When building a home, what are the best materials for fire safety? Wood frames are the safest in terms of fire safety, because they don't collapse as fast as metal. Every year, thousands of people are killed...
Every year, thousands of people are killed because of unforeseen fires in the home, many of them children. With such astonishing figures, many consumers and homeowners are now taking the necessary steps to fire proof their homes.
And as times have changed, so have the ways to prevent fires. It used to be that putting a cheap plastic fire extinguisher in the kitchen and throwing up a few smoke detectors was considered fire prevention. But with improved technology and more information on the causes of fires, homeowners are coming up with new and inventive ways to fire proof their homes.
The most common and recommended fire prevention is knowledge. Many experts will agree that the more a consumer knows about how fires can be started, especially in the home, preventing them will become much easier. Experts advise homeowners to do research on every detail, from extension cord usage around the home to escape routes for every room.
But just as those who have fallen victim to a fire have quickly found out, no matter how safe you are, preventing a fire from happening is never 100 percent guaranteed. So to better increase the chances of preventing a fire, many homeowners have decided to try to eliminate the problem by purchasing safer materials to build their home.
With over 18 years as a Fire Marshall in Georgetown, Texas, Dan Jansen is an expert in the world of fire safety. During his tenure as a Fire Marshall, Jansen has dealt primarily with fire education, safety and prevention. Jansen said that the best material to use when building a home is wood.
"As far as fire safety, truthfully nothing beats just a wonderful wood frame construction home," Jansen said. "Wood actually does not have a collapse danger as much as metal does. There is nothing wrong with a good wood frame house. Just take into consideration that the construction is done according to the codes of your local jurisdiction."
Just like many other homeowners, first initial response to a statement stating wood is the best material to build a home sounds a little fishy. Obviously, wood is one material that burns very quickly, but Jansen said that you can't just build a home made of wood. There has to be some additions to help reduce the likeliness of fire.
"The wood should be protected with things like sheet rock and exterior siding," he said. "You do not want to have just a solid wood house. You want to have it protected. The most important thing is to have your home protected from fire."
Also, if you're thinking about fire prevention in the early stages of building your home, Jansen said that sprinkler systems are becoming a commodity amongst homeowners.
"There are more and more fire sprinkler systems being put into homes," he said. "This is where the future of fire safety is going. It is a great idea to put in a home fire sprinkler system."
