Fire Proof Advantages of Timber Frame Construction
- Timber Frame doesn’t suffer the consequences of different coefficients of expansion when the Temperature increases in a fire. It maintains its structural integrity long after the brick and mortar in a typical masonry built house has suffered severe cracking due to the different coefficients of expansion of the two materials.
- Timber has a predictable charring rate of approximately 3mm per minute for soft wood.
- It can withstand temperatures up to 2000°C, at this temperature normal Masonry is already in serious trouble and steel, which starts buckling at around 800°C to 900°C is already in a twisted mess.
- A Timber Frame structure is built in such a way that it limits the flow of air in the wall cavities and in between the floor in the case of a double storey. All this so that the passage of Air can be stopped and any fire that is started within the house can be contained to limit the Damage.
- Also as Keith Rudd would say, there is an added benefit to Timber Frame structures burning down…With brick and Mortar you need to get a digger/loader to remove the mountain of Rubble, in the case of Timber, all you need is broom and Vacuum cleaner.
SANS 0082 Page 52: 4.21 Fire Precautions
Note: Part T of the National Building Regulations shall be consulted regarding fire protection. |
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