Why It Is Important To Install A Cavity Wall

New building projects are things that require a lot of time to plan

, and that requires even more time to finish. It is very important to get everything right from the planning phase, because changing things once the actual building has started to take shape can be extremely difficult. For example, deciding to change the cavity wall of the building once construction has started can have disastrous effects, not only on the happiness of the workers, but also on the allotted budget. So it is best to avoid such changes and carefully plan everything from window fixings to the position of the cavity fire barriers.

Some people know what a cavity is and what an important part it plays in the thermal insulation of a building, but they have no idea what a cavity fire barrier is. To properly understand what this type of barrier is, and what it does, we need to first analyse the cavities and their filling. While some are left empty, to create a thermal break, others are filled with a special material for insulation. That is highly flammable and can be a true risk in case of a fire. Even empty cavities are a huge risk in case of a fire, as the fire can easily reach the structure of the building. Buildings with timber frames are at an even greater risk.

A cavity fire barrier is a cavity closer that is created specifically to resist fire. Placed in cavities, these prevent the fire from spreading to critical areas of the building. To properly protect the cavity from fire, the barrier usually contains a fire insulation that is encapsulated in foil, to reflect the flame and heat. This also prevents moisture from penetrating, so it is just as effective as a regular cavity closer. This does not mean that the building is entirely safe in case of a fire. Masonry walls have a higher natural resistance to fire, and tests have shown that a good fire barrier can maintain the integrity of masonry walls for 90 minutes, while timber framed walls are maintained for only 60 minutes. It may not seem like much, but in case of a fire each and every minute is vital, and even a couple of seconds saved can mean the difference between life and death. Not only buildings with a high fire risk should be properly equipped with fire barriers, as any building can benefit from having them installed.

A good architect should suggest installing these elements on new buildings, as they are crucial to the safety and health of those who will live there. No new building project should be without them, but this does not mean that they can only be installed on new buildings. Already built buildings can be modified to accept these new elements, and while some reduction in the floor space of the building may occur, due to the size of the cavity, the extra thermal insulation is worth it.

The cavity wall does not only provide thermal insulation though, it also provides a way for rain water and humidity to be eliminated from the walls, effectively increasing their life and reducing the risk of condensation forming inside the house. While the cost of adding all of the new elements may seem high at first, the money saved on heat bills will make it all worthwhile. Along with the cavity wall, cavity closers should also be installed, to provide a firm surface for installing windows and doors. Creating a plan for the contractors to follow, detailing every step of the project, from the changes made to the window fixings to the cavity fire barriers and where they are to be installed, is recommended. A good team should finish modifying an existing building quite fast, as long as there are no unforeseen events. It may not feel very different at first, but once winter sets it, the differences in heat will be very obvious, and the differences in money spent on the heating bill will also be clear. In several years, the project may even have ended up paying for itself, depending on the size of the house and on the materials chosen for this.

by: Chris Coxon

POST COMMENT

Snapdeal: Deals To Watch Out For Is The Daycare Center Ready For A Fire? More Reasons To Buy Hydrolyze Adobe Production Premium Cs5.5: What Makes It A Cut Apart! Benefits Of Rotobrush Duct Cleaning Mini Cooper S Dynamic Features Get Your Loads Moving Faster With Some Assistance From A Shop Crane Andhra Pradesh The Area Of Spiritual Metal Fabrication Welding Helps Create Intricate Machinery Parts Easy Shopping With E-commerce Types Of Fuel Injector Siddeley The Spy Jet Transporter Product Review Why Oak Preservation Is Important