Inherent Fire Resistance of Natural Stone?

7/5/2019

We are working on a temple project that will be constructed using solid natural stones (Sandstone and Marble). All structural members of the temple will also be made of stones to be cut and taken directly from the mountains. Ferrous materials will not be permitted in the construction of the Temple.

The AHJ is requiring us to present theoretically the default fire ratings of these natural stones to be used with particular thicknesses. What resources exist to help calculate/determine the fire ratings of these solid natural stones?

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3 Comments

Dan Wilder

7/5/2019 10:33:37 am

Hopefully you find better outcomes that what I found (Page 59 for SandStone) but better results for Marble (Page 72)

https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0370/report.pdf

Maybe reach out to people like The Natural Stone Institute?

I would think things like material consistency, joining methods, orientation, support weight, ambient humidity/water absorption/intrusion would all play into how well the materials do is a fire situation...

Jon Nisja

7/5/2019 10:43:13 am

A few years back the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) published a document on the use of archaic materials (unlisted, typically older materials). I can send you a copy if you like.

How thick are the bricks?

Here are typical brick fire ratings per this document. Obviously, the type of brick varies the fire resistivity somewhat (solid vs. hollow; material, etc.).
4" = 1 hour
4.5" = 2 hours +
5" = 3 hours
6" = 4-6 hours
8.75" = 6 hours
11" (2 layers with air gap) = 6 hours

jon.nisja@state.mn.us

Nimal Tissa Wijetunga

7/5/2019 10:12:28 pm

Natural stone definitely has inherent fire resistance and as per the list given in the 2nd reply.

Besides, this material much better in construction of a temple ith low to moderate combustible loading as ell in those type of occupations.

Similarly, this construction with stones as the load bearing structure as well as non load bearing sections much better than rubbish metal sheds utilized in construction of Industrial and Warehousing occupations and some times in high rises with huge combustible loading.

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