I have been asked to present a talk on the design of lightweight houses in cyclone and flood-prone areas. I want to talk about strength and durability issues and how good design can also incorporate sustainable design principles. I will keep this blog up to date with the progress of my presentation but if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, your comments will be welcome.
Russell Brandon
Built Environment Design Institute Ltd is a member-based not-for-profit company dedicated to advancing the design of sustainable built environments in Australia.
Wouldn't it be good to be able to have all new homes designed to suit their own individual climate and site conditions, without the need for regulation. The cost of homes will become prohibitive if regulations make you build a virtual bunker in areas with multiple hazards like bushfire, flood and cyclone. Why doesn't the government make us all drive in tanks on the roads to save lives in case of accidents. We just wouldn't do that, but instead, we all choose our preferred method of transport and take our lives in our own hands when we drive on Australias roads. I think that we should be all able to choose our own style and construction methods of our own homes (as long as they are built soundly) and take responsibility for our own choices.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. Unfortunately much of the damage in cyclones caused to buildings that are well designed and constructed results from debris from those that are not. Sheds are regular contributers. We don't want over-regulation as you say but maybe all buildings should simply be required to be "designed to suit their own individual climate and site conditions".
ReplyDeleteBuilding designer has a very good point, and I think Michael does to suffice to say world war two technology does exist at an affordable cost in the form of ICF's and they are here avaialble right now, they go up faster than conc block walls,have insulation and battens build in so you can direct fix to them just like a stud wall.
ReplyDeleteThe additional costs in labour and materials to make a lightwieght home strong enough withstand Severe weather may be cost prohitive vs low tech fast to build masonry structures that have been tested and proven not only in labs but real category 5 conditions.
ECO Block Severe Weather Testing: hurricanes and tornados by Texas Tech University
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocEmJ_D-uP4
this test compares traditional wall structures with ICF's i.e. there are a number composite walls tested.
There tests and the hurricane video that follows are pretty concluse that its possible to build structures that will maintain full integrity in these conditions. I also have extenive photos of houses that survived both the Hurricane and storm surge that followed Hurricane Katrina.
I'm not suggesting whole structures should be designed and build completely in ICF's but exterior and load bearing walls can protect almost all materials inside.
Other benefits include a sealed envelope offering R 3.74 insulation value and 54STC accoustic value with enegy savings of 25% or more for the life of a building and righsizing of HVAC reducing the pant cost by up to 30%.
These features actually show a return on invesment from powersavings that will ofset any additional build cost with a very short time.
Concrete does not rot or swell, has no nutritional value for termites and can be formed in any style or shape easily.
Please someone tell me there is a better tested and proven wall solution than this....
please excuse typos
ReplyDeleteAn interesting article relating to building designed to sustain Fire....
ReplyDeleteSan Diego Habitat for Humanity chooses ECO-Block for fire protection
Concrete Construction, Dec, 2004
12Next ..To help the victims of the 2003 fire-ravaged hills of Southern California, the San Diego Foundation, through a gift from Citibank, teamed up with San Diego Habitat for Humanity (SDHFH) to rebuild one of the 23 burned homes. Coincidentally, Jim Niehoff of the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Chairman of the insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA) Industry Relations and Public Affairs Committee was looking for a home to showcase concrete construction as a project for the association's fall meeting in San Diego. The fit was perfect. Says Niehoff: "Not only does the insulating concrete form technology offer the fire resistance, but it is also well suited to volunteer labor, as the blocks are lightweight and easy to build with."
ECO-Block, LLC, chosen to provide the insulating concrete form blocks, was also able to draw on its sizeable resources to help complete the project. The walls for the 1388-square-foot home were built in just 4 days. The ECO-Block forms used on this project have been tested to provide a 4-hour fire rating with a 6-inch concrete core. These polystyrene foam panels are stacked to create a form for reinforcing steel and poured concrete. They provide not only durability and resistance to anything nature can throw at it, but also a superior insulation that translates into energy savings and a quiet, peaceful interior.