Preserve life and minimise damage
It is imperative that buildings and structures are created to protect people and property from threats - including fire. Legislation and design codes exist for this reason and are updated to reflect international research and development in concrete's fire safety. As a non-combustible material, concrete and concrete masonry rarely require additional fire protection and during a fire event will not add to the fire load or produce harmful emissions.
Concrete's slow rate of heat transfer prevents fire spread within structures while providing protection to evacuees and fire fighters. Following a fire a concrete structure generally remains intact, allowing for relatively quick repair and reoccupation, saving time and money. This range of properties ensures concrete provides an impressive level of fire resistance that ultimately assists in preserving life and minimising damage.
For more on the fire performance of concrete visit: www.cca.org.nz/fire