Atlantic Forestry November 2021

Just a matter of time?

AFR: I am amazed at the number of new large homes and buildings built across the countryside these days, often quite far from all services, especially fire services. 
A few years ago, homes were constructed using beams, joists, and rafters of significantly larger framing, and sheathed using boards. The floors typically had a sub-floor and hardwood flooring of a significant thickness. Today the sheathing and flooring is usually OSB chipboard or perhaps plywood of less thickness. The floor is usually a sawdust-and-glue mixture made in China.
What I am getting at here is a time issue before all is lost in a fire. Real wood beams and joists and rafters take much longer to burn through. A large wooden beam and a thicker wooden floor can make all the difference for the firemen to save the day, especially if anyone is trapped inside. All that melting and burning glue is not good either.

Charles Jess
Yarmouth, N.S.