Attention to Fire Risk in Buildings

Fire is among the threats affecting both rural and urban living. Failure to implement protective measures, lack of knowledge, negligence and accidents lead to increased loss of life and property.

Tolga Öztoprak, General Manager of Türk Ytong, noted that the number of building fires in Turkey increases annually due to factors such as rising housing numbers, aging and unmaintained prevention systems, and lack of oversight. He emphasized that fire resistance performance of thermal insulation products must always be verified when making material choices.

Urban living is viewed as more attractive by the majority of the country's population due to the opportunities it offers. The prospects provided by urbanization drive people to live in cities. As a natural consequence, hazards and risks within urban life are increasing daily. Tolga Öztoprak, General Manager of Türk Ytong, drew attention to the fact that fire safety in buildings begins at the design and construction stage, emphasizing that proper material selection during construction can minimize the risks that buildings may face throughout their lifespan. Due to conditions imposed by the Fire Regulations, non-flammable or fire-resistant building materials must be used in all structures, particularly in high-rise buildings. The fire resistance of thermal insulation products, which envelop structures completely, is of critical importance. Consumers must recognize that fire resistance in thermal insulation is as important a consideration as energy savings.

Question the fire performance of thermal insulation products

Tolga Öztoprak, General Manager of Türk Ytong, stated that fire resistance performance of thermal insulation materials must be verified when making material choices, providing the following explanation: "Turkey is a rapidly urbanizing country with a growing population and increasing housing needs. Both the expansion of building stock and the renovation of aging buildings in accordance with regulations using appropriate materials must be considered in light of thermal and energy efficiency requirements. Rising fire statistics each year demonstrate that not only inspection work but also consumer awareness needs to be developed. To reduce fire risk, it is extremely important that buildings use materials and methods that will keep fire under control and prevent its spread. Public common sense is very important. Consumers should make informed choices; they should question the fire insulation conditions of buildings they will purchase or rent.

Fire risk in high-rise buildings requires attention

Fires occurring on the facades of high-rise buildings have been featured in national and international media for years. In many of these incidents, fires spread at high speed, engulfing the exterior surfaces of buildings within minutes. The use of fire-resistant thermal insulation materials causes the structure to ignite rapidly and release toxic gases. People assume that fires on facades will not penetrate into the building interior. It is recorded that 40 to 60 percent of fire deaths result from toxic gases and smoke produced by combustible materials. Since it is difficult to intervene in fires in high-rise buildings from outside and fire detection and extinguishing systems cannot be installed on facades, particular attention must be paid to using hard-to-burn A2 class or non-flammable A1 class certified materials in cladding and insulation applications. As Türk Ytong, the cladding system applied with Multipor, our mineral-based thermal insulation board, provides both high energy savings and fire safety on building facades," he said.

Non-flammable Multipor protection for building facades

Multipor is produced entirely from natural and domestic raw materials. The Multipor Cladding System allows buildings to breathe due to its mineral structure, preventing condensation and mold formation by regulating interior air moisture. This system, which retains its thermal insulation properties throughout the building's lifespan, provides a fire-safe thermal insulation solution with A1 class "Non-Flammable" properties. Multipor, a completely mineral-based product used in external wall cladding from outside and inside, ceiling and terrace thermal insulation, ceiling insulation in unheated spaces, and thermal insulation of building console slabs, does not lose its thermal insulation properties throughout the building's lifespan; it provides 100 percent fire-safe and breathable thermal insulation solution. Multipor, the A1 class non-flammable thermal insulation material produced by Türk Ytong, ensures energy efficiency in buildings while simultaneously elevating building fire safety to the highest level.