Fire-Protected OSB Sheathing with CFIC Coating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-story wood-framed buildings constructed with untreated lumber and OSB sheathing are prone to rapid fire spread and collapse during construction, posing significant risks to firefighters and property, due to the flammable nature of engineered wood products and inadequate fire protection measures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that includes treating all lumber and engineered wood products with a clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) coating, applied through a dipping process followed by a moisture, fire, and UV radiation protection coating, to achieve Class-A fire protection and reduce heat transfer across metal connectors, thereby preventing disconnection and structural failure during fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If untreated lumber and OSB sheathing are used in wood-framed construction, then construction cost and speed are improved, but fire resistance and structural integrity during fire are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fire retardant chemical treatments to lumber and OSB sheathing during the manufacturing process before installation. This preliminary action ensures fire protection is built into the materials themselves, allowing standard construction methods to be used while achieving fire resistance that would otherwise require additional protective measures during construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite fire-protected wood products by combining treated lumber/OSB with fire retardant chemical coatings and binders. This composite approach maintains the structural benefits of wood framing while adding fire resistance through the chemical treatment layer, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and fire reliability.
2Reliability
If fire retardant treatments are applied to all wood products, then fire protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fire retardant treatment process with existing wood product manufacturing steps. By integrating treatment during the same manufacturing operations where lumber and OSB are produced, rather than adding separate treatment stages, the patent reduces overall manufacturing complexity while achieving comprehensive fire protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition and application parameters of fire retardant treatments to optimize effectiveness while minimizing manufacturing complexity. By adjusting treatment concentrations, application methods, and curing conditions, the patent achieves Class-A fire protection with processes that can be integrated into existing manufacturing workflows.
3Strength
If metal connectors are used in wood framing, then structural strength is improved, but heat transfer and fire spread are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces fire retardant chemical coatings as an intermediary layer between metal connectors and the wood framing. This coating acts as a thermal barrier that reduces heat transfer from fire to the wood, preventing disconnection of metal connectors from the framing while maintaining structural strength. The chemical treatment mediates between the metal connector's strength benefits and the fire spread problem.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces the risk of fire spread and structural failure in wood-framed buildings, providing enhanced fire protection and safety for occupants and firefighters by delaying ignition and reducing the spread of flames, while maintaining the structural integrity of the building.
Implementation Method 1
treating all lumber and engineered wood products with a clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) coating... delaying ignition and reducing the spread of flames
Implementation Method 2
spraying a moisture, fire and UV radiation protection coating... reducing the spread of flames, while maintaining the structural integrity of the building
Data Source
AI summary
A method of and system for producing Class-A fire-protected oriented strand board (OSB) sheets. Each Class-A fire-protected OSB sheet has: a core medium layer made of wood pump, binder and/or adhesive materials; a pair of OSB layers bonded to the core medium layer; a clean fire inhibiting chemical (CFIC) coating on the surface of each OSB layer, made from CFIC liquid applied to the surface by dipping the OSB sheet into the CFIC liquid in a dipping tank, allowing shallow surface absorption into the OSB layers and ends of the core medium layer at atmospheric pressure; and a moisture, fire and UV protection coating spray coated over the CFIC coating to provide protection against moisture, fire and UV radiation from Sunlight, which is quickly dried by passing through a drying tunnel on the production line.