5 minute read
Talking Point
Ian King is Chief Operating Officer at Zeroignition. Ian has over 30 years’ general management experience in a variety of global-scale, brand-driven businesses in technologically-focused industries. Building on a sales career in the 1980s, Ian has held sales, marketing, GM, VP and CEO positions in global brands, such as Toshiba, Western Digital, Seagate and Akamai, before getting involved with Zeroignition in the start-up phase in 2011.
SAFEGUARDING TIMBER CONSTRUCTION FROM TOXIC FIRE RETARDANTS
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Timber construction is on the rise, and while this is good news for the industry, thanks to its strong green credentials, some fire retardants used to protect timber from fire contain harmful chemicals that are a danger to human health. It’s imperative that awareness of these polluting chemicals is shared and tackled in a bid to eliminate these risks. Ian King, CEO of Zeroignition, explores further.
Reducing carbon emissions is a key focus for many across the construction industry. If we are to continue using timber, toxic pollution from fire retardants used to treat materials must be thoroughly explored. Like many others in the industry, I hope timber will continue to become the building material of choice in years to come, in which case fire protection will be an increasingly important consideration in construction. Developers cannot turn a blind eye here, especially when working on larger projects where an elusive danger like toxic pollution can easily be overlooked.
Thankfully, there is reason to be hopeful, as ongoing R&D is enabling non-toxic fire retardants to be developed to protect timber without the health risks. To support this progress, we must do more to drive awareness of the threat toxic fire retardants pose, and encourage a deeper understanding of the composition of building materials. Psychological barriers
Fire is a powerful force, and unprotected timber will burn. This perceived fire risk has hampered the growth of timber construction in place of other building materials like concrete or steel. It’s worth, however, considering these alternatives in more detail. When exposed to high temperatures, steel softens and melts, while concrete also degrades in a fire. Steel and concrete are less resilient than they are made out to be, yet we only ever hear about the danger of wood burning.
If building materials and fire safety are considered from the outset of building, coupled with a robust inspection regime, the risk of unprotected wood burning can be reduced significantly. This methodical construction approach will ensure that timber structures are just as fire safe as concrete and steel options. If built with correctly, mass timber, in particular, can provide the necessary two-hour window required for fire protection due to its slow charring rate.
Using specially-designed fire retardants can also enhance a building’s safety, providing a barrier to help better protect against fire. Flame-retardant products are made from materials that are chemically treated to be slow burning or selfextinguishing when exposed to an open flame. These products can be made from any raw material treated with specially flame-retardant-formulated additives to qualify as flame retarded and can significantly delay the effects of being exposed to open flame.
A growing concern
Hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released if wood burns, and some fire retardants contain poisonous chemicals that make this worse once they reach their threshold to protect treated materials from fire. These harmful substances can also spread into water sources through drainage and rain. This toxic pollution can cause problems from manufacturing right through to demolition.
Halogenated chemicals, such as Brominated and Chlorinated compounds, are a significant part of the issue. These components found in many fire everyone from architects to developers must address the minute details that pertain to fire safety, considering how best to protect both structures and lives.
We know untreated timber burns, however using the safest, non-toxic fire retardants and coupling this passive protection with active measures, such as sprinklers and fire doors, will help minimise this danger. By adopting a holistic outlook on fire safety, developers will be better equipped to ensure they are protecting their investments and the safety of building occupants.
retardants damage our health and can lead to complications, like hormone disruptions and an inhibited immune system. Fortunately, the dangers presented by these chemicals are being studied, and legislation has been adopted to phase out their use. For example, Brominated fire retardants are restricted across Europe, with these limitations even stretched to imported goods.
Yet there is still work to do, as harmful chemicals remain present in some building materials. Further investment and a deeper understanding of fire safety are needed in construction. To drive progress, this should be coupled with a firm and dedicated focus on cost effectively producing safer fire retardants.
Expanding our knowledge
By looking at fire safety under the microscope, we can understand how building materials and fire protection methods function together as part of a wider system. Understanding how to prevent wood from burning is a crucial step in spreading awareness about the dangers associated with both fire and toxic fire retardants. Moving forward, An evolving market
New fire retardants are coming to the market, and will help fill the gaps left by toxic products that are no longer available. Evolving legislation is removing harmful chemicals from fire retardants, but some widely-available products are still toxic polluters. Whether leaders within construction like it or not, changing laws will pressurise manufacturers and suppliers who rely on fire retardants to protect timber products, creating a domino effect that hinders the entire timber supply chain. It’s crucial we stay one step ahead and think proactively about the danger presented by toxic fire retardants and work to introduce safer alternatives as soon as possible.
Building a sustainable future
Timber is an attractive building material thanks to its lower embodied carbon and reduced emissions from manufacturing processes compared to other materials like concrete. Thanks to technological innovations and improved building methods, we are building higher and more resiliently with timber than ever before. Impressive feats, such as London’s tallest mass timber office building – the Black & White Building on Shoreditch High Street – are being constructed, demonstrating the versatility of this environmentally-friendly material.
To create a long-overdue sustainable future for construction, we must continue building with timber, without exacerbating the danger of toxic pollution or sacrificing fire safety to eliminate it. This means building on the knowledge base around fire safety in construction and using its importance as a beacon to boost the appetite for investment into developing safer fire retardants.
Lives are put at risk every time a building is constructed with toxic chemicals embedded into the structure. What’s more, our environment needs the relief that timber construction provides. Safety and sustainability must be a top priority for everyone in construction, so let’s tackle the issue of toxic fire retardants head-on today to secure a safer tomorrow.
