What does FRT plywood mean?
fire retardant treated
FRT (fire retardant treated) Plywood. FRT plywood is a sheathing treated with a chemical to prevent flame spreading in the event of the fire. It was used on townhouses and condos roofs, 4 feet on each side (sometimes more) of the walls separating each individual unit in the late 1970’s to early 1980’s.
How can you tell FRT plywood?
How To Tell If Your Plywood Is Fire Rated
- Check The Stamped Label On The Interior Or Exterior. To find out whether a piece of wood meets these requirements, look for the required stamp.
- Features Of The Wood.
- Flame Spread.
Where is fire rated plywood required?
Fire-rated plywood is often used in public building construction projects such as hospitals, schools, restaurants, and auditoriums for applications such as wall partitions, ceiling panels, and interior wall panels.
What is fire treated plywood?
Fire treated plywood is specially treated with chemicals that provide a physical barrier to flame spread. The treated wood chars, but does not oxidize, which significantly reduces the spread and progress of fire in a building.
Is FRT plywood still used?
Current Uses of Fire-Retardant-Treated (FRT) Plywood Fire retardant treated FRT plywood, while it is still a combustible material, has been chemically treated to provide a lower flame-spread rate than un-treated plywood used in building construction.
Can OSB be fire-rated?
An engineered wood product, fire-rated OSB sheathing such as LP FlameBlock sheathing eliminates a layer of gypsum by combining an ignition-resistant, cementitious coating with a layer of OSB. It carries an Exposure 1 classification, which means it can withstand normal exposure to moisture during construction.
Is FRT wood considered non combustible?
Fire-retardant plywood is not considered non-combustible, but it can often be used in place of non-combustible materials in certain situations. It is far less combustible than traditional plywood, which insurance companies, the International Building Code (IBC) and other sources may take into consideration.
What is class C plywood?
C-grade is unsanded and may have several minor defects that will need to be repaired with knots up to 1 1/2-inches across, discoloration and sanding defects. C-grade plywood should be used when appearance is not important, such as for subfloors or garages.
How thick is fire-rated plywood?
Fire-rated plywood and lumber come in a range of thicknesses and sizes. Some common thicknesses include ½ inch, 5/8 inch, and 3/4 inch. Products like Interior Pyro Guard lumber and plywood come in 4×8 sheets in lengths ranging from 8 to 16 feet.
What is BC plywood?
BC Plywood is a top quality product with a smooth surface. The BC simply means there’s one B-grade side sanded and smooth, backed by a C-grade side. BC Plywood is ideal for jobs that require a finished sanded product.
What’s the problem with FRT in fire resistant plywood?
The FRT deterioration problem was widely investigated by experts as you’ll see in citations given at the end of this article, and was addressed by ASTM and other standards associations in North America. FRT plywood was intended to deteriorate in response to a fire at around 400F by charring to retard flame spread.
What are the P & U standards for Dricon FRT wood?
Dricon ® FRT wood has been evaluated and issued a report (ESR-1626) by International Code Council (ICC) Evaluation Services, providing evidence that it meets the requirements of model building codes for interior fire retardant treated wood. Dricon ® FRT wood is acceptable under American Wood Protection Association’s (AWPA) P & U standards.
What kind of plywood is used for fire protection?
Current Uses of Fire-Retardant-Treated (FRT) Plywood. Fire retardant treated FRT plywood, while it is still a combustible material, has been chemically treated to provide a lower flame-spread rate than un-treated plywood used in building construction.
What kind of hardware to use with FRT wood?
Galvanized steel hardware is recommended for use with Dricon ® FRT wood. Although Dricon ® treatment does not increase corrosion of bare or galvanized steel, the galvanizing provides an extra measure of protection with any treated wood.