Fontana, California In order to better serve consumers and the marketplace, Fontana Wood Preserving Inc. is manufacturing D-Blaze fire retardant wood products. The fire retardant wood is used for interior construction applications requiring fire-resistant materials. Fontana Wood Preserving Inc. and its sales agent, Fontana Wholesale Lumber Inc. currently supplies treated wood products to 150 wood product companies across the Southwest United States.

D-Blaze Fire Retardant Treated (FRT) Wood is a new generation construction material for weather-protected applications.  D-Blaze treated lumber and plywood are highly effective in controlling the spread of flame, smoke and devastation caused by fire. Its’ extremely low hygroscopic and corrosive properties make it a superior choice for use whenever FRT wood is required. Chemical Specialties, Inc (CSI) located in Charlotte, NC manufactures D-Blaze fire retardant chemicals.

Corrosion Protection

D-Blaze FRT wood protects against corrosion on galvinized steel truss plates as well as other metals fasteners.  Extensive testing has shown that with respect to metal finish and metal integrity virtually as well as untreated wood exposed to the same conditions.

Product features

• Fire retardant
• Durable
• Non-corrosive
• Non-hygroscopic
• Non-blooming
• Paintable
• Stainable
• Easy to handle
• Workable with common wood working tools

D-Blaze treated products are:

• Approved by major building codes and insurance rating bureaus
• Tested and certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
• Equipped with an "FRS" rating under UL classification, exhibiting a flame spread and smoke rating of 25 or less
• UL tested for hygroscopicity, resulting in D-Blaze classification as a Type A fire retardant defined in AWPA Standards C-20 and C-27

Common applications:

• Roof trusses
• Floor trusses
• Roof decks and sheathing
• Subflooring
• Beams and purlins
• Blocking and furring
• Interior non-load bearing partitions
• Studs
• Paneling
• Joists
• Architectural millwork and trim
• Exterior load-bearing walls

Strength

D-Blaze FRT wood is tested by an independent laboratory following industry standards to develop strength reduction factors for various use conditions, including roof temperatures of up to 150° F for lumber and 170° F for plywood. Consult Table 1 (D-Blaze Lumber Strength Design Factors) and Table 2 (D-Blaze Plywood Span Rating Adjustments) for specific adjustment factors.

Approvals and testing

D-Blaze FRT wood meets or exceeds the guidelines for testing construction materials as set forth and/or established by the:

• Underwriters Laboratories Inc. 723
• International Code Council's National Evaluation Service (NES) Product Evaluation Listing NER 562
• Building Officials and Code Administrators Intl, Inc (BOCA) ES No 95.42
• Southern Building Code Congress International Inc (SBCCI) ES No 9657
• International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) ES No. 5180
• City of Los Angeles RR 24502
• New York City Building Code (MEA Numbers 406-87 and 407-87)
• ASTM D5516
• ASTM D5564
• ASTM E-84
• American Wood-Preservers' Association (C20, C27 Type A)
• Insurance Rating Bureaus
• Military Specifications (MIL-L19140E)
• National Fire Protection Association (255)
• National Forest Products Association's "Policy on Design Values for Fire Retardant Treated Lumber"
• All Other Major Building Codes
• US Bureau of Ships (QPL)

Table 1

Strength design factors of D-BLAZE Fire Retardant Treated Lumber as compared to untreated lumber:

* Species awarded "FRS" classification by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. when treated with D-BLAZE FRT chemicals are found in Figure 1. NOTE: Strength Design Factor of untreated lumber is 1.0.

** These design value adjustments were determined during a testing program conducted at the Mississippi State University Forest Products Utilization Laboratory. Tests were conducted in accordance with the National Forest Products Association policy on design values for fire retardant retardant treated lumber protocol.

The test materials were treated before testing in accordance with the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. procedures for D-BLAZE FRT wood. The treated materials were kiln-dried after treatment per AWPA Standard C-20-84.

The design value factors are to be applied to those shown for untreated wood in the National Design Specification of Wood Construction published by the National Forest Products Association and apply only to lumber bearing an ALS approved grade mark. Use the design values for surfaced dry material at 19% moisture content.

Placement of insulation and airflow should be designed to maintain acceptable wood temperatures.

Good ventilation is essential in fire retardant wood construction to minimize excessive relative humidity and condensation. At relative humidity conditions when FRTW moisture content levels are expected to exceed 19%, appropriate design value adjustments for high moisture content should be made.

Span Rating Adjustments

D-Blaze interior FRT plywood has been tested and shown to meet the following plywood roof sheathing and subfloor spans when used with span rated plywood and/or plywood bearing the trademark of an approved inspection agency.

Table 2

A comparison, by panel thickness and at temperatures up to 170° F, of span ratings for D-BLAZE® Plywood, Sturd-I-Floor, and sheating with similar APA ratings:

* The 5/16" or 3/8" plywood panel thicknesses are not permitted for roof applications. NOTE: Plywood shall be manufactured in accordance with PS 1-83 Specification, Group 1 species, stress level 2, with exterior gluelines and used in dry service conditions. Allowable uniformly distributed load for floors is 50 PSF live load and 5 PSF dead load or a 200 pound concentrated load. Roof loads are 30 PSF live load and 8.5 PSF dead load or a 200 pound concentrated load. Deflection based on 1/180 of the span.

Proper roof system ventilation shall be used to provide a uniform flow of air over all interior surfaces of the plywood to prevent heat build-up and sufficient to effectively remove moisture where the roof is warmed by solar radiation.

Species awarded Underwriters Laboratories Inc "FRS" classification when treated with D-Blaze fire retardant treatment chemicals:

NOTE: From time to time, additional species will be tested. Check with your supplier if the species desired are not shown.

How to specify D-Blaze FRT lumber and plywood

To assure structural integrity in roof areas of high temperature and humidity, D-Blaze span and strength design adjustment factors have been determined by independent third parties in accordance with ASTM D5516 for plywood and ASTM D-5664 for lumber. Extended specifications can be found in "Sweet's Catalog," "Sweet's Directory," "Architects First Source," "Spec Data." "ARCAT," "ManuSpec®" and "The Blue Book."

All D-Blaze FRT lumber and plywood:

• shall be pressure-treated with D-Blaze fire retardant to meet Underwriters Laboratories FRS rating denoting a surface-burning characteristic rating of 25 or less for flame spread and smoke developed in a test of 30-minute duration.
   
• shall bear the Underwriters Laboratories label or stamp attesting to the FRS rating and to the fact that it also meets the AWPA Standard C20 and C27 for Type A use and Standard DB-90.
   
• shall be kiln-dried to a maximum moisture content of 19% for lumber and 15% for plywood or less.* The fire retardant chemicals used shall be halogen and sulfate free.
   
• shall be kept dry at all times during transit, job site storage and erection. If material does become wet, it shall be replaced or permitted to dry (maximum 19% MC for lumber and 15% MC for plywood) prior to covering or enclosure by wallboard or other construction materials.

All structural design calculations shall be based on the D-Blaze Strength Design Factor Tables.

*Note: Designer may wish to specify lower moisture content for cabinet and millwork.

Click here to download D-Blaze treated wood MSDS.

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