How to Make a Fire Resistant & Waterproof Modular Kitchen?
At Garrison Grove, we keep in mind unique challenges of the city or the location where we take up an interior designing project. In Mumbai, we have realized that modular kitchens must be fire resistant and waterproof because of the extreme humidity, salt-laden coastal air, and compact apartment layouts in high-rise buildings. Heavy daily cooking is the norm here and safety is non-negotiable.
Waterproof and fire-resistant kitchens are mandatory in the city because they are safer and have better longevity.
Here, we will be sharing some tips we use to make sure how we make our modular kitchens fire resistant and waterproof without compromising on their aesthetic appeal and burning the hold in our clients’ pockets:
1. We Choose the Core Materials Carefully
Besides high humidity and salty air, modular kitchens in Mumbai also have to bear constant exposure to steam from daily cooking. It can quickly cause inferior materials to swell and warp, joints may start separating, and you might even see fungal growth.
Hence, when we choose premium materials only for the carcass, internal structure and shelves for our clients’ kitchens. We prefer IS:710 grade BWP (Boiling Water Proof) plywood for the carcass and pair it with fire-retardant variants near cooking zones (such as the hob, chimney housing, and adjacent cabinets).
Wood cannot be fully fireproof but fire retardant variants slow down the spread of fire buying valuable time for residents to escape.
Sink base cabinets are most vulnerable in Indian kitchens where cleaning water, RO pipe drips, and small leaks can go unnoticed for months. Floor-level cabinets are at risk too. Hence, we prefer using marine plywood in these areas for extra protection against moisture.
We avoid using particle board and regular MDF while building fire resistant and waterproof modular kitchens because they tend to absorb moisture through joints and tend to swell up.
2. Our Modular Kitchens Have Separate Dry and Wet Zones
Having separate wet and dry zones can enhance the fire resistance, waterproofing, and durability of your modular kitchen. This is a structural and safety feature we highly recommend to all our clients. Ignoring this can lead to maintenance issues like heat damaging finishes of your cabinets or moisture in cabinets warping up the wood.
In Indian kitchens where water, oil, and steam are part of daily cooking activities, compact kitchens often suffer great damages. When water splashes onto heat-exposed cabinets and storage units are exposed to steam and oil spills, fungal growth and weakened boards are common problems. Wet and dry zoning can avoid these problems.
In the wet zone, we design spaces for sink, RO purifier, dishwasher, pull-out trash, and cleaning supplies. This is the area that needs waterproofing the most to handle frequent leaks and splashes. Waterproof liners and edge sealing are required more here.
In the dry zone, we design spaces for hob and cooking units, pantry storage, drawers where you can keep your utensils and cutlery, and tall spaces for appliances like microwave, oven, and food processor. These spaces must use fire retardant materials.
3. Edge Sealing and Extra Protection in High Risk Zones are Mandatory
Our modular kitchen experts often say that poor board quality can be made more durable if you seal edges, joints, and cut-outs well.
Most engineered boards and plywoods have their surfaces protected when they are manufactured. But when they are cut, their internal layers get exposed and when they are exposed to moisture or heat damage, they start swelling up slowly. Surface laminates often remain intact, the board starts rotting from inside.
Hence, we make sure that we seal the edges properly. At Garrison Grove, we:
- Do high-quality PVC edge banding on all exposed edges.
- Ensure everything is tightly bonded to prevent gaps or peeling.
- Put additional sealing in areas that get constantly exposed to water and steam. Sink base cabinets are reinforced with marine plywood or higher-grade BWP plywood, waterproof PVC liners or removable trays, and extra sealant around pipe cut-outs.
By ensuring there are no open or poorly finished edges, the durability of modular kitchen cabinets is increased considerably.
4. Kitchen Layout and Planning Plays a Crucial Role
Good and safe modular kitchens must have smart layouts and need to be planned well so that they remain easy to use. We ensure that in the cooking zone, there’s adequate distance between the hob and tall units, heart-resistant materials are used in adjacent cabinets, chimney alignment is done to make sure heat can be used efficiently and grease can be removed easily, and there are no open wooden shelves directly above the flame.
We also make sure that the sink is not forced into tight corners, access to the pipe is sealed well, and all the wet activities remain in the wet zone of the kitchen.
If you want to know what else we can do to make sure your modular kitchen is waterproof and fire resistant, book an appointment with our modular kitchen experts
