Engineered wood I joists are consistently seen in construction around North America. Reducing the cost of construction while maximizing profits are at the core of this development. Yet, one of the extreme dangers of this type of construction is how quickly it fails during a fire.
OSB and plywood are common sheathing materials for the I joist. While advancing the profit margins for developers it also poses tremendous risk to firefighters.
Tests indicate failure can occur in as little as 6 minutes. Think about the time frame. How long does it take to receive an alarm, respond and begin suppression operations? In many cases those performing a primary search or advancing the initial attack line will face catastrophic failure of the floor beneath them.
The failures will only increase as new homes become older. Take time out of a busy day and visit a construction site. The construction materials may mean the difference between life and death.
No comments:
Post a Comment