30.07.2021. Wood is a flammable material, granted. But it also has innate flame-retardant properties. Wooden structures remain highly stable in the event of fire.
In a blaze, a char layer forms on the wooden surface. It slows the combustion process down, with less oxygen and heat entering from the outside, which actually makes it possible to calculate burn time. This makes the burning properties of wood predictable, in contrast to other building materials such as steel.
A fire resistance of 30 minutes is easily achieved. With appropriate cross sections, even 60 minutes or more are possible. Much of glulam’s load-bearing capacity is retained. Expensive fire protection coatings (extra treatment) to withstand collapse from fire are usually not required.
By comparison, steel quickly starts to deform under heat whilst concrete collapses without warning.
INTERHOLCO offers Sustainable Hardwood 'Made in Africa' as a responsible solution to promote better living conditions (construction with wood), reduce climate change, and increase social justice. As FSC-certified producer specialized in producing and trading logs, sawn timber, glued laminated scantlings and other products, INTERHOLCO manages the entire chain, from forest to customers since 1962. Harvesting wood selectively, INTERHOLCO protects 1.1 million hectares of natural forest from permanent conversion to agricultural land, giving 16’000 local inhabitants access to quality basic services and keeping the habitat of thousands of gorillas and elephants.
Communications contact INTERHOLCO
Tullia Baldassarri Höger von Högersthal
INTERHOLCO AG, Schutzengelstr. 36, 6340 Baar, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)41 767 03 82
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.