Fire-Resistant ICF Building Blocks
Build a Fire Resistant Home with Faswall
Faswall is One of the Best Fire Resistant Building Materials With a Fire Rating of 4+ Hours
Faswall is One of the Best Fire Resistant Building Materials
No Material Makes a "Fire-Proof Home", but Faswall Walls Come Close
No Material makes a "Fire-Proof Home", but Faswall Walls come close
FEMA Home Builder's Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones
FEMA Home Builder's Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones
Fire Concerns Lead California Faswall Customer to Do His Own Testing
Dans l'ouest des États-Unis et du Canada, où une grande partie de la région connaît une sécheresse historique, nous sommes très préoccupés par les incendies de forêt. John et Patti O'Connell, qui étaient intéressés par la construction d'une maison Faswall, étaient également préoccupés par la résistance au feu des blocs. Alors John a fait son propre test non scientifique, que vous pouvez voir dans cette vidéo.
En gros, John a pris une torche au propane et a tenu la flamme directement contre un bloc Faswall pendant deux minutes. La chaleur directe a brûlé un petit trou dans le bloc et a fait fumer un peu l'insert isolant dans le bloc, mais il n'a pas pris feu. En fait, à la fin du test, John a pu poser sa main sur le bloc car il était à peine chaud.
« Je ne pense pas que vous ayez à vous soucier des incendies de forêt », dit-il. D'autant plus que, comme il le dit un instant plus tard, "c'est évidemment beaucoup plus de chaleur que n'importe quel feu de forêt ne va en produire."
Bâtiment résistant au feu de Santa Rosa
We talk to a DIY homeowner, building a European style villa in Santa Rosa, California, about his experience working with Faswall block and discuss how Faswall’s fire resistant properties, (RH4 four-hour fire rating) can help affected homeowners rebuild after the October 2017 wildfires.
See Why These Customers Chose to Rebuild with Faswall After a Fire
Single Family Home Lost to Fire - Rebuilt With Faswall ICCF
En savoir plus“The year after we finished building our house, we used that construction process to very favorably affect our insurance situation.“ “[Our insurance agent] (instead of canceling our policy as they previously threatened) would instead be issuing a new policy to us with 22% lower premiums, and 75% higher coverage. They said that [they are] "Happy to insure a safe home".”
Ready to Rebuild After a Fire?
En savoir plus sur les constructeurs utilisant Faswall dans les zones d'incendie :
La maison d'un de nos constructeurs a subi un incendie interne, qui a détruit les biens intérieurs. Mais le système de murs a perduré, ce qui a permis de reconstruire avec les murs Faswall® d'origine intacts.
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Includes: Design Ideas, Product Data Sheet, Block Pricing, Technical and Installation Info, Engineering Details
Frequently Asked Questions:
Qu'est-ce que Faswall ?
Faswall green building blocks are made with a special blend of wood and concrete. These 100% organic (and 60% recycled) materials make it an ideal building product for many reasons. First, Faswall is a lightweight fire-resistant material, meaning that Faswall’s blocks are engineered to be relatively light compared to solid concrete masonry, while still delivering a 4‑hour fire rating. Faswall creates homes, offices, warehouses and other buildings that are extremely energy efficient. Faswall green building blocks are a great place to begin if you want a home with superior indoor air quality. Their ability to resist mold and mildew make them ideal for wine storage, beer breweries and many other uses.
Faswall and Energy Efficiency
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Faswall and Mold Resistance
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Faswall For Basements and Foundations
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Faswall For Commercial Buildings
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How long will a house made with Faswall's healthy ICF blocks last?
Faswall Blocks are extremely durable. The blocks are very strong and create structures that can easily stand for hundreds of years. Termites, carpenter ants, and other pests have a hard time eating into them because the cement outer layer completely impregnates the blocks with a mineralized coating.
What is the difference between fire proof walls and fire resistant walls?
No material is truly “fire proof” under all conditions, but “fire proof walls” is often used colloquially to mean walls that can resist fire for a long duration without failing. In technical use, we prefer fire-resistant walls (walls built with materials and systems tested to withstand fire) (e.g. 1, 2, 3, or 4‑hour fire ratings). Faswall’s system is rated for 4 hours with zero flame spread and no smoke development.
Are Faswall blocks “fire proof blocks”?
Faswall blocks are engineered to be extremely fire resistant. In testing, the wall assembly achieved a 4‑hour fire rating, with no flame spread or smoke. While we don’t claim absolute “fire proof,” in practice Faswall blocks outperform most conventional masonry or wood assemblies.
What is the best material to build a fire proof home?
There is no single perfect material, but some materials are much better than others. Key attributes include: non‑combustibility, thermal stability, low smoke, and structural integrity under fire. Examples of top-performing fire resistant materials are: concrete, masonry, mineral wool, certain types of insulated concrete form (ICF) systems (like Faswall), and naturally fire resistant materials.
Faswall offers a composite block (wood/cement core with a mineral matrix) that approaches the best balance of strength, insulation, and fire resistance.
What are natural fire resistant materials and how do they compare?
Natural fire resistant materials are those derived from earth, minerals, or non‑combustible natural fibers. Examples include clay, stone, adobe, rammed earth, and some types of plaster mixes. These materials resist ignition well, but may lack in structural flexibility, insulation, or ease of installation compared to engineered systems.
Faswall leverages a natural composite of wood and inorganic mineral impregnation to gain fire resistance while retaining structural performance.
How does fire resistant house design complement fire resistant materials?
Material alone isn’t enough. Good fire resistant house design integrates:
Adequate spacing from combustibles (defensible space)
Fire‑resistive roof and eaves
Non‑combustible cladding
Firewalls and compartmentalization
Proper detailing at joints and penetrations
Venting systems designed to limit fire spread
Even the best fire-resistant materials need to be integrated within a holistic fire-conscious design to optimize safety.
Can a home built with Faswall really survive a fire?
Yes, there are documented cases where the interior furnishings and finishes were destroyed but the Faswall structure remained intact, allowing rebuilding without demolishing the shell. The blocks themselves do not burn or melt, and produce no toxic smoke under fire stress.
Will Faswall walls release toxic gases during a fire?
No. Faswall blocks are formulated so that under fire exposure they do not generate toxic smoke or gases.
Does using Faswall mean I don’t need any extra fire protection?
No. While Faswall provides very high fire resistance, best practice is still to combine it with complementary fire protection measures: fire‑resistive roofs, noncombustible finishes, fire breaks, proper ventilation, and compartmentalization in the house design.