Home sprinkler systems can be a highly effective line of defense against home fires, but they also can be expensive. Check out these new offerings that will upgrade your standard building products to those with fire-retardant properties, allowing longer egress times for homeowners.
Boise added a fifth
way for its I-joists to resist flames. FireBreak is a heat-resistant product
made from ceramic, alumina, and zirconia crystal fibers that then are stapled
to the vertical web of the I-joist. The combined product meets fire resistance requirements
for light frame construction as they apply to floor framing over unfinished
basements. www.bcewp.com.
CertainTeed's
CertaSpray X (CSX) Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation offers multiple solutions in
a single application. In addition to the air sealing, energy savings, and noise
reduction inherent in spray foam insulation, CertaSpray X also provides
code-compliant fire protection. An ignition barrier element is added to the
material during manufacture. CSX also cures to a mocha color making it easy for
building inspectors to identify. certainteed.com
GP’s ToughRock Fireguard 45 Gypsum Board is
meant for use in a 45-minute UL classified fire rating. The product is aimed at
giving builders the ability to increase home fire resistance without upping the
cost. As a 1/2-inch fire-rated wallboard, Fireguard can replace all standard
and lightweight 1/2-inch walls, including 24-inch OC ceilings, without needing
to change the wall assembly. gp.com
Integrity now offers California Fire Glass as
an option for its Wood Ultrex and All Ultrex series windows and doors. The
option includes a dual-coating configuration and meets 2016 Energy Star
Northern Zone guidelines. Features of the California Fire Glass include
dual-pane IG with annealed exterior, and tempered interior glazing, which meets
fire code guidelines in California. marvin.com/integrity
Kidde’s latest product, RemoteLync, gives users peace of mind about the
safety of their home when they’re away, and a chance to take quick
action even if they’re not. The smart device is designed to recognize
the alarm sound of a smoke or carbon monoxide detector, and will send a
message to the homeowner’s smartphone if either device goes off. Users
can then contact emergency services, or reach out to their loved ones.
Remote Lync will work with any smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
UL-listed after 1999. kidde.com
Where
home fire sprinklers are requested or required, Viega offers eight new PEX
Press fire protection fittings and mounting brackets in high-performance
polymer for NFPA 13D fire sprinkler installations. The fittings are available
for 3/4- and 1-inch sprinkler applicatiosn in four configurations: straight
adapters, elbows, tees, and wall tees. The mounting brackets allow for easier
installation, eliminating the guesswork behind proper alignment. viega.us
Weyerhaeuser says its TrusJoist is the first
I-joist to feature factory-applied fire resistance. The joists are designed to
meet fire code requirements in single-family homes without sprinklers or gypsum
board, and are recommended for use in unfinished basements and other
applications where an I-joist typically is used. weyerhaeuser.com