Scientists have developed a new building material made largely from recycled material that that is fire resistant to temperatures in excess of 1,100oC.
The so-called ’liquid granite’ can reduce the fire risk in buildings as, unlike concrete, it doesn’t explode at high temperatures. It can also withstand high temperatures for longer periods of time.
The material is made up of between 30 and 70 per cent recycled material, mainly base products from industry. It uses less than one-third of the cement used in precast concrete, which also reduces its carbon footprint.
The product was developed at Sheffield Hallam University and is available from Liquid Granite Ltd. It is already being used by a number of organisations in building projects as it has a four-hour fire rating, meaning that it provides the top level of protection in the case of a fire.
’Liquid Granite is a very versatile material that can be used in a similar way to concrete. The fact that it has a high level of fire resistance means it can be used in areas where fire safety is crucial, such as around power stations, and in domestic and commercial buildings it can offer added time for evacuation in case of an emergency,’ said Prof Pal Mangat, director of the Centre of Infrastructure Management at Sheffield Hallam University, who developed the product.
Bob Richards from Liquid Granite added: ’There has already been a great deal of interest from the building industry about this product, and it has been supplied onto projects such as the Olympic Village and Stratford Shopping Centre in London in the form of fire-rated lintels manufactured by King Stone Products. It will really make a difference to the safety of our buildings and could potentially save lives.’
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