Built as working-class housing in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, the wooden three-story homes still dominate some urban neighborhoods. Though they have fallen out of favor, the structures continue to provide affordable housing in areas badly in need of it.
As decision-makers consider how to preserve these buildings, one of the primary areas of concern is fire safety due to balloon framing construction. Homes built with balloon framing, with long, continuous lumber, offer an unobstructed path for fire to spread quickly from ground level to the attic and roof.
Fire stops between floors can be created in a variety of ways. Insulating foam sealant and nominal lumber like a 2x4 nailed at various distances to break up the balloon framing can help prevent fire from spreading.
Gut renovations can add more fire blocking to break up the exterior walls and retrofit flooring with more fire-resistant materials also helps. Renovations, can be costly, though, going well beyond $100,000 for even basic design changes.
Related Stories
| May 1, 2013
New ASHRAE residential indoor air quality standard adds carbon monoxide alarm requirement
The new 2013 version of ASHRAE’s residential indoor air quality standard adds a requirement for carbon monoxide alarms.
| May 1, 2013
AAMA publishes standard for multipoint locking hardware for side-hinged doors
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) recently published the first North America standard for multipoint locking hardware for side-hinged door systems.
| Apr 24, 2013
‘W visa’ program could hamper construction industry's growth
The Senate’s bipartisan immigration reform proposal will provide interim legal status to some 11 million undocumented people.
| Apr 24, 2013
North Carolina bill would ban green rating systems that put state lumber industry at disadvantage
North Carolina lawmakers have introduced state legislation that would restrict the use of national green building rating programs, including LEED, on public projects.
| Apr 24, 2013
BOMA’s 360 Performance Program approaches 600 building designees
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International conferred the BOMA 360 Performance Program® designation upon 44 properties in major commercial real estate markets across the U.S. in the first quarter of 2013.
| Apr 24, 2013
New Mexico court strikes down move to repeal energy codes
The New Mexico State Court of Appeals struck down an attempt to repeal energy-efficient building codes.
| Apr 24, 2013
Los Angeles may add cool roofs to its building code
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants cool roofs added to the city’s building code. He is also asking the Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to create incentives that make it financially attractive for homeowners to install cool roofs.
| Apr 17, 2013
Army's FY 2014 $130 billion budget includes $2.3 billion for construction
The U.S. Army submitted a $129.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2014, $2.3 billion of which is allocated for military construction, army family housing, and base realignment and closure.
| Apr 17, 2013
Leonardo Academy to develop sustainability master plan standard
Leonardo Academy launched the development of a standard for sustainability master plans using the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process to define sustainability goals and achievements for regions, states and campuses.
| Apr 17, 2013
Fenestration Council allows some shading system, dynamic glazing to be rated for U-Factor
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) approved changes to its NFRC 100 and NFRC 200 standards, allowing certain shading devices to be rated for U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient.
