Hansen Pole Buildings’ Managing Partner Eric had messaged me this morning to ask if I had ever heard of FRT lumber for roof trusses. While I had never (in my days in the truss industry) manufactured any trusses using Dricon® Fire Retardant Treated (FRT) wood, I am familiar with it. Whether you’re using plywood or lumber, Dricon® Fire Retardant Treated wood has an unmatched record of protection against flame spread, smoke development, rot and decay.
Dricon®, introduced in 1981, is a Class A fire retardant and preservative intended for wood used in interior, weather-protected construction. This effective treatment is applied during manufacturing, creating a built-in protection from both flame spread and smoke development, which does not require maintenance.
When exposed to fire, Dricon® automatically reacts with the combustible gases and tars normally generated by untreated wood, converting them to carbon char, with harmless carbon dioxide and water. The surface char acts to insulate underlying wood, and the carbon dioxide and water vapor dilute the combustible gases to help reduce flame spread and smoke.
The only EPA-registered fire retardant on the market, Dricon® also contains a preservative component which prevents damage caused by termites and fungal decay, offering an extra level of peace of mind.
Dricon® FRT wood carries a 40-year limited roof system warranty against heat degradation. Additionally, it holds the industry’s only preservative warranty on fire retardant wood backing the product for 40 years against Formosan & subterranean termites as well as fungal decay.
When used in post frame construction, it may allow for allowable square footage to be increased, as well as height, without the need for sprinkler systems. If your new post frame building will be in close proximity to another building or a property line, it may reduce or eliminate the requirement for parapet walls.
Worried about fire prevention or retardation in your new post frame building? If so, ask about the possibility of using Dricon® Fire Retardant Treated lumber.
