Fire-resistant housing is a must if you live in a bushfire-prone area in Australia.
In light of the mounting risk posed by bushfires in Australia, it is absolutely essential to embrace innovative building methods that prioritize safety above all else.
Whether constructing an entire house or a specially designed fire-safe room, Eco Block ICF formworks offer unrivalled protection and resilience against the forces of nature.
This article takes a closer look at how Eco Block ICF formwork is transforming the concept of fire-resistant housing and provides a bush fire assessment report and product specs.
Fire proof housing: safe rooms and homes built with ICF
It is evident that building with Eco Block ICF formwork can provide homeowners in bushfire-prone areas with peace of mind.
The utilisation of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) offers remarkable durability and impact resistance when compared to traditional wood construction materials.
The Eco Block ICF walls have been extensively tested and proven to withstand powerful winds while also providing fire resistance for up to two hours in the 230 Series Wall configuration.
Fireproof housing materials: ICF formwork
Eco Block’s ICF has truly set a benchmark for bush fire assessment with its outstanding performance in all areas related to external walls, joints, vents, and weep holes.
This is what gives Eco Block its integrity and thus signature fire-resistance. We delve more in depth below.
FRL explained: how to build bushfire-resilient buildings with ICF
The National Construction Code abbreviation FRL stands for Fire Resistance Level. FRL refers to the time period, measured in minutes, the material upholds the Schedule 5 criteria before failure.
The Schedule 5 criteria are as follows:
- Structural Adequacy: how long will the material or structure stay up
- Integrity: how long will the material or structure not allow any fire or hot gasses through
- Insulation: How long will the material or structure stop heat transfer.
Failure criteria are specified in the fire test standard AS1530.4.
The fire resistance level is expressed in minutes and lists the three criteria in the order given above. For example, an FRL of 180/180/180 means a minimum fire resistance period of 180 minutes across all criteria.
Check out Eco Block’s FRL ratings in the table below. Note, the minimum FRL a Class 1 building (a single dwelling like your average home) is FRL 60/60/60. Eco Block ICF formwork far exceeds this minimum across all of our series and offers superior fire protection than even traditional building methods. For this reason, we’re seeing a surge in popularity for our ICF in the construction industry.
In this spec chart, the fire rating of the Eco Block ICF is emphasised. The 101mm cavity block provides a fire rating of 90 minutes, while the 203mm cavity block offers an impressive fire rating of up to 4 hours!
This information is most valuable for architects, builders, and property owners who prioritise natural disaster preparedness, sustainability and safety.
By using Eco Blocks ICF formwork with thicker concrete forms, it becomes possible to achieve a higher level of protection against potential fires.
Fire Resistant Housing with Eco Block ICF
Concerned property owners who seek fire-resistant housing solutions finally have the reliable and proven product they’ve been searching for. If you’re in a bushfire prone zone, Eco Block ICF is a no brainer – it’s one of the best fire-resistant building materials available to protect you, your family and your home.
If you are considering building in a fire-prone area or have more questions about our ICF formwork product specifications, contact Eco Block today.
Eco Block Pty Ltd is the number one provider of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) in Australia Working closer with homeowners, builders and architects we aspire to deliver the best living environment for you and your family, or employees.
Whether you are building a home, designing architecture or constructing a commercial building, our knowledgeable Eco Block team will be there to help and guide you throughout the process. Plus, we have product specs and design and building manuals available because we want to ensure you use the ICF building blocks correctly and get the best out of them.
Ready to discuss your next construction project with Eco Block? Call 1800 669 696 or send us an enquiry here.
