Sustainable and safe building
Wood is becoming increasingly popular as a building material. The reasons for this include the positive product and performance characteristics of this natural material – without significant disadvantages. High stability, relatively low weight and a very positive ecological balance allow more and more houses to be made of wood and wood composites. In order to protect the wood building material against weathering and maintain the natural feel and integrity of the surfaces, the wood must be treated with suitable products. In addition, the risk of fires spreading can be reduced through the use of flame retardants.
Safety and durability in the building
Clariant offers innovative products that support the properties of wood as a building material: the flame retardant Exolit®, and Ceridust®, which is used as a wood coating made from renewable raw materials. Traditional flame retardants contain harmful chlorine and bromine compounds. Exolit®, however, is a highly effective protection against fire made from polyphosphates and is halogen-free, and therefore does not contain chlorine or bromine. The product has both a very good performance profile as well as an excellent environmental and health profile. For example, Exolit® has flame-resistant properties in its ability to foam. The protective layer then insulates from heat and blocks the supply of oxygen. In this manner, the spread of fire to sensitive building components and potential ignition sources is prevented or at least delayed. In the event of fire, there is significantly less smoke than from many other flame retardants, which allows more time to escape and to fight the fire.
Ceridust® helps protect wood from surface damage. Ceridust® is made from polysaccharides from renewable raw materials that do not compete with the food supply. As a bio-based additive, the product is an innovative solution for a wide range of wood coatings for effective protection of wood. Its suitability for water-based formulations can help manufacturers of coatings in the transition to environmentally compatible solutions. Combined with Hostavin® 3330, a water-based dispersion for UV protection of wood surfaces, a set of sustainable products is available for the wood treatment. The products Hostavin®, Ceridust® 8090 TP/9091 TP as well as a wide range of Exolit® solutions have been awarded the EcoTain® label due to their outstanding performance and sustainability profile.
Ann Kristin and Niko Schäfer
Handeloh, Germany
»For us, not only the natural properties of the material were important, but also the sustainable processing and environmentally compatible treatment.«
How important are safety issues when it comes to your building project?
Niko Schäfer Safety is a very important topic particularly with children, and it is something which we have considered during the planning and construction of our house. With proper treatment of the wood, we of course not only want to meet all of the fire safety requirements, but we also want to get the full potential of the positive properties of the wood building material. With the right method of construction and the proper treatment and processing of the wood, we want to meet the highest standards for fire, noise and weather protection.
What motivated you to use wood as a material for your new home?
Ann Kristin Schäfer Wood is a natural building material and has a number of positive properties that occur naturally: high stability and low weight. This provides benefits when conducting the structural analysis for a new building. Walls can be made thinner, allowing for a larger living space using the same floor area. In addition, wood provides a pleasant indoor climate, has good thermal insulation properties and is widely available to a sufficient degree at comparatively low prices.
So sustainability played an important role in the decision to build a wooden house?
Niko Schäfer Exactly – because anyone who has children also thinks of the long-term future. For us, not only the natural properties of the material were important, but also the sustainable processing and environmentally compatible treatment. The natural character of the wood should be preserved. The products with which the wood is treated should be natural and solvent-free whenever possible. Only in this way is the very positive ecological balance of the wood maintained during construction as much as possible.
What challenges arose during the construction of a home made of wood?
ANN Kristin Schäfer As a natural building material, wood is subject to change over time. In order to maintain the natural character and feel of the wood for many years, it must be treated with the appropriate resources. In addition, a wooden house presents different requirements for insulation since it is not as impermeable as houses made of other materials. Films in the floors or in the roof can increase this impermeability. At the same time, this can serve to increase fire protection.