New Jersey has introduced a bill requiring more fire resistant materials to be used in construction, a move the Portland Cement Association (PCA) has applauded. The bill was introduced last week by Maria Rodriguez-Gregg (R) and Joseph Lagana (D) and includes measures for fire-safe construction and building materials in certain multi-family residential buildings.
Specifically, the bill aims to prohibit the use of light-frame construction for multi-family dwellings in areas with a population density greater than 5000 people per square mile. These buildings would also need to have firewalls built with non-combustible materials.
“We applaud the members of the Assembly for introducing this vital bill that protects lives and property," said Patrick W. Reardon Jr., executive director of the PCA Northeast Region. "Non-combustible materials such as concrete, masonry or steel minimise the damage typical of fire disasters and are cost competitive."
When fire breaks out in a tunnel the ensuing heat has little possibility of escaping. The heat that develops causes the concrete to spall explosively, weakening the structural integrity of the tunnel. This can be prevented by adding polypropylene fibres to the concrete. But what exactly happens inside the concrete? Engineers at the Technische Universität München (TUM) have found a way to measure this.
MPA The Concrete Centre explains how, because of concrete’s inherent material properties, it can be used to minimise fire risk for the lowest initial cost while requiring the least in terms of ongoing maintenance.