Structures Contributing to Healthier Living
A truly resilient building is engineered to withstand & function effectively in the face of disaster and beyond
By Jillian Pritchard Cooke
The threat to residential housing by natural disasters continues to increase. Damage to property caused by natural and man-made disasters can be reduced by building above minimum code, which aims to ensure basic safety. Minimum codes often fall short of ensuring residential structures are disaster proof and can resist fire, water and gale-force winds.
When individual homes, collectively, are more resilient, entire communities become more sustainable and thrive. The overall design of a building, including shape, size, roof structure, material selection, insulation and landscaping, plays a significant role in resisting natural and man-made disasters.
Proper landscaping is imperative to prevent the spread of flames, redirect heavy flowing water and save buildings. Simply using non-combustible and drought-free plants and strategically placing them away from the home can enhance building safety. Additionally, selecting materials such as natural gravel, rock and stone, instead of plants, assists buildings to withstand high temperatures and can help redirect water safely away from buildings.
A healthy, resilient home is designed to perform effectively through a disastrous event and beyond the event. The design of the home should prioritize functionality and operability before, during and the after a disaster. Incorporating alternate energy and water supplies can enhance resiliency. Including generators in the initial design, as well as access to a reliable water source, can ensure occupants remain in their homes while cleanup efforts are taking place.
Emphasizing the importance of maintaining the property on a regular schedule contributes to reducing the risk of damage to buildings. Simply cleaning leaves and other debris from roofs and gutters reduces the risk of fire from airborne embers. It is important that all parts of a building are well-maintained, repaired timely and no cavity is exposed to exterior elements. Consideration should be given to interior contents of a home as it can contribute to the spread and/or potency of fire.
The overall design of a building, including shape, size, roof structure, material selection, insulation and landscaping, plays a significant role in resisting natural and man-made disasters.”
Third-party certification and laboratory testing, including the NGBS, WWYW, Home Innovation Research Labs and UL Industries GREENGUARD, help with proven building practices and determine how products will react when exposed to flames, fire, flooding and high wind speeds. Building products that have been tested for endurance, moisture control and toxicity are better for human health.
The non-combustible insulation, known as stone wool and mineral wool, used in exterior walls, interior partitions and roofing are important to building performance, mainly because of its fire resistance. These products absorb sound, offer high levels of insulation and shield buildings from the transmission of thermal energy. Stone and mineral wool insulation do not produce toxic air pollutants that cause cancer or other serious health effects, including birth defects, reproductive issues and lung disease. Mineral wool contains a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials, and neither stone nor mineral wool require the addition of harmful chemicals to be fire-resistant. Additionally, for fire prevention, exterior building sprinklers built into roof lines, overhangs and recessed alcoves can help extinguish flames, embers, firebrands and hot gases before the building is substantially damaged.
Concrete is incredibly dense and is widely considered the best nontoxic fire material. Additionally, it can withstand high-force winds. It is non-combustible and does not release toxic fumes. Concrete has a low heat transfer and keeps its structural integrity under high temperatures. Brick is an excellent alternative, although not as resistant as concrete. Stone, another alternative, is naturally resistant.
Selecting impact resistant, tempered reinforced glass offers better resistance to high temperatures caused by fire and forceful winds that can pick up and disperse dangerous debris. When this glass breaks, it shatters into small pieces that are less harmful during clean up. Fire- and wind-rated windows have different metrics. The best fire-rated windows are designed to withstand high heat, exceeding 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, and prevent the spread of smoke and flames. They can be made from glass ceramic, polished wired glass or specially tempered glass. Wind-rated windows are designed to withstand high winds, up to category 5, and atmospheric pressure as well as water penetration. They are often made of laminated glass.
With ever-increasing vulnerabilities due to natural and man-made disasters, building resiliency and sustainability must increase. Implementing resilient material selections and building design strategies contributes to the prolonged life of buildings, as well as the health of their occupants.
Jillian Pritchard Cooke is the founder of Wellness Within Your Walls education and certification.
