Sandy Springs City Council stands strong for durable buildings

On August 16, the Sandy Springs City Council voted to prohibit combustible materials from being used as the primary structural material in buildings above three stories and 100,000 square feet. Other communities across the country have voted similar measures into law, citing as reasons their concerns for citizen safety, firefighter safety, structural durability, and economic efficiency. I share these concerns, and as a professional engineer, I salute the Sandy Springs City Council for their landmark vote.

Combustion and wood have been intertwined since man first discovered fire. For centuries, wood provided humankind with means for shelter, transportation and heat. But as human beings, we evolve: the majority of us no longer use wood to heat our homes; the wood-built carriage gone by the wayside, our cars predominantly made of steel. Correspondingly, we should not be taking the risk of constructing our larger buildings from combustible material. Indeed, preserving the safety of Sandy Springs’ citizens, as well as the firefighters who work to protect them, was paramount in the City Council’s decision.

Wood can combust at a mere 375 degrees fahrenheit, roughly the amount of heat it takes to bake a loaf of bread. Moreover, once burning, fire in a wood framed building can spread quickly, leaving less time for evacuation by the occupants. With prudence and foresight, it is time we consider the materials we use to build our apartment and condominium homes. The choices we make, after all, will not merely affect our daily lives, but also the future of our communities.

With the future in mind, we owe it to our children, and to their children, to provide them with durable, sustainable and reasonably safe structures. To feel safe in the places where we work, learn and live, is less a luxury than it is a right. And through the City Council’s recently passed ordinance, the people of Sandy Springs have moved a step closer to a safer future.

The move away from wood also poses positive financial gains for this generation and to future generations. Less durable wood structures can create the need for more frequent replacement or repair. Because wood structures require significantly more attention to maintenance, investors of non-wood structures are not burdened by the costs and inconveniences of constant structural upkeep. Consequently, homeowners, business owners, and taxpayers all benefit from the use of more durable materials like concrete, steel and masonry for our buildings.

It is my opinion that government, local or otherwise, has an obligation to ensure the safety of its citizens. With this in mind, I urge communities across Georgia, and more, across our great nation, to join Sandy Springs in providing a safer and more sustainable future for our citizens through wise use of materials for buildings. We owe them nothing less.

This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Sandy Springs City Council stands strong for durable buildings."