Why does everyone think 5/8" drywall will magically stop a fire? It doesn't! The gypsum core slows burning through to the other side but the paper facing and paint will light up and allow it to spread.
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Fire suppression & Smoke Detectors
- Thread starter climb.on
- Start date
pcmeiners
Well-known member
That is why you use type X sheetrock, it stays structural sound for the time rated.
Uh yeah...but throwing sparks at it will still catch it on fire.That is why you use type X sheetrock, it stays structural sound for the time rated.
Doesn't matter what type of drywall it is, all of it is fire resistant not fire proof. Homes burn down every that use drywall.
I believe a person should be more worried about the fire load of the room rather than what the room is constructed with. The fire load is the contents of the room. While you might think that what you have in the garage would create a huge fire, the new plastics, glues and resins used in furniture making make big hot fires very fast.
As the population of the US gets older, you will find more and more people still living at home. There's a ton of the older population (not necessarily old people) that have O2 tanks at home. Let an O2 tank vent during a house fire and see the fire spread even more. I'd venture to say (again, my estimate) that the number of homes across the US that have O2 tanks in them are ten fold the number of garage/shops that have O2 tanks in them for cutting torches.
It doesn't matter what you do, if fire wants you, it's going to get you.
I believe a person should be more worried about the fire load of the room rather than what the room is constructed with. The fire load is the contents of the room. While you might think that what you have in the garage would create a huge fire, the new plastics, glues and resins used in furniture making make big hot fires very fast.
As the population of the US gets older, you will find more and more people still living at home. There's a ton of the older population (not necessarily old people) that have O2 tanks at home. Let an O2 tank vent during a house fire and see the fire spread even more. I'd venture to say (again, my estimate) that the number of homes across the US that have O2 tanks in them are ten fold the number of garage/shops that have O2 tanks in them for cutting torches.
It doesn't matter what you do, if fire wants you, it's going to get you.
6768rogues
Banned
Totally disagree..........suggest you review Ryan’s video of his garage fire that self extinguished. A very simple sprinkler would have easily put the fire out. Rags, saw dust, garbage can fire or debris fire is likely far more common. I have seen ( first hand) multiple small vehicle fires like ATV, lawn tractors, electrical device failures etc that caused more smoke and heat damage than structure damage. These would easily been stopped by a simple flood of water.
Yes an explosion fire would be a problem to contain..........don’t think it is common as the movies show.
I think you are misinformed about how to design a sprinkler system or what they are intended to do. A residential system uses the standard water supply system for a low density spray, not extinguishing the fire but giving more evacuation time. For saving the building and it’s contents, it is better than nothing but not very much better. It is not designed to extinguish the fire. When the fire intensity causes the small discharge of water to evaporate before reaching the base of the fire, the sprinkler system only created a steamy fire. A real NFPA 13 system designed for the specific fire load will extinguish the fire, but the cost if a large water supply and the system is not in the budget of most individual people. Even then, one designed for a light fire load can be overwhelmed in a larger fire load. Density of water is designed for the specific fire load.
Type X wallboard is not magically fireproof, it resists fire and it has embedded fibers to resist a hose stream.
Also fire watch is important. When I worked at the public school I started a procedure where any contractor wanting to do hot work (grinding, torching, welding, etc.) had to file a request with my office and get approval. Part of that process was that they had to have someone on fire watch for an hour after the work was done. We knew when hot work was occurring and our staff would deal with detectors in the work zone. No more evacuating students because someone lit a torch and triggered the alarm system. Similarly, I don’t leave my shop right after hot work.
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