Fireproofing is a crucial step in protecting lives and minimizing damage in the event of a fire. This blog will outline important considerations when selecting a fireproofing service focused on the safety of individuals.
The Importance of fireproofing
Fireproofing is important for several reasons:
Protecting Lives
The very first priority of any fireproofing effort is to save lives. Effective fireproofing saves lives by slowing the advancement of a fire and provides crucial moments that are necessary to evacuate from a building on time. Here are some examples of how this works:
- Slowing Fire Spread: Intumescent coatings and other fireproofing materials acts as a barrier that slows down the spread of fire. For example, the sprayed fireproofing on steel beams and columns prevent these elements from heating up and collapsing quickly in the case of a break-out fire. As a result, this would slow the development of a fire through the building, allowing more time for occupants to evacuate.
Example: A fire breaks out on the third floor in a multi-story office building. Because the structural steel was treated with sprayed fireproofing, the potential of the structure to spread the fire developing on the third floor rapidly into other upper floors is significantly reduced. This gives occupants on the upper floors more time to evacuate safely, and reducing the possibility of injury or death. - Maintaining Structural Integrity: Fireproofing protects the integrity of a building’s structure in the event of a fire. When applied, Intumescent coatings expand and form a good insulating layer around the steel structures. The coating protects the structures from extreme heat, preventing or retarding structural collapse.
Example: The production site of an industrial facility catches on fire. The Intumescent coating on the steel frame expands, insulating the structure from heat and preventing the early collapse of a building structure. That way, occupants will be safely evacuated while emergency responders will have safe passage into the building for fighting the flames or conducting rescue operations if needed. - Providing Additional Evacuation Time: Slowing down the fire and reinforcing the structural integrity of the building can grant very vital extra minutes for a safe escape for the people inside a building. These minutes can mean life or death.
Example: A school’s science lab catches fire, and it rushes into the corridor. The hallways and structure of the school are treated with sprayed fireproofing. Fireproofing retards the development of the fire and holds up the integrity of the evacuation routes for a longer period. This helped the students and staff to evacuate the building safely without panic, thus avoiding injuries. - Ensuring Safe Evacuation: Fireproofing ensures that the ways to escape are safe and accessible through structural integrity.
- Minimizing Damage: Fireproofing reduces the severity of fire damage, safeguarding both people and property.
Identify your fireproofing needs
It all starts with knowing what you precisely need in a fireproofing service.
Consider the following:
- Type of Building and Use: The fireproofing requirement varies with the different types of buildings, such as offices, warehouses, and residential buildings.
- Construction Materials: The awareness of the construction materials for your building helps in deciding the appropriate means through which it can be fireproofed.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure your fireproofing solutions are in line with fire safety laws, local and national.
Fireproofing services offered by Triad fireproofing
At Triad Fireproofing, we offer various services to increase safety and protection.
- Sprayed Fireproofing: A fireproof material applied to structural components, such as steel beams, that helps in the protection of the integrity of the building during a fire and provides valuable extra minutes for evacuation. Click here to read more
- Sprayed Insulation: This is a solution that does two things at once, namely improving thermal efficiency and retarding the spread in case of outbreaks by improving fire resistance, thus offering protection for the occupants. Click here to read more
- Intumescent Coatings: These are coatings applied with the prime purpose of expanding in volume and developing an insulating barrier between the material and heat/flames in case of high temperatures. Click here to read more