Multi-Family Fire Safe Construction
Codes & Standards
Home > Fire Safety > Reducing
Life Cycle Costs
Reducing
Life Cycle Costs
 Among
the chief benefits of concrete and masonry construction is passive
fire protection. Non-combustible concrete and masonry construction
resists fire, does not burn, and provides fire containment through
compartmentation. Such fire protection, in addition to a wide variety
of other benefits, will translate into significant long-term cost
savings for developers and/or owners.
For instance, insurance providers offer lower premiums on policies
covering long-lasting fire-resistant concrete and masonry construction.
Concrete and masonry systems also provide structural integrity and
resistance to natural disasters such as earthquakes, high wind events
like hurricanes, wildland fires, and floods with minimal damage
and low repair costs. After floods or storms, concrete and masonry
construction will not be a source for mold growth.
 Non-combustible
concrete and masonry construction’s durability also makes
it virtually maintenance-free. Routine cleaning and painting are
not necessary for many concrete and masonry finishes, substantially
lowering maintenance costs.
Robust concrete and masonry construction provides savings on operating
costs as well. Concrete and masonry are suitable for a large variety
of insulation strategies and provide thermal mass benefits which
reduce and delay heating and cooling loads.
Non-combustible concrete and masonry construction has been proven
to contain fires in low-, mid-, and high-rise residential buildings
to individual units or between vertical or horizontal fire barriers,
allowing time for emergency responders to initiate evacuation and
attack procedures and to more easily extinguish the confined fire.
Multi-family dwellings should include:
- Automatic fire detection systems
- Automatic fire suppression systems (fire sprinklers)
- Minimum two-hour fire resistance-rated non-combustible concrete
and masonry separations between living units
- Minimum two-hour fire resistance-rated non-combustible concrete
and masonry between living units and public spaces
- Minimum one-hour fire resistance-rated non-combustible exterior
walls
This type of construction reduces operating costs while optimizing
life safety and property protection for occupants. These are direct
cost benefits to a developer/owner or benefits that can be communicated
to owners interested in providing safe, quality, long-lasting housing
for occupants.
When it comes to building construction that combines minimal life
cycle costs with life safety and property protection, there is no
comparison to non-combustible concrete and masonry construction.
For more information about combining smoke detectors, fire sprinklers,
and passive fire protection visit the Fire
Safety Construction Advisory Council.
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