Ask the Experts - D-Blaze® Fire Retardant Treated Wood
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Is D-Blaze® fire retardant treated wood FSC certified?
D-Blaze does make wood products FSC certified.
D-Blaze treating is a process that does not affect the sourcing of wood products and therefore has no effect on FSC certification.
The D-Blaze treating process is considered just a stop in the supply chain. As long as the wood substrate being treated is FSC certified, a stop at a treating plant for the D-Blaze pressure impregnation process will not break the chain of custody as long as the requisite tracking of the material through the process is adhered to.
The important thing is that the vendor of the D-Blaze treated material can supply the FSC certification upon delivery of the treated product and the product is marked appropriately.
Additional information can be found below.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Thanks,
Todd Schoffstoll, Western Regional Manager
704.340.3376
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Can a fire retardant be added to Ecolife and still be effective?
The Ecolife treatment does not impart fire retardancy properties to decking.
Unfortunately there isn’t a treatment on the market for both durability and fire retardancy.
A fire retardant coating will likely wear off over time because it is not pressure impregnated. In addition, building codes do not recognize sprayed-on or brushed-on coatings as code approved fire retardants for wood products; they only recognize formulations that are vacuum/pressure impregnated products.
Most pressure treated fire retardants are for interior use only, i.e. our D-Blaze fire retardant treated wood product. However, there are some exterior fire retardants available but they don’t increase the weathering, durability, or insect/fungal protection of wood so they are usually only used on naturally durable species of decking like Redwood and Western Red Cedar. The availability is somewhat limited so you would have to check with your local retailer on availability.
Thank you,
Todd Schoffstoll, Western Regional Manager
704.340.3376
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What is the peel and stick product I use for this FRT application?
An architect in Alaska asked about a peel and stick product for this application:
We have a project where we will use FRT plywood as roof sheathing to attach asphalt shingles (IBC provision allows is use this building type we are designing to). This sheathing well be attached to galv. sheet metal "Z' framing to provide a ventilation pathway. below the sheathing. Our concern it corrosive action between the metal framing and the FRT plywood. I'm thinking about calling out a peel and stick membrane between the metal framing members and the sheathing. Is there a recognized product used for the purpose?
Answer:
There is a peel and stick membrane tape that we recommend for use between metal framing and D-Blaze FRT sheathing. Please see the link below.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Vycor-Plus-4-in-x-33-ft-Rubberized-Asphalt-Roll-Flashing/3151853
If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact me.
Thanks,
Todd Schoffstoll, Western Regional Manager
704.340.3376
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Clarifying the difference between interior and exterior FRTW
D-Blaze FRTW meets the interior fire retardant treated wood (FRTW) standard. This means that D-Blaze can only be exposed to limited weathering. Proper applications are roof and wall sheeting, structural wall framing, interior stair framing, interior blocking for walls, roofs, electrical and plumbing. FRTW must be covered with proper roofing materials, building wrap and siding material within 90 days of installation.
Interior FRTW Standard
ASTM E 84 or UL 723 - Flame Spread
This test measures the surface burning characteristics of a material under fire conditions and assigns a flame spread rating. The code requires the project has "a listed flame spread index of 25 or less and shows no evidence of significant progressive combustion when the test is continued for an additional 20-minute period." Smoke emissions are also measured and ratings assigned on a similar scale.
Exterior FRTW Standard
Exterior FRTW will be continuously exposed to the weather. Examples of use would be timbers for decks, decking dimensions for exterior decks, siding of the structure, exposed trim mouldings, etc.
ASTM D 2898 - Accelerated Weathering
Sometimes referred to as the "800-inch rain test," this test has two methods to simulate weathering. Method A subjects the materials to 12 one-week condition cycles of 96 hours of water exposure and 72 hours of drying at 140 degrees F, the equvalent of 800 inches of rainfall over 12 weeks. Method B subjects materials to 1,000 hours of 24-hour exposures featuring four hours of wetting, four hours of drying and eight hours of resting, with drying time at 150 degrees F with continuous UV exposure.
Jonathan Whitehead, Eastern Region Sales
704-493-0023
jwhitehead@viance.net
Check out Jonathan's bio here.
