Non-concrete Firewall 4 hrs rating

[Cobul]

Masonry and Concrete Firewalls have existed since ancient civilization. Now with Rovers moving in Mars and LHC probing new particles. Is it not possible to design Firewalls not made of masonry and concrete 8" thick which are so heavy? Soon we will stay in hotels near the International Space Station or have vacation in Mars. Couldn't they invent any non-concrete Firewall that is rated at least 4 hours? What are the obstacles or material challenges to build them? Why is it as impossible to build as Adamantium? Or if they existed already. What are examples of them? It should be 4 hour fire rated and not just 2 hours. This will be immensely useful in buildings and houses at present.

 

[marcusl]

We have that material—it’s called asbestos.

 

[Cobul]

We have that material—it’s called asbestos.

Asbestos can cause cancer or lung diseases.

What other non-concrete that is 4 hour fire rating. And why is it hard to design one?

If someone can invent it and patent it. He can earn billions of dollars of profit. Right now. Houses and buildings have to use very thick 8" concrete wall and masonry wall just to satisfy fire rating. So if a material 2" in thickness with 4 hour fire rating can be invented. It would be a breakthrough in material science.

 

[Lnewqban]

Some 4-hour partitions can be created with sheetrock gypsum panels.
It is a common use within USA buildings, mainly for fire-rated shafts.

Please, see:
http://www.usg.com/content/dam/USG_...ire-resistant-assemblies-catalog-en-SA100.pdf

 

[Cobul]

Some 4-hour partitions can be created with sheetrock gypsum panels.
It is a common use within USA buildings, mainly for fire-rated shafts.

Please, see:
http://www.usg.com/content/dam/USG_...ire-resistant-assemblies-catalog-en-SA100.pdf

Could this also work as exterior 4 hour rated firewall assuming no need for protection against wind and other forces? What exterior non-concrete walls are 4 hour fire rated?

 

[Lnewqban]

Could this also work as exterior 4 hour rated firewall assuming no need for protection against wind and other forces? What exterior non-concrete walls are 4 hour fire rated?

Gympsum board is not suitable for exterior use because it is hygroscopic.

 

[256bits]

Houses and buildings have to use very thick 8" concrete wall and masonry wall just to satisfy fire rating. So if a material 2" in thickness with 4 hour fire rating can be invented. It would be a breakthrough in material science.

You still need a structural wall for support, maybe made out of 8-inch concrete.

 

[Cobul]

Gympsum board is not suitable for exterior use because it is hygroscopic.

How about double sided 9mm cement board that is waterproof? It has steel structural framing already and no issues with support. What else are 4 hour fire rated material besides Asbestos or gybsum. Don't want to use thick concrete. No other material on Earth can do it? How come?

 

[Tom.G]

Aerogel, as used on spacecraft to withstand re-entry heat. (but you better have large bank account!)

I once saw a live demonstration of a person holding a 2 inch cube of it by diagonal corners. He then heated one face of it to a Red heat with a blow torch.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Lnewqban]

View attachment 279289

How about double sided 9mm cement board that is waterproof? It has steel structural framing already and no issues with support. What else are 4 hour fire rated material besides Asbestos or gybsum. Don't want to use thick concrete. No other material on Earth can do it? How come?

Perhaps it is irrelevant in your case, but I would like to note that the international building code maximum requirement for exterior walls of certain category buildings is 3-hour rate.
The difficulty on achieving that rate or greater is not in the wall itself but in the openings of the building (doors and glass windows), as well as the connection to the roof (parapet or overhang).
Please, see:
http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/...mmission_Education_POC/664/664-0-MATERIAL.pdf

If you Google "exterior fire rated wall assemblies", you could find many examples that you could use as references for building your wall.

 

[Cobul]

Perhaps it is irrelevant in your case, but I would like to note that the international building code maximum requirement for exterior walls of certain category buildings is 3-hour rate.
The difficulty on achieving that rate or greater is not in the wall itself but in the openings of the building (doors and glass windows), as well as the connection to the roof (parapet or overhang).
Please, see:
http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/...mmission_Education_POC/664/664-0-MATERIAL.pdf

If you Google "exterior fire rated wall assemblies", you could find many examples that you could use as references for building your wall.

Thanks for the references. Do you have idea how long it takes before a 0.5mm thin metal roof (like photo above) can burn through in case of a fire? Any videos or photos of what occurs to such roofs after a fire?

And if fire coating is put underneath, how long it can last?

 

[Lnewqban]

Hot enough fire (around 1500 °C) will go through that panel in little time, badly deforming it first.
Even if not, radiation from the red steel could ignite any combustible material that may be close enough.
With insulation, I have no idea, sorry.

One thing to consider is the pressures that any wall is loaded with because the air movements that the fire induces, sometimes associated explosions, inside or outside a building.
That is one reason for more resistant panels made up of different layers and an internal structure (wood or steel).

 

[Cobul]

Perhaps it is irrelevant in your case, but I would like to note that the international building code maximum requirement for exterior walls of certain category buildings is 3-hour rate.
The difficulty on achieving that rate or greater is not in the wall itself but in the openings of the building (doors and glass windows), as well as the connection to the roof (parapet or overhang).

You meant fire could get out of the sides or holes in the gutter? This is why it is required there must be 39 inches or 1 meter parapet above the roofline. How would such parapet protect the neighbor from any fire?

 

[Lnewqban]

That could be a good reason.
I don’t know for sure.
Most roofs have some combustible component or membrane or equipment that should have additional prevention against catching fire, directly or via wind-driven sparks.

 

[Yuio]

Durasteel
https://www.promat.com/en-gb/construction/products-systems/products/boards/durasteel/

 

[anorlunda]

Is this a question where the best answer you can find on the Internet is OK? I expect that local building codes list the materials you are allowed to use.

For example, aerogel is wonderful, but I don't know if it is allowed on a structure.

 

[chemisttree]

Geopolymer or high volume fly ash concrete can do that. Been there... done that!
Still, I am no millionaire!