Engineered Wood I-Beams Exposed to Fire Part two, new construction, nearly half of all new residential construction utilize engineered wood I-beams, these and other truss floor components are the norm for wood construction. Residential buildings built after 1990 are suspect for haven engineered wood I-beams or some type of truss floor system.
The hazards and risks of engineered wood I-beams is they burn rapidly due to a very high surface to mass ratio characteristic of kindling.
Just like a common truss, the engineered wood I-beam substitute geometry for mass to support the intended load. Engineered wood I-Beams rely on their depth for stability and allow for a reduction of material to carry the intended load. A reduction in mass means a much faster burn time and alot less time to structural failure.
Engineered Wood I-Beams Exposed to Fire Part two, just as a common truss, engineered wood I-beams are dependent on the bonds of its composite parts for stability. The adhesives used in engineered wood I-beams can quickly lose strength and integrity when damaged and weakened by heat exposure and flame impingement. Structural integrity will be compromised by improper cutting or notching of structural members during construcyion. The strength of a engineered wood I-beam is dependent on proper installation which may not be assured in construction practice.
A distinct building advantage of engineered wood I-beams is they can span up to sixty feet with out additional support. That sure will lead to much faster installation in itself, and less costly building material to the builder.
Engineered Wood I-Beams Exposed to Fire Part two, a bad thing is, theres no benefit to extinguish a burning truss, theres no repairing them. Often times the entire floor must be replaced. Fires involving the structural components of a building built with wood truss systems, including engineered wood I-Beams are usual a total loss.
Post 602 - 18 Oct. 2009
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Thank You Mighty Kindly for visiting my little ole Blogging homestead!
You're sure the most important person in the world to me! Come back often, and bring your family and friends! This here little ole blogging homestead was first started by me back in May 2007
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Have a good one
Dale in New Hampshire
Posted at: Localism.com/neighbor/bakerhome
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Dale - Great info on engineered wood products. Builders and framers love them, but there are some definite downsides.
Howdy there John
Its a pleasure to have you come by to visit, and to read and write a reply back to your comment. On this post, here at my little ole Blogging Homestead.
Thank you kindly, there sure are some downsides to Engineered wood I-beams. A lot of Fire Departments make and keep records of home they have been used in. So in case they have to go into a home that has a fire, so the firemen will if the flooring is being held up by them.
Dale: You are right on with this one; builders and framers do like them and as John said have advantages. As you explained the downside is fire. Once that support system is compromised it usuallly is not a good outcome.
Howdy there Carl and Ceil
Its is always a pleasure to have y'all stop by to sit a visit, and read and write a reply back to the comments, you leave on anyone of blog posts, here at my little ole Blogging Homestead, my friends
Carl - theres be alot of case studies done, on Firefighters that have lost their lives in residential home fires. After they falling with a floor, that collapsed becouse of the Engineered Wood I-Beam gave way.
Dale - do you know of a reasonable way to make these I-beams more fire retardant (without adding more hazard)?
Howdy there Kent
Its a real pleasure to have ya stop by to visit, and to read and write a reply back to you comment. On this post, here at my little ole Blogging Homestead, my friend
You sure have asked a very fine question, there has been some work on doing that, but so far, no one has come up with a reasonable cost way of doing it as of yet.
Hey, Dale - Thanks for the great series on engineered I-beams.
Howdy there Russel
Its a pleasure to have ya come by to pay a visit to this little series, and to read and write a reply to your comment. On this blog post, here at my little ole Blogging Homestead. Sorry for being a day late with it.
Your welcome, home owners really should know about them.