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UTPr0sim UTPr0sim OP
Jan 13, 2025 at 02:59 PM ET
So Construction Engineers, how do you build (or spec) a house to be flame
resistant (Fire Proof!). What would you do? They already have Earthquake proof rules in CA.

12 Replies

TomTurkey TomTurkey
I'm an ISTJ so probably can't help.
Vienna_Hokie Vienna_Hokie
The houses themselves are part of the approach/problem
you can't just stack houses on top of each other in the middle of a tinderbox and not expect this at some point. The winds have done this before, the vegetation has been dry like this before. The two events have happened at the same time before. The difference is, the combination of all of that at the same time with massive growth in population and houses stacked on top of each other. This is a disaster that has been building for decades.
ColoVT82 ColoVT82
Yes, and not enough infrastructure to keep pace
PhotoHokieNC PhotoHokieNC
Enough infrastructure if run right.
UTPr0sim UTPr0sim OP
Many of the neighborhoods, were NOT stacked on each other. Looked like
normal subdivisions from any state.
Vienna_Hokie Vienna_Hokie
normal subdivisions from any other state aren't built in a tinderbox
thus adjustments should have been made to create breaks. The houses can be close in clumps, but then there need to be large breaks so that if one clump catches, it doesn't just roll into the next. Fires and floods aren't going to be stopped, they are part of nature, but when you build in areas prone to that, you have to limit damage through effective planning.
PhotoHokieNC PhotoHokieNC
One stack of sticks burns just like two stacks, just lower burn height.
PhotoHokieNC PhotoHokieNC
Not a CE, just an HI, but suggestion is make house of stuff that
doesn't burn. Issue in CA though, if I may be presumptuous enough to think that's what you're asking re:, is the bad management of fire services and other related societal needs. CA has a long, failed history of making other groups and other industries and other population demographics pay for the neglect of other, basic responsibilities. ** Edited by PhotoHokieNC at 1/13/2025, 3:52:26 PM
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PWR2LZ
Its also about building in the Wildfire & Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
What you mentioned definitely exacerbates LA's ability to adequately (and competently) manage fire risk. People like living in homes w/nice views, and real estate is expensive, but at some point allowing construction to occur so close to wilderness areas is like "poking the bear" so to speak.
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PWR2LZ
You start by partially berming the house with earth, link inside.
The architect Malcolm Wells was known for employing this technique. In a climate like Cali, you'd have to manage whatever vegetation grows on the roof, obviously, to prevent the roof from burning.
PhotoHokieNC PhotoHokieNC
But 10-1 CA would outlaw disturbing roof flora.
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PWR2LZ
Yes, exactly!