Designing Homes to Withstand Fires

Modern homes may be sleek and efficient, but they’re also more vulnerable to fire than ever before. However, smart design choices and upgraded materials can significantly enhance fire safety and improve survival rates during a house fire.

Builder and firefighter Grant Baver shares practical, life-saving strategies that go beyond minimum building codes. These include protecting engineered lumber, using noncombustible insulation, installing thicker drywall, and enhancing fireblocking. He also emphasizes the importance of closed doors, interconnected smoke detectors, and automatic sprinkler systems—all of which dramatically reduce fire-related injuries and fatalities.

The article also highlights the dangers of using certain materials, such as unprotected corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) for gas lines, which can increase fire risk.

In 2023, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported 470,000 structure fires in the U.S., resulting in over 3,000 civilian deaths and nearly $15 billion in property damage. Despite fewer fires overall, today’s house fires are deadlier than ever—making fire-conscious design more critical than ever.