Masonry Magazine February 1966 Page. 14
BER
Fire
Safety
Building professionals have never had it so good. The variety of construction materials grows every day, giving the ways and means to more creative architectural flair and versatility.
Concrete block, for example, has suddenly made the building industry sit up and take notice. There are now more shapes and sizes of concrete block than ever before, more wall pattern possibilities than ever before.
But style doesn't count much without security to back it up. Concrete block has that security: complete fire-safety. Block simply cannot burn.
The excellent stability of concrete masonry proves consistent in fire tests by recognized laboratories.
The tests consist of exposing one side of a wall to fire of controlled intensity for a time equal to or greater than its rated fire-resistance time. Immediately, the hot face of the wall is subject to a fire-hose stream. Bearing walls also carry a load equal to 80 psi based on gross wall area. The wall must withstand the fire test without passage of flame or gases. Heat transmission must be limited to less than 250° F gain in temperature.
Little wonder concrete block is used so frequently in our modern schools, medical buildings, theaters and wherever large crowds of people congregate. (You'll even see the many faces of concrete block in local stations. What better testimonial is there for complete fire-safety?)
Make sure you have complete fire-safety in the building or home you design.
You also receive the many other important qualities when you specify concrete block manufactured to Q BLOCK specifications established by the National Concrete Masonry Association. These specifications reflect all the high standards that modern research, technical development and testing facilities can provide.
To assure that these high standards are maintained, concrete block manufactured by members of the national Q BLOCK program must be tested at regular intervals. Following each test, the manufacturer is issued a certificate by the National Concrete Masonry Association indicating that his firm is a qualified Q BLOCK producer.
Members of the national Q BLOCK program are identified by this registered mark. Look for it whenever you specify concrete block.
Write: Fire Safety National Concrete Masonry Association 2009 14th St., North Arlington, Va. 222