Building safety is a big deal, and it’s why organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) create standards and impose fines for violations. Every building, regardless of what it’s being used for, must meet certain criteria to remain in operation.
In general, safe buildings embody several characteristics:
- They’re built to code
- They’re built with high-quality, non-toxic materials
- They’re designed to withstand potential weather-related issues common to the area
While most new commercial constructions are built properly, sometimes builders go for cheap materials that may not be safe. Some might even be a health hazard.
Buildings need to be safe for workers, too
Making buildings safer isn’t just about protecting those who will enjoy the final result. It’s equally important to use materials that won’t jeopardize worker safety. Construction work is already inherently dangerous, and that danger extends into the realm of material handling.
For example, contrary to popular belief, asbestos hasn’t been outlawed and some building materials still contain this toxic, deadly material. It’s also possible for construction workers to be injured by high-pressure hydraulic fluid systems. Preventing fluid injection injuries with quick connect couplers is crucial.
Safety is important from the day construction starts. Here’s a list of three materials that can help make a building safe for everyone, including the environment:
1. Recycled Plastic Lumber
You can’t just start building a house with wood and expect it to hold up. Wood is prone to rot and insect damage, both of which can destroy a building. If termites start building nests in the wooden frame, whether it’s the floor, ceiling, or walls, it will quickly reduce the integrity of the entire building, making it weaker and more prone to collapse.
In some cases, it’s appropriate to use recycled plastic lumber in place of wood. It lasts longer, it’s easier to maintain, and it won’t rot, splinter, or crack. It’s also waterproof and doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals. The best part is that recycled plastic lumber is environmentally-friendly because it minimizes waste. You won’t be rebuilding and throwing away old wood because it has an indefinite life span.
2. Prefabricated steel
Steel is safe to work with during the construction period and it’s safe for building occupants. It has a high strength-to-weight ratio, which means it can support more than its own weight. This is important when builders need to work with various tools because steel won’t buckle under that weight (within reason, of course).
Prefabricated steel is also safer on the construction site because it’s easier to put together than a traditional building. Construction workers won’t have to deal with materials falling from great heights and other hazards common to working with wood and concrete.
There’s no chance of a fire resulting from the material burning, which means nobody’s going to get burned putting together a steel building. Workers also spend less time up high, which drastically reduces the chances of falls.
Steel is termite-resistant and won’t rot, you don’t have to worry about water damage compromising the integrity of the structure.
3. Mass timber
It can be safe to use wood to build, but it has to be processed in a specific way in order to not be susceptible to fire. Mass timber is one form of processed wood that meets this requirement. It’s made by sticking different types of soft wood together to form bigger pieces. This can include:
- Glue-laminated beams
- Laminated veneer lumber
- Dowel-laminated timber
- Nail-laminated timber
- Cross-laminated timber
Out of all these types, cross-laminated timber is the most versatile and strongest. It’s made by stacking layers of wood and alternating the grain of each layer. Slabs can be made up to a foot thick, 18 feet long, and 98 feet wide. However, transportation limitations require a size no larger than 10 by 40 feet.
Cross-laminated timber can outperform concrete and steel, and can be used to make whole buildings. Its strength makes buildings safer and also reduces environmental damage by not relying on unsustainable materials.
Thick, solid, and compressed masses of wood are extremely difficult to ignite, making cross-laminated timber safer in a fire. In fact, the outer layer chars predictably in a manner that ends up self-extinguishing and doesn’t allow the fire to penetrate the inner layers. It’s been rigorously tested over and over, and passes with flying colors.
Safety comes first
Whether it’s protecting construction workers or building occupants, safety is important. We’ve come a long way since people began building log cabins out of raw wood. Now we have more materials at our disposal to create beautiful structures that also embody safety.
