construction, the speed of fire spread in these buildings (under construction) has to be seen to be believed.
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Following that incident, I have often wondered what will happen in years to come, when the flat owners remove walls, re-plumb or make any of the host of alterations to property that people make? Will they appreciate the dangers in not correctly fire-stopping gaps? What about the scenario where several owners do d.i.y. alterations over several floors, thereby increasing the possibility of fire spread unknowingly, from that original 'as built' design?
We simply cannot keep on allowing new timber frame developments to be built without fire protection to the substrate. Envirograf®, has for many years been synonymous with fire protective coatings for timber. The Envirograf® water based fire protective coatings for timber can offer both Class 0 & Class 1 spread of flame and 30 and 60 minutes fire protection. Tested to BS476 parts 6 & 7 and 22 and B/S1/d0 of European Standard Parts EN13823:2002 single burn test (SBI) and EN11925-2: 2002 ignitability.
Timber in construction is still a superb natural material to use, but without proper fire protection more developments will be susceptible to the risk of a fire and insurance claims will rise and lives will be lost!!
