Can concrete catch on fire?

Everything you need to know for when concrete meets heat

Let’s not beat around the (burning) bush: fire is an ever-present concern here in Northern California. Many homeowners are worried about their homes in regard to wildfires and are searching for ways to make them more fire-resistant. At Mathews Readymix, we often get asked this question: Can concrete catch on fire? So today, we’re going to tackle your top fire-related questions about concrete.

Here’s the good news: concrete is very fire-resistant. It takes several hours and extremely high temperatures—over 2192°F (1200 °C) to be exact—for concrete to disintegrate. To put it in perspective, the average temperature for a wildfire is typically 1,472° F-2,192° F.

What makes concrete fire-resistant?

Concrete is known for being an ignition-resistant building material. In plain words, it means concrete doesn’t catch on fire easily. Depending on the thickness of the concrete, it can withstand up to 4 hours of fire exposure before becoming compromised.

Why is concrete good in a fire?

Take a minute and think about your average fire pit. What is it made of? In many cases, it’s concrete. This is because concrete won’t release noxious gasses when heated, and it won’t catch fire easily. Concrete performs well in a fire because it’s cured with moisture: water, cement, and aggregate.

What happens when concrete is exposed to fire?

When concrete meets fire, the heat breaks down the moisture within and slowly dehydrates the concrete. This causes the concrete to crumble and break. The thicker the concrete, the longer it takes to break down.

Can concrete get hot?

Absolutely! Think about how a sidewalk heats up on a warm summer day. When it’s over 100°F outside, a sidewalk can get up to 145°F, almost hot enough to fry an egg on. This is important to remember if you’re walking with canine companions, since dog paws can get burnt on concrete surfaces.

Is there such a thing as a fireproof house?

Almost, but not quite. A house made of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) can withstand a fire for up to four hours. It’s a good option for anyone exploring fire-resistant options.

Build with concrete, and you build with strength

At Mathews Readymix, we’re proud to help our community build stronger and better homes with concrete. If you’re interested in finding out what concrete can do for your property, contact us today.