Fire Rating and Wood Construction

The goal of any structure is to achieve safety for its occupants as defined by building codes. Given construction methods, interior finishes and furnishings, there can be no such thing as a fireproof building.

Even steel loses its strength and gives way with sufficient heat. But all buildings must be constructed in such a way that they resist fire long enough for occupants to escape. For example, many building codes require commercial construction of walls to have a one or two-hour fire rating. For light frame wood construction, these fire ratings are achieved by covering the frame with 5/8" type X wallboard (for a one-hour rating) and two layers of the same wallboard for a two-hour rating. Other wood products are treated with fire retardants to achieve various ratings. Because large timbers and beams char during a fire (which slows the burning process) they maintain structural integrity long enough to achieve a satisfactory fire rating.

Read more about fired rated wood floor and wall assemblies.