Bricks are a fire-resistant material for the home and landscape.
Fire safety is a concern to all families, and it should be. In the U.S., fire is "the second leading cause of accidental death in the home" according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission website. In addition to installing smoke alarms, keeping a fire extinguisher at hand, planning an emergency escape route, and using fire-resistant materials in and around the home can help reduce the chances of being injured in a fire.
Fire Resistant Plant Materials
Plants that have a high moisture content, loose branches with minimal vegetation or that grow low to the ground, are considered fire-resistant plant materials by the Colorado State University Extension. Suggested varieties of flowers include woolly yarrow, columbine, delphinium, penstemon and periwinkle. Some fire-resistant shrubs are heather, manzanita, holly, golden currant and Adam's needle. Deciduous trees are generally considered more fire-resistant than conifers because they have low, or no, amounts of flammable resin and contain more moisture, overall.
Fire-Resistant Construction Materials
Incorporating fire-resistant materials into the construction of a home or other structure does not ensure that the building won't burn, but in case of a fire, fire-resistant materials can slow the spread of flames and allow more time to escape the hazard. Some construction materials that are considered fire-resistant include cement, class-A asphalt, clay tile shingles, slate, metal siding, stucco and brick.
Flame Retardants
Flame retardants typically work in one of three ways to make objects less flammable; by cooling, diluting or forming a layer of fire-resistant protection. Organic halides are a type of retardant that cool by interrupting the chemical reaction needed for flames to burn. The foam found in some fire extinguishers is formulated to dilute a fire by releasing water and carbon dioxide. Retardants that create protective layers are often used on clothing, mattresses and upholstered furniture. However, flame retardant materials such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers may cause thyroid problems in humans and have long-lasting environmental consequences.
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