Which of the following is true regarding fire retardant treated wood?

Fire retardant treated wood is specifically designed to slow down the spread of flames, providing an essential safety feature in building construction. This treatment involves infusing the wood with chemicals that reduce its flammability and the rate at which it burns. As a result, when exposed to fire, the treated wood will ignite more slowly compared to untreated wood, which is crucial in enhancing fire safety in residential structures.

The property of slowing down flame spread helps in delaying the progression of fire, allowing additional time for occupants to escape and for firefighters to respond to the emergency. This feature is particularly valuable in areas where fire safety regulations are stringent or where the risk of fire is higher.

While untreated wood can ignite quickly and contribute to rapid fire spread, treated wood is engineered to provide a higher level of safety by mitigating these risks. Therefore, the assertion that it slows down flame spread is backed by the science of how fire retardant treatments function.