https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com
ASP Fire|Building|Cement|Construction|Container|Engineering|Fire|Gas|Safety|Shell|Steel
ASP Fire|Building|Cement|Construction|Container|Engineering|Fire|Gas|Safety|Shell|Steel
asp-fire|building|cement|construction|container|engineering|fire|gas|safety|shell|steel

ASP Fire ensures container homes comply with fire-safety regulations

13th August 2019

     

Font size: - +

This article has been supplied.

ASP Fire  (0.06 MB)

Repurposing shipping containers for residential dwellings is a new trend in Cape Town. However, it is important to note that so-called container homes still need to comply with all building and fire-safety regulations, in addition to the architectural plans receiving council approval prior to construction.

Fire engineering specialist ASP Fire of Johannesburg was recently tasked by a Cape Town architect to vet the plans for two such container homes. “The homes essentially consist of a shipping container shell, arranged on-site to form the main structure, which is repurposed as a home,” ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk explains.

Several factors had to be taken into account in terms of the fire-rating approval. Firstly, van Niekerk points out that steel in and of itself does not necessarily provide the structural stability required for a residence, as it begins to deform when exposed to temperatures over 550°C.

“Thus we obviously have to ensure the building is safe for occupants in the event of a fire, and does not collapse around them. The next point is to ensure that the neighbouring buildings on the adjacent properties would not be affected in the event of a fire in any of these units,” van Niekerk highlights.

The containers themselves were clad inside and outside for aesthetic purposes. Timber cladding was specified on one unit, which required ASP Fire to check that the distance from the adjacent structure complied with the fire-safety regulations.

“Here the option is either to treat the timber cladding so it is fire-resistant, or to specify a fire-rated fibre-cement board that resembles timber in its look and feel, as is common with American homes,” van Niekerk elaborates. Modern cladding materials used in dry walling, ranging from gypsum to fibre board, have varying degrees of fire rating.

“Our main approach was to look at each individual structure in terms of its fire-safety compliance. For example, one was multi-level, where we had to take into account that there were people above and below. We also had to be mindful of fire safety in the braai and bar area, and the outside area where gas cylinders were stored,” van Niekerk points out.

ASP Fire’s recommendations to the architect were subsequently submitted along with the final plans to the Cape Town City Council for approval. “I am fully confident that all of our recommendations will be approved, as we have extensive experience in this regard,” van Niekerk adds.

“The container home trend is not only environmentally important in that it repurposes existing structures, it is also quite easy to make these compliant with all of the necessary building and fire-safety regulations,” he concludes.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Latest Multimedia

Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (14/03/2025)
Updated 1 hour 41 minutes ago By: Martin Creamer

Showroom

Weir
Weir

Weir is a global leader in mining technology. We recognise that our planet’s future depends on the transition to renewable energy, and that...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Actom
Actom

Your one-stop global energy-solution partner

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.174 0.264s - 171pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now