lundi 18 juin 2018

What Exactly Is Fire Retardant Wood Treatment And Why It Is Important For Custom Exterior Siding?

By Matthew Turner


Fire retardant wood treatment also called FRT is the process by which wood is impregnated with fire radiant chemicals. The FRT is known to be a protective treatment as it reduces the combustible nature of wood and thus minimizes the risk of a fire for custom exterior siding.

This FRT process occurs at wooden treatment facilities. The treatment is highly similar to the treatment processes such as pressure treating wood with regards to the resistance of insects and the decay of the timber. During this process, air is removed from the wood and the wood is placed in a pressurized chamber. Within the chamber, the timber is pressurized with fire retardant chemicals. Thereafter the very same chamber is depressurized and the wood or lumber is dried to the appropriate moisture content.

Wood can either be the same colour as it underwent the FRT treatment or it could become a highly distinctive reddish-brown colour. The colour, however, is based on the manufacturing company and need not be a cause for concern. The main thing FRT manufacturers need to worry about is whether their products correctly align with the code of conduct for FRT products.

The importance of the anti-fire retardant treatment label cannot be overstated. The label must prove the FRT wood was obtained from a well-recognized organization with an indication that all the required tests have been performed and that the production controls were maintained. The best part is that most FRT products can be used to decorate the interior of homes solely because it has a flame spread rating of 25 or less. The most restrictive flame spreading rate has been noted as 25 and thus the FRT wood works best as an interior finish.

Ultimately one must never fall prey to the misconception that the fire retardant treatment prevents the wood from igniting or burning. Truth be told the rate of burning with FRT wooden products is approximately the same as the rate of burning for wooden products that were not tampered with. The only difference is with FRT products the initial ignition process is slowed down and the rate at which the flames spread across the surface area is significantly reduced.

The best way to identify the difference between FRT wooden products and untreated wooden products is to use the manufacturer s conversion chart. This conversion chart will supply information on the impact the formulation has on the structural capacity of the wooden product and how this capacity is different from untreated wooden products. According to much building structure plans and considerations, FRT wooden products need to be used as it meets the building code of conduct.

When there is a building fire, chemicals in the anti-fire wood treatment products react with the heat from an open flame, the reaction produces carbon dioxide, water and carbon char. Now carbon char insulates the wood from the fire and thus reduces the rate at which the fire will spread.

The FRT process is biologically a safe process which is basically maintenance free and in accordance with the building protocol and standards.




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