With regard to the durability of a building, fire resistance is an important factor to consider. This is especially important if a given site is prone to wildfires or has stringent building codes for fire safety.
Buildings with great fire resistance will likely have lower insurance costs and be restricted by fewer codes, owing to the decreased risk. The allowable building height and area of metal buildings are often greater than for unprotected wood frame buildings, allowing greater design freedom.
Using noncombustible building products is a common strategy to promote fire resistance in buildings. Metal building systems have been instrumental in achieving this goal.
Composite roofs, consisting of asphalt or asbestos shingles, tarpaper roofing, shake, laminate, and wood provide some moderate fire resistance but will add fuel to the fire once they begin to burn.
Steel roofs, by contrast, are the most fire-safe of all the different types of roofing materials. Steel is classified as a noncombustible roofing material and has a Class A rating, the highest possible. Insurance companies commonly offer discounts for metal roofs, reducing operating costs for many years.
Valspar offers many coatings for metal building systems, providing greater design freedom and project durability.
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