The new BC building code allowing six-storey buildings with a single egress stairwell has raised valid concerns about fire safety and evacuation. But did you know that using ๐—–๐—Ÿ๐—ง (๐—–๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ง๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ) for fire-resistant cores could be a smart solution? Hereโ€™s how CLT addresses these concerns:

Fire burning with logs in a metal fire pit outdoors

1. ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—•๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ป ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ฟ:  When exposed to fire, CLT chars on the outside, creating a protective layer that insulates the interior wood, maintaining structural integrity longer than materials like steel, which can rapidly weaken under heat. This controlled burn gives emergency personnel more time to respond and ensures safer egress routes for occupants.

2. ๐—œ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: Unlike concrete, which requires up to 28 days to cure, CLT can be installed immediately, speeding up construction timelines and reducing fire risk during the build phase.

3. ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐˜๐—ต ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ: CLT remains structurally sound during fire events, providing a durable, load-bearing core for stairwells and other key exit routes. This ensures that, even in extreme conditions, these vital areas are protected for longer.

4. ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—˜๐—ณ๐—ณ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜: CLT offers not just fire resistance but a greener building alternative, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of your project ๐ŸŒ.

By utilizing CLT for fire-resistant cores, we can enhance safety, protect lives, and meet the demands of modern building codes. Itโ€™s not just about innovationโ€”it’s about creating safer, more sustainable buildings for the future.

Pro Tip for the GCโ€™s: This reduced fire risk entitles you to reductions in your builderโ€™s insurance costs. Ask Mass Timber Services how!

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