Outcome: High Performance, Low Risk
Masonry Home > Application: Performance & Safety > Outcome: High Perf...
Disaster Resistance
Concrete resistance to disaster-both natural and unnatural-is a material
benefit. Its inherent structural redundancy reduces the cost of meeting
special requirements for blast or seismic resistance. Its strength
resists winds of more than 200 miles per hour, offering built-in safety
from tornadoes and hurricanes. And its mass holds up under the impact
of flying debris.
Indoor Air Quality
As highly publicized sick buildings result in costly remedial work
and litigation, indoor air quality amounts to a new design criterion
for buildings. The root of the problem is building materials that
outgas volatile organic compounds and other indoor pollutants. Concrete
is basically inert. Its concentration and emission rates for VOCs
are the lowest among construction materials. But more importantly,
concrete needs no fireproofing or other coatings that emit indoor
air pollutants and lead to sick-building syndrome.
Fire Safety
It's a simple fact: Concrete has far greater fire resistance than
steel. It requires no fireproofing treatments. It easily and economically
meets the most stringent fire codes. And it affords a measure of
security for the people who live and work in your building-from
the standpoint of both fire protection and fire containment.
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