He Valencia fire, which began yesterday, February 22, in a building in the Campanar area, has already claimed the lives of 4 people. In addition, 14 are missing. The flames surprised neighbors of both this house and the one next door, which also burned down. And although the fire started on one floor, in just half an hour it engulfed the first building, and gradually the second. The wind made it very difficult to extinguish the fire. However, this is not the only culprit behind the rapid spread. In fact, in the absence of further investigation, it is suspected that this is exactly what happened. due to polyurethane which covered the façade of both buildings.
Specifically, the coating consisted of a material known as Alucobond. It consists of three layers. Two external aluminumabout 0.5 mm thick, which wrap around like a sandwich. thicker made of polyurethane. These types of coatings were once touted as excellent insulators of heat and noise. And they certainly exist. However, many experts suspect that it was the main reason for the spread of the fire in Valencia.
One of the first to note this was Esther Puchades Alarcón, Vice President of the College of Industrial Engineers of Valencia. She toured the building and was drawn to the use of this type of insulation. As explained in the statements RTVEpolyurethane is a flammable material that drips when heated, which is why the flames spread so quickly to the lower floor. In addition, the wind contributed to its upward spread, resulting in a very dangerous cocktail that firefighters were unable to deal with in time.
Why is polyurethane dangerous?
Polyurethane is a polymer that was first produced on an industrial scale in 1937, after a scientist Otto Bayer synthesized it through a chemical reaction known as diisocyanate polyaddition.
Since then, its use has expanded significantly due to its physical properties, which allow it to find many applications. It is often used to make thermal insulation foams, similar to the one used in buildings after the fire in Valencia. However, it also has other uses, such as in manufacturing shock absorbers.
There has been much debate over the years about the safety of this material. Since it was widely used in building construction, it was important to ensure that it did not burn easily. Some tests have been developed, but in many cases under experimental conditions with small fire. It was rated as fire-resistant, but incidents soon occurred that proved otherwise. Fire in a building in France, in the 70s, for example, was one of the first to draw attention to the dangers of polyurethane. IN USA Evidence was found that led to a ban on advertising this material as non-flammable or self-extinguishing.
Moreover, in the same country Department of Labour Protection carried out extensive fire tests which showed that it is a highly flammable material unless added to the mixture. inhibitory substances. This, for example, could be histidine and graphene oxide. Studies have been conducted showing that polyurethane without additives of this type is flammable. There is no evidence that these additives were added to buildings during the Valencia fire, most of which were studied after they were manufactured.
It may also be toxic
own Department of Labour Protection The US notes in its report that polyurethane releases a variety of gases when burned. These are mainly carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide, acetaldehyde, acetone, propene, carbon dioxide, alkenes and water vapor. Some of them are like benzene, are highly carcinogenic. Others like carbon monoxide, toxic to the nervous system. In general, inhaling them can be dangerous. For this reason, curious people should be kept away from the Valencia fire area.
Other causes of the fire in Valencia
It is still unknown what the cause of the fire in Valencia was. The fire started in an apartment on the eighth floor of the first building. spread quickly to the rest. It is unknown what would have happened on this floor.
Experts pointed out that, given the use of a material of questionable safety, such as polyurethane, fire barriers should be installed between some floors and others. However, this did not happen. There is also a suspicion that the floor could be made from materials flammable. Overall, this building was built with too many mistakes that led to it being burned down. I hope that no more lives will be lost and that this will at least serve to further strengthen the study of the safety of materials used in building construction. The lives of many people may depend on this.
Source: Hiper Textual
