How to Design a Fire-Resistant House?

Fire can sweep through a home in minutes, destroying everything you own. If you’re lucky and have a plan then you can get out before the fire injuries you.

The most common cause of a fire in Australia is cooking related. However, there is also a serious risk of bushfires. Those of the 2019/2020 summer cost 445 people their lives and put thousands of people in hospital.

There really is no better reason to design a fire-resistant house.

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Building Materials

Traditional construction has used wood to create stunning homes. However, wood is extremely flammable You can bypass this issue by choosing another building material, such as metal or even stone. You can even try making your house walls from rammed earth.

Neither of these substances burns easily and will give you a great deal of protection.

If you’ve already built your house then try cladding in metal, it will give you an extra layer of protection for a fire resistant house.

Loft Space

The loft space is one of the most dangerous in your home. It usually contains combustible materials and is generally left unattended. The result is the heat of the summer sun could ignite the materials and cause a fire. It can even burn undetected for a while as internal smoke alarms rarely cover the loft space.

The best design is to eliminate the loft space. If this is not possible make sure there are no flammable materials present.

Fire Safety

The key to fire safety is to have a plan that gets you and all other family members out of the house. To help ensure you have the time to get out you need smoke alarms and fire curtains, these will help to prevent the fire from spreading, giving you the opportunity to get out safely. It can also help to limit the damage caused by a fire.

Insulation

Insulation is essential to an energy-efficient home. However, not all insulation materials are created equal. Some are flammable and risk catching alight. They can start a fire or simply help it to spread.

That’s why it’s essential that you choose an insulation that is not flammable. Rockwool, fiberglass, and natural wool are all good at insulating as well as not being flammable.

The good thing about insulation is that it fills cavities, reducing the places where fires can start and therefore cutting the risk.

Roof

Bush fires are particularly dangerous as the flames can climb high into the air. This gives the fire access to the roof of your home. It’s important to take steps to avoid this from happening. The safest option is to replace the wood with metal, tiles, or even a composite material that isn’t flammable.

As always, it is worth consulting with a local professional to establish the best approach in your specific area. You should also be aware of any local regulations to ensure you comply with them. If you don’t your insurance may not be valid if the worst did happen. That’s not something you will want to contemplate.

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