Fire Resistance Concrete Masonry

It takes only 20 minutes for a fire to consume the entire building. But fires also can start outside the house from charcoal grills, grass fires, and heat from nearby house fires. Brick industry professionals have long recognized the exceptional fire resistance of genuine clay brick. Three of those panels were clad with brick. An exception is when large wall panels are subject to horizontal wind loads, which produce bending and small tensile stress to the masonry. Model codes reference the ability of a material or assembly to maintain its particular fire-resistant properties as its fire resistance rating, expressed in hours.

Fire Rating and Performance Based Design of Concrete Masonry Walls – Masonry Fire Resistance

It is noteworthy to distinguish between bricks and brickwork. The exact time will depend on the block type, loading and finish applied. When it escapes controlled confines, fire destroys lives, property, and businesses. Fire resistance is the ability of a material or an assembly to withstand fire or give protection from it. For example, a one hour fire resistance requirement can be achieved utilizing wood stud construction faced with gypsum board on both sides or with four-inch thick concrete masonry construction.

For walls, specimens must additionally be subjected to a hose stream test that has long been a source of controversy. The fire exposure period for the duplicate specimen is one half of the desired fire resistance period of the assembly, but not more than one hour.

Table 722.3.2 expands this table to provide fire-resistance ratings in quarter-hour increments. You and your loved ones who dwell inside those four walls.

Fire Resistance

Fires can start within the building from cooking appliances. That cladding is fired clay brick. Of the other two panels, one was clad with a popular fiber-cement siding.