Runboard.com
Слава Україні!

runboard.com       Sign up (learn about it) | Sign in (lost password?)

Page:  1  2  3  4  5 

 
cooter50 Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Registered user

Registered: 11-2016
Posts: 4312
Karma: 2 (+15/-13)
Reply | Quote
Re: California burning:


I have been a active volunteer firefighter, a fire brigade member of the facility I worked and can validate those time factors. More often than not the homes we currently live are become death traps of synthetic fibers, core materials and plastics that emit poisonous gases as well enough compounds that flash over across the dense smoke clouds.

It is due in part to those standards of construction these homes in CA, WA, OR and others burst into flames violently burning to the ground where firefighters can only 'Save the Ground they stood upon' as we were often joked of in the early years of volunteer I can remember.

My current home has REAL wooden furnishings, hardwood flooring, metal rooking and James Hardie concrete based siding granite counter tops. The electrical system is separated into individual lighting as well outlet circuits as per NEC recommendations where specified loads are separate as to circuit protection at the breaker box(I am a certified Electrician). No light duty wiring to any circuit except the PE and ROR heat sensor smoke detection system. We do have sprayed high density foam insulation with organic cellulose but both had fire protective component additives when installed for fire progression control. We do have leather covered foam structure chairs and couch but the leather is of itself a low fire risk element. These were all bonus values as the wife has serious allergies where we removed as much allergen contact materials as reasonably viable resulting in a more fire resistant home.

The scary components within our home are the plastic cased kitchen mechanisms as coffee pots, microwave, toaster and other various machines housings.

Based on this, the fact we used real t&g plywood as well some engineered structure in the house base construct we should be closer to the legacy time frame for home fires. I have no desire to challenge that.
10/17/2017, 12:03 pm Link to this post PM cooter50 Blog
 
shiftless2 Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Registered user

Registered: 11-2016
Posts: 2548
Karma: 29 (+34/-5)
Reply | Quote
Re: California burning:


Many moons ago I was approached by one of the major lumber companies to help them sort out a problem relating to "fire-retardant plywood". The stuff sounded like a great idea - if you watched their vids it looked wonderful. They could turn a blowtorch on it and keep it there long enough to burn a hole thru the plywood but, when they took the torch away, the wood didn't keep burning.

Problem was, the chemicals they used to do this literally rotted the wood fibers and a few years down the road the company found themselves faced with thousands of homes where the roofs and siding had to be replaced - the company accepted this but they were simply looking for a tax and accounting efficient method of paying for it.
10/17/2017, 12:57 pm Link to this post PM shiftless2 Blog
 
cooter50 Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Registered user

Registered: 11-2016
Posts: 4312
Karma: 2 (+15/-13)
Reply | Quote
Re: California burning:


So long as there are no Raw edges to lumber, lack of splintering or breaks in grain it is very difficult to get it to burn, little need for fire retardant chemicals. For a fire to start it needs kindling or a starting tinder to build enough heat to set solid wood afire. Have to sustain the heat to build on the fire tetrahedron.
http://www.interfire.org/termoftheweek.asp?term=1240
10/17/2017, 3:42 pm Link to this post PM cooter50 Blog
 
cooter50 Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Registered user

Registered: 11-2016
Posts: 4312
Karma: 2 (+15/-13)
Reply | Quote
Re: California burning:


Look to OSB Oriented Strand Board or the other particle or small shaved component lumber products, catch fire readily as one installed DO present splinter edge or the point of glue connections that during a fire separate presenting more edge and more availability for burning.

Tongue and groove plywood when installed properly do not present such availability. Even old style roof sheathing assembled with clips at the edges(leaves gaps) create fire transition points allowing the edges to heat more rapidly and the fire to expand.

In modern construction Cheaper Cost Materials is the key to present a higher profit line at the end of a day.
10/17/2017, 4:34 pm Link to this post PM cooter50 Blog
 
Rigby5 Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Registered user

Registered: 04-2005
Location: Mountain Time
Posts: 6799
Karma: -5 (+26/-31)
Reply | Quote
Re: California burning:


It is interesting that with solids and liquids, it is really only the vapors that actually burn.

With something like alcohol, you can pour some in you palm and light it on fire, and you won't get burned or even feel heat.
The flame will actually be 1/16th" above the level of the liquid.
And the evaporating liquid will keep your hand cool.




Last edited by Rigby5, 10/17/2017, 4:47 pm
10/17/2017, 4:41 pm Link to this post PM Rigby5
 
cooter50 Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Registered user

Registered: 11-2016
Posts: 4312
Karma: 2 (+15/-13)
Reply | Quote
Re: California burning:


Well noted, yet it does require a larger presentation of small edges to promote the chemical breakdown of wood for fire to propagate.
10/17/2017, 5:36 pm Link to this post PM cooter50 Blog
 
Rigby5 Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Registered user

Registered: 04-2005
Location: Mountain Time
Posts: 6799
Karma: -5 (+26/-31)
Reply | Quote
Re: California burning:


And oil derivatives like resins are going to vaporize a lot easier than cellulose fibers.
10/17/2017, 5:58 pm Link to this post PM Rigby5
 


Add a reply

Page:  1  2  3  4  5 





You are not logged in (login)