4 Ways Fire Retardant Plywood Can Be A Lifesaver When A Fire Outbreak Strikes

For construction to be considered complete, fire codes must be met when a building is constructed, especially in high-density areas.

The first step in improving fire safety is designing fire-safe buildings.

There is an increasing demand for fire retardant plywood these days since it has the potential to reduce insurance costs and save lives. We’ll see how this works -

1. Prevents the occurrence of a fire — The added protection provided by fire retardant plywood lowers the likelihood of spark or ignitio. This is owing to the nano-engineered particles impregnated in fire retardant plywood that imparts it with low-flammability properties. Fire sources such as lightning, flames, and fireworks that may otherwise burn a house down to ashes will find it tougher to penetrate through chemically treated wood.
2. Slows down the spreadability of fire — Upon exposure to fire, fire retardant plywood releases non-combustible gasses as well as water vapor to prevent the spread of flames to other surfaces. Moreover, a thin layer of protective char forms on the plywood when the timber gets exposed to fire. Char serves as a mild flame retardant, creating an insulative effect on the wood’s outer layer which makes it harder to ignite. This further reduces the speed of combustion by reducing the flame travel rate.
3. Low smoke generation — Smoke is a dreadful amalgamation of CO and CO2, and the number one cause of death related to fire accidents is smoke inhalation. This is because smoke and toxic gases contribute to suffocation, thereby impeding the evacuation process. But wood that has been fire-treated produces less smoke than conventional wood. Moreover, the chemicals used are water-based and non-toxic.
4. Gives the victims sufficient time to evacuate — Owing to the presence of combustible materials, the furniture catches fire at the speed of light, making it impossible to escape the space. But fire retardant plywood delays the spread of fire and flame penetration for some time. This allows people life-saving extra time to escape to safety well before the plywood walls disintegrate down to ashes. Even the emergency responders get sufficient time to assist those who are stuck inside the building or control the fire.

Final Words

The onset of a fire can occur anywhere, so it is vital to protect your building or structure at all times.

The use of fire retardant plywood can help prevent casualty and consumer structures from getting damaged by fire to a great extent, thus making it a wonderful investment for all building projects.