Number of posts : 6902 Registration date : 2008-03-27
Subject: Re: Russell family displaced by fire... Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:13 pm
Yeah, they were lucky. Old buildings were built using what's called balloon construction. There's often nothing in the walls between the base sill and the attic of 2 or even 3 story houses and the hollow walls act just like a chimney taking heat upwards so fire can travel from the first floor to the roof in very short time. Smarter builders put fire stops at intervals between the studs but alot of them did not.
LukeTHr All Star
Number of posts : 1936 Age : 64 Registration date : 2008-03-26
Subject: Re: Russell family displaced by fire... Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:01 am
so does it help that my house has blown in insulation even tho it had balloon construction?
Ratzilla All Star
Number of posts : 6902 Registration date : 2008-03-27
Subject: Re: Russell family displaced by fire... Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:28 am
Yes. Anything to slow the progress of the fire, even if it's just chopped paper crap will make a huge difference. Blown insulation tends to settle and pack meaning fire will have to smolder it's way through it. Some old home owners filled the walls with mud. It was for insulating purposes but it became like concrete when dry and was one of the best ways ever devised to stop fire from spreading.
The bad part of blown insulation is that a wall that's blown full may settle to leave a big open area at the top after several years.
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Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:58 pm
