Environmentally Friendly Equals Dangerous?

Environmentally Friendly Equals Dangerous?

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3147106_m featureThe U.S. Department of Homeland Security is funding a three-year project through the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) aimed at identifying and reducing potential risks posed by “green” elements in newer buildings. The $1 million project is a follow-up to the 2012 report commissioned by the Fire Protection Research Foundation that identified dozens of these concerns and how research could pinpoint mitigation tactics.

In his initial research, Brian Meacham, associate professor of fire protection engineering at WPI, compiled a list of 78 green building features and construction elements that could pose risks to firefighters and occupants. Lightweight engineered lumber, for instance, uses less material and could present risks during fires for its propensity to collapse more quickly than conventional timber construction.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

According to NFPA Today this will be a great research project for the fire protection industry. Sustainability has become a hot topic over the last several years, with the real estate industry at the center of the discussion. The demand for environmentally friendly buildings has become a force in the market. With this move toward the new standard, there have been some considerable growing pains. Green buildings have presented an unprecedented challenge to fire protection engineering and safety protocol, leaving industry professionals to find creative solutions to fit an entirely unique set of issues.