Hunter Valley couple Irene and Nicholas Burns credit CSR Hebel Powerpanels with saving the lives of their 12 Rottweiler dogs from bushfires that raced through their property in October. The Burns’ had to evacuate their property, leaving the dogs behind, when the fires sprang up.
“The heat was so intense near the kennels that metal frames around them were completely distorted while some of the heavy chains started to melt and any items made from wood completely charred,” says Irene Burns. “Yet the kennels themselves made of CSR Hebel Powerpanels were left absolutely intact, with not even scorch marks left on the walls.”
When fire officers returned to the property after the fires had passed through they were amazed to find the dogs perfectly safe in the midst of the blackened, charred area surrounding the kennels. The Burns are convinced the fire-resistant properties of CSR Hebel Powerpanel saved their dogs lives.
The large kennelling area where the animals are housed is made of 75mm thick Powerpanels, a lightweight, aerated, autoclaved precast concrete product that boasts a three-hour fire rating - almost twice that of traditional materials such as bricks. This excellent fire resistance means Powerpanels are ideal for homes, offices and outbuildings in areas where bushfires are a risk. The product also has excellent thermal insulation characteristics, ensuring that occupants of a house or apartment made from them will remain at a comfortable temperature during the hottest summers or coldest winters.
Source: Building Products News.