fire safe homemade rack??

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Originally Posted by AmysAnimals

I'm fairly new here, as are you. I wouldn't go around insulting people. I mean, maybe they were just in a hurry and didn't care about their spelling? You are not the grammar police and you shouldn't criticize people based on spelling. If you couldn't understand what he was saying then I feel bad for you. It was not that hard to figure out. He was just trying to give you advice. If you took it the wrong way, well then that just too bad. =(

I would take every precaution to make sure there would not be a fire, but IMO using fire retardant may not be the best choice around the snakes (or any other pet for that matter). I would just go for buying melamine and building your own rack. Like I said before, my dad said it can only really catch fire if it's set a blaze. He's been working with wood since he was 16.

Hope you can figure out what to do.

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I probably was being offensive but I don't appreciate being spoken down to new or not. I understand perfectly well that melamine is what is generally used to build racks and I understand why. I want to try something different and I am trying to get opinions on potential and specific concerns with my idea, not just a general "I wouldn't do that if I were you but I have no reason to offer as to why". Again no offense meant but I'm not really looking for opinions on how you or anyone else would build a rack, what I want to know pertains to THIS plan that I have laid out. I am all for tradition on most things but I am having a real issue discarding my idea because that simply isn't how it is usually done. I also truly believe that your dad probably knows all there is to know about wood which brings me to another point of mine, you said that the only way for melamine to catch fire is if it is set ablaze right?? The fire retardant that I want to use, when applied properly WILL NOT catch fire when held directly in a flame. Any flame that appears on the treated surface will go out within seconds.

Ok let me start over even though I am not doing anything yet until I hear back from the fire retardant company.

I want to treat a particle board bookshelf with fire retardant.

The fire retardant and all it's information can be found here. http://www.flamestop.com/

From here everything else will be set up as "normal", there will be heat tape installed (belly heat style) by a professional (not me), there will be a good thermostat (probably a herpstat 4) there will be plastic tubs. There will be digital thermometer/hygrometers in EACH tub (cuz I'm paranoid like that)

I will also have a humidifier near the set up, a smoke alarm in the room and possibly a fire extinguisher too.

I CONTACTED THE COMPANY WITH ALL OF MY QUESTIONS AND I AM AWAITING A RESPONSE. IF THEY TELL ME THAT NO VAPORS WILL BE RELEASED WHAT-SO-EVER UNTIL 160 DEGREES (which is what the first email response I got said but this is assuming normal use of the product), IF THEY TELL ME THAT THEIR PRODUCT CAN BE HEATED 24/7 UP TO 100 DEGREES WITHOUT RELEASING ANY VAPORS AND STILL BE EFFECTIVE, IF THEY TELL ME THAT THIS PRODUCT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, THEN AND ONLY THEN, I WILL PROCEED WITH MY PLANS.

If anyone has any specific concerns with this plan, please post them. I am posting this to try to make sure there isn't an aspect I haven't thought of yet. Thank you.

oh and also thank you satomi325 for your response. I do plan on using a good thermostat. The previous poster had mentioned something about tubs melting if I didn't buy a metal rack (at least that is what I got out of it) you said a thermostat would prevent this so basically melting tubs would not be a concern/issue with a thermostat right?? I do also agree that unfortunately no rack is 100% fire proof but I do want to give it my best effort, and I want it to be as equally "fire proof" as a professionally built rack.

IMO Wood sucks for keeping reptiles in...Humidity/water and wood don't mix!!! Even Melamine will fall apart over time from the moisture!

Check out Boaphile Racks...They are made from self extinguishing Polyethylene and will last a lifetime...

http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhino.html

You could always build a rack to include the tub covers. This helps extend the life of the rack and there's no need to worry about humidity or moisture.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

Sounds like a pointless risk (chemical) to your snakes. Once the plastic tubs are put on the rack, it will no longer be fire resistant, irrelevant to what chemicals or materials are used to make the rack.

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

IMO Wood sucks for keeping reptiles in...Humidity/water and wood don't mix!!! Even Melamine will fall apart over time from the moisture!

Check out Boaphile Racks...They are made from self extinguishing Polyethylene and will last a lifetime...

http://www.boaphileplastics.com/rhino.html

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Here's another vote from a veteran..
WOOD SUCKS FOR REPTILE CAGES! We will never recommend it here. You were not being talked down to. Not in my opinion. We look out for the animals here.

Also... Take a look at your keyboard.. Phone, computer, whatever.. Most of those "spelling" mistakes were a simple case of hitting the key right next to the one actually needed for that word... I'm sure you've done it. We all have.

I personally would not take the risk with introducing something like that when your talking about something that COULD produce something that could hard my snake even if the company tells me it won't. It's not their job to know if it will harm my reptiles only that it will resist fire.

If you are getting the flex watt wired professionally and using a thermostat. Then you are about as likely I start a fire as your computer running all day or your fridge. No one is saying that you can't come up with something new. People are just saying that why introduce something that could harm your snake.

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Originally Posted by brittani72

WHAT?!?! no offense but can you post this again and use spell check? I didn't understand half of it. And what do you mean particle board sucks for racks and humidity?? What specifically sucks about particle board?? First of all, I was under the impression that it has not been done a lot (if ever) before so how would you know that information? Also just out of curiosity, how/why would the material of the rack itself affect humidity? I was planning on relying on substrate, water dish size, and a regular old humidifier near the rack to control humidity. (And monitoring this with a digital hygrometer). And most importantly HOW exactly are my tubs going to melt if I don't buy a freedom breeder rack?! I agree with having my setup perfect and the electrical done correctly but that is a given with any rack right? The smoke detector (and probably fire extinguisher) is also a given. ALSO I'm sorry I'm "overthinking" trying to make a fire proof rack but... well actually no I'm not sorry, I want to make damn sure it's fire proof which is why I want to use the fire retardant in the first place. At this point I am much more concerned with the potential chemicals the product MAY release around my snakes which is why I wrote the head of the company today and am awaiting a full response to all of my questions BEFORE proceeding with my plans.

P.s. your note about husbandry first, snakes later...DUH! If of course you mean acquiring and perfecting the husbandry aspect first before acquiring snakes. BUT if by any chance were suggesting that I need to spend more money on my one rack than any/all snakes that may eventually reside in the rack I'd have to politely disagree.

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First off you obviouslly arent understanding. I will go slow. Particle board suck with humidity because the humidity cause from your bin will soak into any bare wood. This is why melamine is the best wood based product for racks. Trust me. Ive been building racks and working with snakes since the 90s. Ive tried it all and learned from my own mistakes. As far as using a fire retardant material its pointless. The reason its not used is because its a chemical that can potentially harm your animal. Otherwise it would be common place for people to use it. And on another note what good is fireproofing your rack? Do you think this will stop the snakes from smoke inhalation? Im sure your gonna have the head of the chemical company be able to tell you if their product is safe for snakes lmao really? Come on think about it. If you do the steps to not have a fire and are proactive then you shouldnt have a problem. And as far as cost of your rack versus cost of animals your crazy. If you care about the animals then dont shortcut them. Provide a good enclosure. Making them a rack out of crap materials just to save a couple bucks says alot for your plans with your animals. Your comment about this product has never been used before says it all. Its because its not a good idea. Do you think your an innovator? Are you the first person to think of this? Doubt it. Im sure its been thought of but its not good to introduce chemicals to your animals that are potentially dangerous to them. And just a side note on spell check. I apoligize if you couldnt read my original post. I am typing on my phone. Small keyboard fat fingers what can i say.

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Originally Posted by brittani72

The previous poster had mentioned something about tubs melting if I didn't buy a metal rack (at least that is what I got out of it) you said a thermostat would prevent this so basically melting tubs would not be a concern/issue with a thermostat right?? I do also agree that unfortunately no rack is 100% fire proof but I do want to give it my best effort, and I want it to be as equally "fire proof" as a professionally built rack.

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You have MORE items at risk of fire than just the rack.
Rarely do Lab and I agree on anything LOL
You can have the rack coated in anything you want BUT should your flex-a-watt short out then you will have a fire. Nothing in life is 100% fire proof regardless of what you want to think, even metal burns when hot enough;)
Any yes, housing is first priority when finances are concerned.

Keep in mind you are posting on a PUBLIC forum and will almost always get answers you dont like or want to hear. This is part of life too. I didnt read anything wrong with his post either.

Unsealed wood SUCKS for keeping in humidity, all of my racks are home build MDF that will waste away in about a year or so but by then I should be able to start on XPVC.;)