Quote:
Originally Posted by BAKGUY
Not everyone wants to live in a Matchbox, which they undisputedly are.
How many of them go up in flames in a few minutes.
So dangerous no matter what it said, they are timber boxes.
I know I hear the materials are improved but still high risk in a city where fires are happening hourly.
I would rather live in a closet but in concrete structure than in a Glue & sawdust constructed edifice..
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Just to pile on a bit...
Every building requires a certain fire resistance rating (1hr, 1.5hr, 2hr, etc.). This doesn't change if it is allowed to be built out of wood, steel or concrete.
These fire resistance ratings are there just to ensure that occupants have a certain amount of time to escape the building. Beyond that, the Building Code really doesn't care. And either way, in a large fire it won't matter whether or not your building survives from a structural standpoint - you aren't going to be living there for a very long time. Case in point that newer building at 221 Stradbrook. It is a full pre-cast concrete building. Yet it had a fire on the roof and top floor, and
everyone who lived there is still out of a home - for at least 12 months.
Typical wood stud construction is only really vulnerable when it's under construction, before the floor and walls have been sheathed in drywall.