TORONTO, May 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- If you live in a condo or any multi-unit residence, protecting your family from fire should go beyond smoke detectors or even a sprinkler system to make sure your family is safe.
Non-combustible construction materials between units will ensure any fires in neighbouring units remain as contained as possible, protecting not just your family, but your valuables as well. Referred to as 'compartmentalization', these suppression systems divide the structure into smaller areas in high-hazard zones to contain a fire until it can be extinguished.
"You can't tell from the outside whether a building has non-combustible masonry firewalls between units," says, Jack Prazeres, President of MasonryWorx. "You have to ask."
The Ontario Building Code allows combustible material such as Engineered Wood Products to be used as firewalls in buildings under 4-storeys, but does not allow them to be used in larger buildings. These materials are resistant to fire for longer periods of time than ordinary wood, but do not have anywhere near the protection provided by non-combustible masonry firewalls.
"All Engineered Wood Products burn. Some take longer than others, but once they reach their threshold temperature, they can burn very quickly," says Prazeres.
During a fire, a masonry wall will continue to carry loads, long after its established fire-resistance period has been reached and will also resist damage from high-pressure water streams used by firefighters to extinguish the fire. Wood-framed buildings cannot withstand this pressure, or hold up in the event of fire.
Using masonry, such as brick or stone, on the outside of buildings also helps prevent the spread of fire between single family homes. With lot sizes getting smaller, choosing a masonry exterior should be as much a safety decision as it is an aesthetic and energy efficiency decision, according to Prazeres.
"It's important to know what you are buying when picking a low-rise condo or townhouse," says Prazeres. "Masonry dividing walls offer many advantages – improved fire protection and reduced sound from neighbours, increased energy efficiency, and for the outside of your home, a look that the vast majority of Ontario residents prefer."
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Media Contact: John Armstrong 905 327-2600 or john@armstrongcommunications.ca
About MasonryWorx
MasonryWorx is the trade association of brick, block and stone masonry industry professionals. Its membership includes product manufacturers, suppliers and skilled professionals from across Ontario, and the organization is committed to providing homebuyers, homeowners, architects, engineers, builders and government leaders with accurate, timely information about the use and benefits of brick, block and stone products.
Quick facts about the masonry industry
The masonry industry contributes $2.8 billion Canada's GDP and $1.3 B of that to Ontario's economy. The masonry industry is responsible for 30,500 Canadian jobs, 14,220 in Ontario, resulting in $1.3 B in household income in Canada and $600 million in Ontario.
For more on the benefits of masonry, please visit www.masonryworx.com.
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