Creating a more fire-safe future

By Emma Peterson. 

Explore the certifications, technologies and best practices that help roofing professionals build more fire-resilient structures.  

As wildfires rage across the Western United States, the importance of fire-resistant roofing and building solutions has never been more crucial. To learn more about how we can build a more fire-safe future with the right materials and systems, Megan Ellsworth hosted Andrew LeCampion and Ron Velichka of Tremco for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Finding fire-resistant products 

The conversation began with Andrew and Ron establishing how you can find out if a product is fire-resistant. Andrew highlighted the role of certification laboratories:  

The certification laboratories, UL, FM and Enertech are an invaluable resource when it comes to finding out more about fire-resistant products... Their websites have all the information you need to deep dive into what some different fire-resistant assemblies look like. You can look at all the different aspects, learn about how they're sealed and more. 

Ron added that another great resource is product manufacturers themselves, explaining, “Check with your manufacturer. Here at Tremco, we are testing all our products and systems against the same certifications those labs are doing, and we are always willing to help contractors determine if what they’re looking at actually has the fire-performance they want.”  

The future of fire safe structures 

Looking to the future, Andrew shared some insight into the technological advancements playing a role in the development of new fire-resistant products, saying, “There's quite a bit of impressive technology coming out in more dynamic fire suppression techniques. For example, there are now fire putties that can be installed in things like electrical boxes that can suffocate a fire right away.” He went on, “There’s also new chemically driven suppression systems that work to isolate fires so that the rest of the building can be occupied safely and evacuated safely.”  

It is technologies like this that the Tremco team is working with to try and build a more fire-safe future. As Ron put it, “There’s always new technologies that we're attempting to utilize in addition to the fine tuning we’re constantly doing to our current formulas... Our goal is make those modifications, those new products and those new systems so that we can create better, safer structures.”  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about using fire-resistant products and systems to create a more fire-safe future.