A look into new building construction safety

This type of lightweight wood construction is being used more and more in Boston as the city tries to help meet its need for more affordable housing.

This particular building in the Ashmont section of Dorchester was built almost entirely out of wood. The basic rule is you can build up to six stories using a wooden frame if the first two floors are concrete. They are very safe structures according to engineers, but only after they are full completed.

The fire burned for hours on the top floors of what was supposed to be Dorchester's new Treadmark mid-rise, mixed income apartment building.

"When the building is completed, it is a very safe structure,” said Robert Solomon.

Solomon is an engineering expert with the National Fire Protection Association. He says these wooden frame structures are more common because they go up quicker and cheaper.  And even though they are safe to live in, they can be vulnerable during construction.

"Systems are not in service. The wood isn't necessarily covered up with gypsum or sheetrock or fire rated construction yet,” Solomon.

Boston firefighters were able to knock down the Treadmark fire without any injuries or loss to nearby buildings.  The president of the firefighter's union credits new training on this type of construction.

"We're doing back to basic training. We're doing high-rise firefighters. That's because the commissioner, the mayor are working together to educate firefighters on the case on what happened yesterday,” said Rich Paris, President, Boston Firefighters Local.

While under construction, Boston requires builders to have sprinklers within two floors of where they are working.  But the NFPA has been pushing higher standards for many years.

"If you get a floor pretty much finished go ahead and get the fire safety system in service,” said Solomon.

Boston 25 News asked the Inspectional Services Commissioner if any changes to the code are needed with this more common building practice. He told us they will re-visit that question after they get a better handle of what happened here.

Cox Media Group