Balancing fire resistance and sustainability has emerged as a complex challenge. While both goals—protecting occupants and reducing environmental impact—are important, achieving them simultaneously often involves trade-offs. For example, concrete is effective at preventing the spread of fire but adds to the overall global warming potential (GWP) of a structure. And sustainable materials like timber or recycled composites can be more vulnerable to fire unless treated with undesirable chemicals.

The solution to this complex challenge lies not in focusing on individual products but in considering the whole system. Fire resistance is based on the entire assembly. By evaluating the assembly as a whole, builders can reduce GWP and use more products with sustainable attributes, such as recycled content and low-carbon materials. This approach allows for a more efficient and sustainable use of resources while meeting rigorous fire safety standards.

Strategies for Increasing Sustainability in Fire-Rated Assemblies

There are several practical methods that builders can use to lower embodied carbon and increase energy efficiency while still ensuring fire safety in their assemblies:

1. Conduct a Whole-Building Life Cycle Analysis

A more integrated approach, including whole-building Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), helps determine the best combination of materials and systems that meet both fire safety and sustainability goals. This analysis takes a comprehensive look at the environmental impacts of every element of a building, from raw material extraction through disposal. By considering the entire lifecycle of the building and its materials, builders can identify potential areas to reduce embodied carbon and GWP while maintaining fire safety standards.

2. Assess the Fire Assembly

One simple strategy is to review the specified fire-rated assemblies and evaluate if there are alternative assemblies that would permit lower GWP materials. This could involve exploring different wall or floor systems that meet the same fire-resistance ratings but use materials with reduced embodied carbon. Collaborating with fire protection engineers and building material suppliers early in design can help identify compliant, lower-impact solutions without compromising life safety.

3. Prioritize Low GWP Products

When selecting materials, it's important to consider not just fire safety but also the global warming potential (GWP) of the products used. Materials with a lower GWP contribute to a building’s overall sustainability profile. By prioritizing products with low GWP, such as fiberglass insulation and sustainable gypsum panels, builders can reduce the environmental impact of their fire-rated assemblies without compromising performance.

Material Selection: Key Considerations

The evolution of building materials has paved the way for better-performing products that not only offer fire resistance but are also aligned with green building standards. CertainTeed and other manufacturers provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for their products, offering greater transparency regarding their embodied carbon and environmental impact.

Here are some materials to consider when designing fire-rated assemblies:

1. Fire-Rated Gypsum Panels

Gypsum panels, particularly Type X and Type C gypsum, are known for their ability to meet fire resistance ratings of up to four hours while remaining relatively sustainable. Many of these products are non-combustible or limited combustible, making them a go-to choice for fire-rated assemblies. For example, FireLITE® Type X Lightweight Drywall, a new fire-rated gypsum solution made with 100 percent recycled face and back paper, was featured at BUILD25 as an innovative way to help builders meet fire safety regulations and green building codes.

2. Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is another material that helps builders meet both fire safety and sustainability requirements. It can increase fire resistance in wall assemblies and, from a sustainability perspective, fiberglass insulation has a low GWP and is available with a variety of sustainability certifications, including GREENGUARD Gold, as well as Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These certifications ensure that the materials contribute to healthier indoor air quality and have been produced with minimal environmental impact. Additionally, fiberglass can play a key role in the whole building GWP potential evaluation, contributing to a more sustainable construction process.

3. Concrete

Concrete is known for its fire resistance and non-combustibility, making it a natural choice for fire-rated applications. But due to its heavy weight, limited recyclability, and energy intensive manufacturing and resource extraction, it is also high in embodied carbon. To build more sustainable buildings that do not compromise fire resistance, architects are turning to limited combustibility and non-combustible materials that are manufactured with renewable energy, lighter weight, or made with higher recycled content.

Achieving the Balance

Balancing fire resistance and sustainability is challenging, but it is far from impossible. With the right information, materials, and design strategies, builders can create high-performing, safe buildings while minimizing their environmental impact. The key lies in adopting a systems-based approach, utilizing low-carbon materials, and prioritizing whole-building Life Cycle Analysis to ensure both fire safety and sustainability goals are met.

The latest methods and innovative products available today—such as fire-rated gypsum panels, fiberglass insulation, and advanced building assemblies—help bridge the gap between these two critical goals. As the construction industry continues to evolve, embracing these integrated strategies will be crucial in building a more resilient, sustainable future while meeting the highest standards of fire safety.

For a more in-depth look at methods for enhancing fire safety in both residential and commercial builds, see this conversation with building science expert Remi Goulet on Building Science Digest, a CertainTeed Podcast.