As you can see from the lack of album updates on this site the Region of Waterloo has been fire-free for quite some time. As a result, I’ve been filling my days reading fire blogs to make sure fires are still happening elsewhere in the world. For those of you who follow the many blogs written in the US, you’ll have likely noticed a number of articles recently posted on the topic of lightweight construction in new-build residential homes. Firegeezer has posted two blogs on the topic and, interestingly, both have featured interviews by local fire department personnel taking about the dangers of lightweight construction in terms of firefighter safety.

On the April 25th “Morning Lineup” Firegeezer featured an interview with Kitchener Fire Department Chief Tim Beckett by the CBC on the topic of “Fiery Floors - Firefighter Safety Threatened by Floor Joists.” In the April 13th interview, Chief Beckett describes the issues surrounding the use of pre-engineered construction material, specifically floor joists, and the impact these products have on firefighter safety. According to Beckett, as new homes are being built to meet the current trend of open-concept living, new lightweight pre-engineered joists are being used in nearly all new construction.

The deleterious effect of pre-engineered joists on firefighter safety is quite drastic. According to Chief Beckett, traditional solid wood joists last approximately 20 minutes under normal fire conditions. This gives ample time for a homeowner to be notified of a fire, to call 9-1-1, for emergency crews to arrive on scene, for fire crews to perform a primary search and to initiate an offensive fire attack (should the conditions allow). However, the new composites found in the pre-engineers joists are said to lose their structural integrity after a mere 4 to 7 minutes! Even with a response time of 2-3 minutes, there isn’t much time left for searches and rescue operations. In addition, fire crews are exposed to increased smoke toxicity emanating from the glues, resins, and epoxy used in the manufacture of pre-engineered joists.

Before Chief Beckett’s interview on the dangers of pre-engineered floor joists, Waterloo Fire Rescue DCOPS Brassard was interviewed by CKCO News on the subject of lightweight engineered roof trusses. According to Brassard, the ability of builders to use less-costly 2” x 4” roof trusses (rather than the old 2” x 6” stick construction) has exponentially decreased the fire resistance and structural integrity of buildings exposed to fire. As a result of these changes, firefighters now must decide whether rescue operations and offensive fire attacks can be safely carried out. At what point does firefighter safety trump the need to perform potentially life-saving operations?

I am happy to see both Waterloo and Kitchener fire departments actively involved in promoting public knowledge about the challenges posed to their crews by changes in building practices. It is especially relevant in the Region of Waterloo as new residential neighbourhoods, student accommodations, and seniors residences are all being built using pre-engineered lightweight trusses.

As the Firegeezer points out, “We need more of this type of aggressive publicity from all facets of the fire protection industry.  It is through the voters that corrections will be made because they are the only people the elected officials will respond to over the influence of the well-heeled home builders who have been filling the politicians' campaign chests for so many years.”

Please take a few moments to read the linked articles and watch the videos. Be sure to spread the word of the dangers these construction techniques pose and, if possible, share your concerns with your department, your friends, and your members of parliament.

Cheers,

IEH