Is Your Home Constructed with Trusses?
Posted by proforma on April 17, 2009
Lightweight trusses used in commercial and residential construction can collapse with little warning in a fire, says the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Not only are these structures affected more rapidly by fire than heavier building materials, they also lose load-bearing capacity as they lose their triangular configuration. Truss structures over large, open areas – especially undivided space – are even more dangerous.
NFPA cites truss structures and concealed spaces as a major contributor to firefighter injuries and fatalities. Where used in residential construction, the association advocates that homeowners install a sprinkler system. The risk of dying in a home fire decreases by 80 percent when sprinklers are present. Cost of installation in new construction averages $1.61 per square foot.
Tyco has published a compelling report that dramatically demonstrates what happens to truss structures in a fire, documenting total collapse in little over 10 minutes.
More information on home sprinkler systems is available at the Fire Sprinkler Initiative site.
Filed Under: Home Safety
