Buildings are most vulnerable to fire when they are under construction.1 Whether the structure is made of concrete, steel or wood, COC buildings lack active fire detection systems and passive systems such as walls and doors to slow the spread of fire. Standard construction activities like welding, soldering, grinding and other necessary hot work can spark flames and smolder even hours after the work was performed.

Wood-framed structures are particularly vulnerable to fire risk. An exposed wooden skeleton can go up in flames in a matter of minutes, leaving the builder with a catastrophic loss.

Contractors who build wood-framed structures must be mindful of the risks and take steps beyond traditional fire mitigation strategies to protect their COC projects.

These 5 strategies can help builders reduce fire risk:

  1. Build to code. The National Building Code of Canada 20202 includes technical requirements for fire protection and mitigation strategies, including specifications for tall wooden structures. Be sure your final building meets all guidelines — both federal and provincial — and use those requirements to guide construction plans.
  1. Secure the site. Security used to mean hiring a guard. Today it means installing proper fencing, signage, lighting and security cameras, and considering the full range of high-tech options: alarms, ignition cut-off switches and GPS tracking devices. These technological solutions can alert decision-makers when there is trouble on the site, and potentially reduce the risk of arson and theft.
  1. Encourage a culture of safety. An effective fire prevention strategy requires a commitment by everyone on the job site. Ensure that all workers — particularly those involved in hot work — know what to do if they spot smoke or a flame. Ensure the worksite has an approved hot works permit system, maintain a strict no smoking policy outside of designated areas, and make sure extra materials, combustibles and flammables are properly stored in pre-determined locations.
  1. Look at alternative materials. Since 2007, nearly 500 mass timber structures have been erected in Canada.3 Unlike regular wood, mass timber burns in a predictable way, charring the outside of the wood while insulating the rest, reducing the risk of a total loss. As a result, mass timber structures meet or even exceed fire codes, making this material an increasingly attractive option for builders.
  1. Consider protective products. Unprotected engineered lumber, or stick frame construction, is extremely vulnerable to fire. Applying a fire-resistive coating to the wood used to construct a frame can mitigate the risk of a catastrophic fire event on a building site. Building with lumber treated with products to reduce the spread of flames not only protects the building during construction, but that protective feature can also avert the likelihood of a major fire event for the future building owner.

Contact HUB International’s construction insurance experts to learn more about how to protect your course of construction projects from catastrophic fire losses.

1 Canadian Wood Council and University of the Fraser Valley, Construction Site Fire Safety: A Guide for Construction of Large Buildings, March 2015.
2 Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, National Building Code of Canada 2020, Volume 1, 2022.
3 Natural Resources Canada, The State of Mass Timber in Canada 2021, 2021.