Better Design for Rural Disasters

Lake Chelan Building Supply

Just over a year ago Lake Chelan Building Supply in Washington State burned down in the 2015 devastating forest fires. They chose to rebuild the showroom with a smarter system to help avoid and defend from future disasters.  (You can follow their rebuilding process/photos/details on their Facebook page) Recently, similar fires have devastated North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and several other southeast states.

Lake Chelan Building Supply

Premier SIPs consultants offer building enclosure design strategies that will help defend from Wildland Fires.  When designed optimally, SIPs construct a superior framed structure with the following exceptional characteristics:

• Indoor Air Quality:  large panels with far fewer joints mean reduced infiltrations and outside pollutants.
• High Performance:  Warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer – regularly save to to 60% on utilities
• Engineered Strength:  SIPs bear incredible loads and are ideal for withstanding nature’s forces – including heavy snow loads
• Insect & Mold Resistant:  SIPs insulation is resistant to carpenter ants and termites.
• Warranty:  Traditional framing methods offer no warranty

WHY ARE SIPS FOR BETTER DESIGN?

The Fire Triangle represents the 3 elements needed for fire, remove one and fire can be prevented or exinguished.

1. SIPs Are a Closed Assembly:  NFPA’s “7 Ways to Protect Your Home” #3 safety recommendation is to screen and seal early in the construction process.  Wind-borne embers can get into your homes easily through vents and other openings and burn the home from the inside out.  SIPs are an enclosed assembly which does not include venting of an attic or roof, means no openings to screen and seal from deadly wind-borne embers.
2. SIPs Insulation Contains No Air:  As warm air rises and cold air sinks in a conventionally framed wall cavity, a natural phenomenon called thermal or convective looping occurs.  This air movement draws fire in, and fuels it which creates the chimney effect that will take the fire up the wall cavity and into the next floor or roof.  SIPs have a solid insulation core eliminating heat-carrying air flow within the cavity.

Lake Chelan Building Supply

Lake Chelan Building Supply