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Q5) Is there a barn building material that is fire-proof?
Although there are several barn building materials that are considered
fire-proof, it is still possible for damaging and deadly fires to start within
the walls of these barns. As we know, fires usually feed first on the flammable
material that can be found inside the barn. However, in the event of a fire, the
over-all damage to the structure of the building will be minimized if a
fire-proof building material is used in the construction. This can allow for
easier and quicker clean-up and rebuilding, post-fire. It is also possible (but
not guaranteed) that using fire proof building material will prevent fires from
spreading as quickly.
Some examples of fire-proof building materials include poured concrete,
concrete block, metal, and brick. Although they all have the advantage of being
fire-proof, each material also has its drawbacks. For example, poured concrete
is not porous and will sweat in the heat of summer. Brick is known to be very
expensive. Metal buildings such as pole barns can be noisy and easily
damaged.
Although fire-proof building materials can be an added security, they do not
take the place of normal fire-safety precautions, plans and exercises. In
conjunction with a good fire-safety plan, using fire-proof building materials
allows you to put one more roadblock in the path of a possible fire.
If you know of any other tips on dealing with a fire emergency that have not been listed,
please send us an email so that we may include them in the list. We can protect
ourselves and our horses more effectively if we know what the possibilities are.
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