SVF Video Library | BarrierTek

BARRIERTEK LABS

PRESENTS

SCIENCE vs. FIRE

EXPERIMENT SERIES

In May of 2021, we built two 3-storey wood structures. One was treated with BarrierTek’s proprietary fire resistant treatment. The other structure was left untreated, identical to the wood construction that makes up many of our neighbourhoods.

We then let loose one-half megawatt of heat energy in both buildings, subsequently engulfing them in flames, all while attached to probes, sensors, and other measurement gadgets.

Thousands of people have popped into our virtual theatre to watch this first-of-its-kind burn demonstration.

Part 1

Get the background on why eliminating the risk of fire is essential and why BarrierTek is up for the challenge.

Part 2

Get an overview of how the first experiment was designed and the instrumentation used to measure the results.

Part 3

The experiment is ready! The treated and conventional building is ignited, simulating a course of construction fire.

Watch the First Experiment

Watch the entire experiment in a documentary-style video covering the background to the outcome. This video also has links to reports and bonus interviews, providing various points of view from primary stakeholder communities.

LATEST EXPERIMENTS

The Second Experiment

Coming Soon: The Third Experiment

Clip: The Test Buildings

Clip: The Business Case

Clip: Case Study

Clip: How it Works

Clip: Environmental Impact

Watch: The Impact on Insurance

Doug Lyall, Vice President at HUB International, explains the potential insurance implications of using BarrierTek’s products, and how their use can reduce the risk profile of wood-frame buildings during construction.

Now that you’ve seen the experiment, you’ll want to review the data. We’ve made our engineering reports and appraiser report available for download.

BarrierTek is always looking for new ways to protect our buildings, and sharing those ideas with the community. We’d like you to be a part of this movement to build sustainable, profitable, and safe homes. Enter your email below to subscribe to our newsletter, filled with the latest innovative ideas and experiments.

More for you to explore

Clip: The Fire Response

Keven Lefebvre, Deputy Fire Chief of Leduc Country, talks about the danger that construction fires pose to the community, and why the construction industry must do what it can to adopt new technologies to help first responders be successful in the case of fire.

Clip: The Appraisal

How does a course of construction fire impact the schedule and costs of a construction project? Diverse Claim Adjusters talks about assessing the damages to both the BarrierTek treated building and the conventional building.

Clip: Code Applications

Matt Hopley, an engineer at LRI Fire Protection and Building Code Engineering, discusses how experiment data can aid and support technical decisions when reducing risk in the course of construction.

What is Science Vs. Fire?

Aimed at supporting the innovators of the construction industry, Science Vs. Fire is an experiment series that explores and demonstrates how BarrierTek can help eliminate the risk of fires in wood construction.

Science Vs. Fire provides an inside look at the efficacy of BarrierTek products, and how they help build safer, sustainable communities.

Who we are

We are a science-first company that helps construction companies build safer communities, while still protecting their balance sheets. Since day one at BarrierTek, we’ve been doing test burns on sheds, outhouses, garages, and now, three-storey buildings.

What people are saying about Science Vs. Fire

I thought the overall presentation was very well produced. I appreciated this being held virtually, given the pandemic. Very well done.

Brian U.

The comparison between unprotected and protected lumber was awesome. Video quality and camera footage was great.

Greg B.

Keep pushing the envelope!

Dave L.

This presentation was vivid, and the production value was excellent. Good job!

Reg C.