Greenwalk Solutions, an environmental product based company owned by Laurie Aditajs, in Rockwood, has just figured out how to “beat the heat.”
That company, in partnership with Cantech Canada Inc., of Oakville, is launching its BarnSafe™ line of fire protective coatings to the agricultural industry this spring.
“Barn fires and the steps to take the proper prevention measures are too often overlooked” said Aditajs.
As outlined on its website, The Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Rural Affairs states, “Over the past five years, barn fires and fires in large farm structures have become an increasing concern. The evolution towards large-scale farm operations has further heightened the need to address the problem of barn fires and fires in large farm structures.”
Research shows the some of the main causes of barn fires are failing electrical wiring due to corrosion caused by moisture, lightning strikes, the storage of wet or damp hay, and the improper storage of combustible materials.
Owning her own horse farm Aditajs’ goal was to find a product that would act as a first line of defence in the case of a fire.
“Smoke and fire alarms are a necessity in any structure,” said Aditajs. “But they will not stop or slow a barn fire down. Time is required to be able to get horses out of the barn, especially when there are many of them to evacuate. If you don’t have that gift of time – the consequences can, and in many cases are, absolutely devastating.”
Through her husband, John, Aditajs learned of innovative technologies a Canadian company called CanTech Canada Inc. had developed, and immediately realized that was the answer the agriculture industry needed to assist with the issue of barn fires. She partnered with CanTech to target this issue, create, and had now launched that brand to the equine and agricultural market.
BarnSafe is a water based, non-toxic, VOC free coating available in either a stain or a solid coat. When applied to wood by a brush, roller, or spray it provides a protective yet decorative finish with many significant benefits.
First and foremost, BarnSafe provides fire protection. When applied to wood or foam insulation, the product will not allow flame spread or the build up of toxic smoke. In various tests, BarnSafe coated to a wooden surface has held off fire for up to two hours of constant exposure. That is the advantage farm owners and fire fighters require to extinguish flames, save occupants, and, it is to be hoped, the entire structure. BarnSafe also waterproofs, preserves wood, and deters the corrosion of metals.
That is key because most agricultural buildings are constantly exposed to moisture. Whether it is through the onset of rain or snow on the exterior, or moisture released from the animals occupying the barn, or the daily bathing and disinfecting of animals inside the facility, it is that exposure that can rot wood and corrode metal.
Applying BarnSafe will protect those substrates and can prevent the time and expense associated with that type of damage. Aditajs said. “Our BarnSafe Wood Guard Stain does for wood what pressure treating does, but without the toxic effects.”
Last but not least, BarnSafe Wood Guard, the company’s stain product, has the ability to repel termites as well.
Aditajs said, “Certain areas of Wellington County are subject to termites. When those destructive little insects come in contact with our stain, they don’t like the taste and they tend to vacate the area.”
BarnSafe will work for new and existing structures. It should be applied to all frame and truss work as well as to all finished interior and exterior wood surfaces.
Being environmentally friendly, it will not affect horses or other livestock that tend to chew on wood. It is ideal for all wooden run-in sheds, garages, fence posts, and boards as well.
Aditajs also noted that on-going meetings with insurance companies may lead to a future benefit in applying BarnSafe to agricultural structures in the possibility of reduced insurance premiums.
Aditajs also announced that Greenwalk Solutions is currently meeting with farm related retailers in hopes of listing the stockkeeping unit’s of this and the company’s other specialty brand product called TractorCoat™ . It is an earth friendly application for all metal surfaces such as tractors, farm implements, steel barn roofs, silo roofs, gates, horse stalls and more. Its colour scheme will match that of the popular tractor colours.
For more information, visit www.greenwalk.ca to see other “green” products available for the equine and agricultural market.
