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Building Regulations and Standards: 'New house-building methods are unsafe'

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorTimber
    • CommentTimeJan 21st 2013
     
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-housebuilding-methods-are-unsafe-mps-told-8449391.html

    Timber frame, EPS EWI, other flammable insulation materials etc... are we really building unsafe houses or do perceptions need changing over risk and value of houses?

    Is it scaremongering from industry parties with a vested intrest? Genuine concern for public saftey?

    Any thoughts?
    • CommentAuthorFred56
    • CommentTimeJan 21st 2013
     
    Two trade bodies who so much about house building that they think timber frame is new and pioneering.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeJan 21st 2013 edited
     
    Humans assess risk very badly an example being that small children are now 'jailed' during school house for their safety but are driven to school in a car.

    What do you mean by 'value'. Value is a very hard thing to define, cost is a bit easier to establish and price is very easy to find.

    There is almost certainly some scaremongering going on, but if you have a choice between two materials, one flammable and the other non-flammable and the price is similar, then there is no harm in using the non-flammable one. It worked in the furniture trade with flame proof fabrics and low smoke and fumes foams. Price stayed about the same. Oddly though (it may have changed since I was involved in foam moulding) flame retardant foams are not needed in the automotive industry where the greater risk to injury and life is impact and not fire. Brake fluid is now non-flammable as that used to cause a lot of fires.
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeJan 21st 2013
     
    Isn't the question “unsafe for whom and what”? First priorities are preventing fires and making sure people can get out if there is a fire. Saving the building structure is way down the list.

    Still, one of the comments about the problem being fire between the internal frame and the brickwork which the fire brigade can't get at is interesting. An additional argument against external brickwork, I think.
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeJan 22nd 2013
     
    If I remember correctly several degades ago timber frame houses were the subject of a BBC "That's Live" documentary which covered the same ground. At the time modern timber frame were quite new in the UK.
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeJan 22nd 2013 edited
     
    regarding EWI , examples of fires in germany etc. show similar concerns by fire safety people over there .
    As discussed briefly here http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=9820&page=2#Item_20

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