Multi-Family Fire Safe Construction
Codes & Standards
Home > Fire Safety > Tax Base
and Investors
Securing
Your Community’s Tax Base and Investors
 When
disasters strike, communities must be prepared for the recovery
process. Even a small fire can disrupt businesses and taxes, affecting
local economies. Communities can help ensure that resources are
used most efficiently by adopting strategies to minimize the likelihood
and severity of such disasters. Non-combustible concrete and masonry
construction resists the spread of fire, does not burn, and provides
durable, low-maintenance buildings that contribute to the attractiveness
of a community.
Non-combustible concrete and masonry construction provides a level
of robustness and structural integrity that is unique. These massive,
durable buildings can last for hundreds of years with little maintenance.
These types of structures will attract solid investors, not speculators,
to your community.
In addition, non-combustible concrete and masonry buildings will
not burn to the ground, and fires in these buildings are not likely
to spread to other buildings. Thus, fewer families and businesses
will be displaced or disrupted after a fire event.
While the most important concerns with regard to fire in multi-family
structures remain life safety and property protection, if a fire
spreads throughout a multi-family dwelling, families may need to
relocate and businesses may need to seek and train new employees.
In addition, if a multi-family dwelling is fully engulfed in flames,
property tax revenues will be lost. Concrete and masonry construction
can contain fires within units or levels, reducing the likelihood
that entire buildings will be lost. After most fires contained to
units of origin, the concrete and masonry retain their structural
integrity and units can be quickly and inexpensively reconditioned
and made ready for occupancy.
 |
 |
| Minor fire damage. |
Restored after fire. |
If a fire spreads from a multi-family dwelling to adjacent structures,
additional homes and businesses could be lost. Loss of businesses
may force families to relocate and may disrupt the tax revenue stream
for the community.
Continued operation of businesses helps assure that the property
tax base is maintained. Communities that opt to require non-combustible
concrete and masonry construction help to support continued operations
and a stronger community.
 For
multi-family dwellings, minimum two-hour fire-resistance-rated non-combustible
concrete and masonry construction with minimum one-hour fire-resistance
rated non-combustible exterior walls is an appropriate, economically
viable solution.
When it comes to building construction for sustainable development,
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.
|