CC MPA supports Ontario Fire Chiefs' fire-sprinkler findings and advocates containment as part of a four part balanced design to prevent the spread of fires and save lives TORONTO, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - When fire strikes, there can be any number of contributing factors, from human behaviour (an untended fry pan; a cigarette left- burning) to the proximity of hazardous materials (half-empty paint tins stacked in a basement). Regardless of the cause, however, it's the structural composition of the building that will largely determine how well the blaze is contained. And while industry-standard fire testing deems materials such as gypsum drywall to be fire resistant, the fact is that they cannot offer the fire protection of masonry products such as concrete block. E ffective containment — or, as it's referred to technically, compartmentalization — is a logical next logical step in the fire-safety equation. By containing a fire, you minimize its damage and essentially buy more time until it can be extinguished. Fire ratings obtained through lab testing offer an indication of that time. Using industry-standard two-hour tests involving exposure to 1800°C temperatures, a wall made of concrete block easily withstands the heat and the subsequent blast from a fire hose at 30 PSI (pounds of water per square inch). When the same testing is applied to fiber-reinforced gypsum panels, the hose penetrates the panels in about 10 seconds. In a laboratory, we have the luxury of duplicating tests and debating the merits of one material over the other. Real life offers only one chance. Concrete masonry can't prevent fire, but it is the best way we have to contain and maintain its structural integrity, to help increase our chances of survival.
