Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Constants and variables, Ductape and foil
Last year I noticed the dramatic difference that metal siding makes in a fire situation. And the opposite difference for vinyl siding. A house with vinyl siding will ignite from a little warmth. Breathe on it and you've got a fire. Wood or beaverboard takes a real flame to ignite. Metal won't ignite at all.
The US Forest Service noticed it a long time ago. Since 1980 they've been protecting 'historic' buildings like log cabins and old fire towers by wrapping them in heavy-duty aluminum foil, fastened with ductape. Smart and cheap. It looks dumb but it works.
Big question: WHY IN THE HOLY HELL DON'T WE REQUIRE ALL HOUSES TO HAVE METAL SIDING? Or stone or brick? It's an extremely old lesson, but we still haven't learned it.
Labels: Constants and Variables, defensible spaces
¶ 8:42 AM
