Renovating With Fire Resistance in Mind

If a home reno is part of the plan this season, consider options that can slow the spread of fire.

Coated Lumber – uses fire-retardant paint to increase the fire resistance of the wood. It can’t stop a fire, but it can slow it, providing more time for people to escape safely.

Fire-resistant or non-combustible insulation – doesn’t develop smoke and it helps limit the spread of flames. Depending on how it’s installed, it can boost fire resistance by more than 50 per cent.

Fire-resistant Type XI drywall – Glass fibers are added to the board to help it slow down a fire. Also, because it is denser than normal gypsum-and-paper drywall, it holds up longer than regular drywall when exposed to fire, offering more time to escape safely.

Metal roof – is fire resistant, can last more than 50 years, is recyclable, wind-resistant and helps lower energy costs. All pluses.

Fire Safety Tip: Add LED lighting along stairways and hallways to guide anyone in a smoke-filled home to the outside. When there are only minutes to get to safety, seconds count.

Fast Fact: Building codes aim to protect adjacent homes from a neighbouring fire. That’s why the amount of glass that can be on either side of a house depends on how close it is to the property line. In many cases, the further a house is from the property line, the more glass it can have on that side.