Building with concrete: A strategic choice in the face of fires

The National Union of Ready-Mixed Concrete (SNBPE) points out that concrete, due to its incombustible and stable nature, is a key ally in building safer and more resilient structures.

For Jean-Marie Modica, President of the SNBPE: "Current events remind us, unfortunately all too often, how destructive fires can be. As a responsible industry, we call for fire safety to be made a national priority, by supporting the use of materials known for their natural fire-resistant properties, such as concrete, in order to better protect people and property."

A fireproof material with proven performance

Concrete is an inert, incombustible material that does not emit toxic fumes or melt under the influence of heat. These qualities make it a natural barrier against the spread of fire.
In all building types – housing, offices, warehouses, public buildings – it acts as a structural protective barrier.

Its fire resistance contributes to:

• Slow the spread of flames through partitioning;
• Preserve the structural integrity of buildings to extend emergency response time in safer conditions and enable safe evacuation.
• Reduce the extent of material damage and shorten reconstruction times.

A passive, sustainable and economical security solution

Concrete offers permanent passive fire safety, requiring no maintenance or additives. It reduces insurance premiums and maintenance costs, and increases the lifespan of buildings. It is a responsible choice from an economic, technical, heritage, and societal perspective.

A concrete response to regulatory and societal expectations

With the tightening of fire regulations in many sectors (public buildings, collective housing, logistics warehouses, data centers, etc.), concrete naturally meets growing safety requirements. It reassures users, insurers, and local elected officials and contributes to greater acceptability of construction projects.

SNBPE ​​recommendations to public authorities

To better prevent fires and strengthen the resilience of buildings, the SNBPE ​​is calling on public authorities to take more systematic account of non-combustible materials, such as concrete, in planning and construction policies:

1. Integrate fire safety into public procurement. Systematic addition of fire performance criteria in calls for tender for public construction (social housing, schools, hospitals, etc.).
2. Encourage non-combustible materials in risk areas. Identify sensitive areas (forest-city interface, industrial zones, etc.) and encourage the use of fire-stable materials such as concrete.
3. Conduct a national awareness campaign. Co-construct, with the industry, an information campaign on passive safety aimed at local authorities, prescribers and decision-makers.
4. Expand the support systems for safe renovation. Incorporate a fire safety component into renovation support for work to replace combustible materials with concrete walls.
5. Support R&D on high-performance fire-resistant concrete. Fund research projects on innovative concretes that perform well in terms of fire safety and are adapted to climate issues.

For Jean-Marie Modica, President of the SNBPE: "Fire risk is a major public safety issue, which deserves a collective response that is commensurate with the scale. It is essential that public authorities fully address it. Our sector is ready to contribute its expertise, practical solutions, and commitment to building safer, more resilient, and protective buildings for all."