Ever walked right in on a spider web? Spiders are just about everywhere, and it’s certainly not new to have its webs lurking around the corners and ceilings of our spaces.
Spider webs are easily the occupants of the empty, unused spaces in our homes, office spaces, basements, kitchen cabinets; you name it. Due to its common occurrences in our homes and spaces, it’s okay to wonder whether spider webs can catch fire.
So, are spider webs flammable? Yes, spider webs are incredibly flammable. Although, when they catch fire, they tend to smolder and melt away instead of causing an explosion like other flammable substances.
This post will cover everything you need to know about how flammable spider webs can get.
Contents
What are Spider Webs Made Of?
Well, spider webs are secreted by sliders for the sole purpose of prey capture. It is made of spider silk which the spider spins from proteins gotten from their diet.
Yes, it’s that biological. Pity that humans cannot actually pull off this trick too. But basically, keratin is the protein molecule that spiders’ webs are made of.
Now, here’s the drill: Spiders possess silk glands, and this is where the ‘spinning’ goes on, and then next, they use their legs to pull out and form into shape.
These silks are of different qualities, some stretch more and are stronger than others, while others are thicker or thinner, and this is due to the different kinds of silk glands that some of the species possess.
Over the years, the evolution of spiders has made it possible for modern-day spiders to spin stronger silk, even so much stronger than steel.
Bioengineering of some animals by some scientists has resulted in waxing webs even without spiders. Such experiments are ongoing today.
Are Spider Webs Flammable?
Yes, Spider web enable flames to burn faster and easier, but this doesn’t go to say that the webs are capable of holding or sustaining a fire outbreak.
It follows that spider webs cannot be the primary cause of a fire explosion since the thing threads are barely capable of holding a flame.
The threads of a web would seethe and burn out when in contact with fire. However, the rule here is the higher the concentration of the cobwebs, the greater the intensity of the fire burn.
You might wonder since spider webs are flammable, can you use fire or heat to get rid of them?
We highly advise against this as the flammable nature of these webs can easily result in a fire hazard if left uncontrolled. There are better and more effective ways to get rid of spider webs.
How Flammable Are Spider Webs?
Spider webs are flammable. Their webs are not compelled to withstand fire, and even more, thanks to the very delicate and narrow threads, not only are they not resistant to fire, they easily melt in only 1020 degrees above room temperature.
The web may fade rapidly, even in a situation of no actual fire.
Are Spider Webs Heat Resistant?
Well, one can assume that since spider webs melt and burn easily, they can be heat resistant.
That assumption is right that all spider webs need is just a little bit of a higher-than-normal room temperature to smolder and fade a littlest like spun.
Are Web Decorations Flammable?
Yes, they are. Fake spider webs are extremely flammable. Placing them on the exit doors of your homes poses a serious safety threat in cases of a fire outbreak.
Just like the real thing, fake web designs, when hung outside, can capture and kill bees, aphids, and even hummingbirds.
These spider webs also attract real spiders to themselves when hung around.
Is It Okay To Touch Spider Webs?
It is not dangerous to touch or feel a spider web. In contrast, it is just as silky as human hair, just a tad slimmer and slimy.
But you might want to pay attention to general hand hygiene and keep off for cases of ingestion of dirt and perhaps some bacteria as a result of using your unwashed hands.
But if you are worried about catching fire from just touching a spider web, relax; no such thing is happening.
Are Spider Webs Considered a Fire Hazard?
This entirely depends on how much spider web we are talking about here. Cause as earlier stated, the higher the concentration of the spider webs, the greater the density of the fire.
A single strand of cobwebs lurking around might ignite easily and fade away but would not pass on the flames if there are no more cobwebs around. Hence it is not a fire hazard in that particular size.
But in a case where it’s a cobweb haunted dungeon or a long-abandoned building that has spider web in magnitude, then certainly, there’s a chance of a bigger fire.
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