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Energy Efficient Windows Can Melt Vinyl Siding

The Effect of Reflected Sunlight from Low-e and other Double Paned Window Glass on Vinyl Siding:

OVERVIEW

Glass in double paned windows may on occasion slightly warp or deflect due to a difference in barometric pressure between the interior of the glass panes and the outside air pressure. This can create a concavity in the glass. Such a concavity is a normal response to pressure differences, does not affect the performance of the window, and does not constitute a defective window condition. However,the concavity may focus sunlight reflected from the window in a fashion similar to the effect seen when light passes through a magnifying glass. The heat generated by the focused reflected sunlight has proven sufficient to visibly damage and distort vinyl siding on nearby houses. Any double paned window may cause this effect, but double paned low-e windows have a higher reflectivity quotient which can exacerbate the reflected light/vinyl distortion phenomenon.

VINYL SIDING

The Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) states that temperature ranges beginning at 160-165 degrees Fahrenheit can soften normal grades of vinyl siding. Darker colors absorb more heat, and will soften before lighter colors of siding. Heat generated from double paned low-e window reflected sunlight has been measured in excess of 200 degrees Fahrenheit, more than sufficient to soften and distort any normal grade or color of vinyl siding. There have been some reports of reflected sunlight damage to materials other than vinyl siding. Occasional wood discoloration and charring, and damage to paint and other plastics (e.g.,decking, window lineals, trim), have all been reported.

REFLECTED SUNLIGHT EFFECT

The use of double paned low-e windows will not necessarily result in any damaging reflected sunlight incident. A combination of contributing factors must be present before the effect occurs or causes damage to any nearby materials, including vinyl siding. The presence of the concavity in the double glass panes (resulting in the magnifying glass effect with a focused light beam) appears to be the primary cause of the heat generation, more so than the mere increased reflectivity of the low-e window. The angle of the sun is also a factor. A low angle of sunlight (such as might occur in late fall, winter, or early spring) is more likely to produce the effect. Other factors, such as proximity to the adjoining house, wind speed, air temperature, and the presence of buffering foliage are all said to have an impact on whether a damaging reflected sunlight effect does in fact occur.

Vinyl siding and insulating windows both have very large market penetration. Vinyl siding has been the most used siding product on new single-family homes in the U.S. every year since 1994. It was applied to 35% of all new homes built during that time frame. The majority of new vinylsided homes are in the south (40%), midwest (35%), and northeast (19%) (U.S. Census Bureau 2009). Based on sales data and projections from 1999 to 2019, approximately 45% of residential vinyl siding is, or will be, used in the new construction market; the remainder will be used for retrofits and repairs (Freedonia Group, Inc. 2009).

The U.S. Department of Energy and model energy codes have made improved residential energy efficiency a national priority. Therefore, standards have called for increasingly stringent energy efficiency requirements for windows. The performance levels achieved by insulating windows are mandated by nearly all local building energy codes for both new construction and replacement in existing buildings. Windows are typically designed to meet the requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the most commonly adopted model energy code in the U.S. for residential buildings. To meet IECC’s U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) requirements insulating double-pane windows with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings are often used.

Videos:

Additional Links:

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/window-reflections-can-melt-vinyl-siding

http://www.nachi.org/low-e-windows.htm

http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/8386

Reports:

E windows LBNL-5022E

E windows 020410-NAHB+Study

If you have had and fires or incidents involving Low - E Windows and Vinyl Siding? I would love to hear from you. Please email me @greenmaltese@gmail.com

A special thanks to Chief Kevin A. Gallagher for bringing this issue to my attention.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Solar Panel Cause of Fire at Webster Groves High School

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WEBSTER GROVES • Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire Saturday on the roof of Webster Groves High School, officials said.

The fire broke out about 1:45 p.m. The cause has not yet been determined, but Webster Groves Battalion Chief Tom Yohe said it was “possible” the fire was sparked by one of the school’s solar panels.

Departments from around the area responded to the 2nd alarm call. The fire was contained within 15 minutes, Yohe said.

Officials said there may be some water damage to the school’s third-floor classrooms from fighting the fire. No firefighters were hurt, and any damage to the building was minor.

The school’s seniors graduated Friday, but Yohe said because access to the roof was difficult he “seriously doubted” the fire could have been started by students. The school is expected to be open Monday.

Original Story Link: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/fire-at-webster-groves-high-school-quickly-put-out/article_8b4794f7-eafe-54ec-b47d-711ab62d548b.html

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on May 20, 2013 • Filed under: Building Construction, Modern Construction, News and Events, Solar • Tagged: Building Construction, Firefighter Safety, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, Solar Energy, Solar Panel Fire, solar panels, Sustainable

Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings Report

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Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings

Author: Brian Meacham, Brandon Poole, Juan Echeverria and Raymond Cheng, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Re-posted by permission of Brian Meacham NFPA

Introduction
Many new commercial facilities are being designed and constructed with an objective of achieving a “green building” certification. There are many sustainable building features and products that singly or together may have an impact on fire safety unless there is a design approach which mitigates those effects. The Foundation commissioned this study to develop a baseline of information on the intersection of “green building” design and fire safety and to identify gaps and specific research needs associated with understanding and addressing fire risk and hazards with green building design.

Executive Summary:

A global literature review was undertaken to (a) identify actual incidents of fires in green buildings or involving green building elements, (b) identify issues with green building elements or features which, without mitigating strategies, increase fire risk, decrease safety or decrease building performance in comparison with conventional construction, (c) identify reports, studies and best practice cases which speak to the issue of addressing fire risk introduced by specific green building design elements, and (d) identify research studies in which building safety, life safety and fire safety have been incorporated as an explicit element in green building indices. In addition, consideration was given to how one might express the level of increased risk or hazard, or decreased performance, associated with fire performance of green building features. Steps were also taken to identify gaps and specific research needs associated with understanding and addressing fire risk and hazards with green building design. Brian Meacham et al, Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings (Fire Protection Research Foundation, 2012), p.2

Full Report Link:

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on December 3, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Brian Meacham, Building Construction, eco-friendly products, Fire Safety, Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings, Firefighter Safety, Fires in Green Buildings, Green, Green Building Access Hazards, Green Building Design, Green Building Hazards for Firefighters, Green Buildings, green homes, Green Maltese, Green Roofs, greenmaltese.com, Hazards of Modern Roofs, John Shafer, NFPA, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, Recycled Materials, Solar Energy, Structural Insulated Panels, Sustainable, Sustainable Design

Solar Panel Safety for Firefighters

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The Fire Training Program at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), in partnership with the Washington County Fire Training Association (WCFTA), recently hosted a one-day class on Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) Safety for Fire Fighters at SolarWorld in Hillsboro, Oregon. Emergency incidents involving Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) equipment are becoming more and more common in both urban and rural areas.

Videos:

The class was delivered by Captain Matt Paiss of the San Jose Fire Department (California) who is one of the nation’s leading experts in this area. Captain Paiss is a 15-year veteran of the San Jose Fire Department, and is currently assigned as a Training Officer. He was a contributor to the California State Fire Marshal’s Office PV Guidelines, as well as the IFC and NFPA1 fire code sections on PV.

For additional infomation:

http://greenmaltese.com/2011/12/photovoltaic-systems-firefighter-safety-a-new-ul-study/

http://greenmaltese.com/2011/10/colorado-is-the-first-market-for-launch-of-the-revolutionary-dow-powerhousetm-solar-shingle/

http://greenmaltese.com/2012/05/solar-glass/

Please share this infomation with your crews

Thanks
Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on November 27, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, Firefighter Safety, Green Building Design, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, Hazards of Modern Roofs, John Shafer, Matt Paiss, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, San Jose, Solar Energy, solar panel safety for firefighters, Sustainable

Expect more Foam Sheathing Insulation

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 6, 2012) – The Foam Sheathing Committee (FSC) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), through an industry effort, achieved an important change in gaining broad acceptance of a performance-based standard for the use of foam insulation products in all code complying commercial applications during the recent International Building Code (IBC) Final Action Hearings in Portland, Oregon. The International Code Council (ICC) approved for inclusion in the 2015 International Building Codes the Structural Building Components Association’s (SBCA) FS 100-2012: Standard Requirements for Wind Pressure Resistance and Foam Plastic Insulating Sheathing Used in Exterior Wall Covering Assemblies.

Full Original Press Release:

Why is Foam Sheathing Insulation being used more than ever before?

Residential housing design continues to move towards the development of high performance sustainable building systems. To be sustainable, a building must not only be efficient and durable but also economically viable. From this, new methods of enclosure design have been examined that provide high thermal performance and long-term durability but also take opportunities to reduce material use (including waste), simplify or integrate systems and details, and potentially reduce overall initial costs of construction.

One concept relating to enclosure design is to incorporate the use exterior foam insulating sheathing into the construction of the wall assembly. As with any building enclosure system, appropriate detailing for the management of water, vapor, and energy transfer are necessary.

Foam Material Properties:

There are three main types of insulating sheathing currently being used in the industry: Expanded

Polystyrene (EPS), Extruded Polystyrene (XPS), and Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso).

Each of these products all has a different set of physical properties that will affect the dynamic of the wall assemblies in regards to the transmission and management of heat and moisture.

Types of Foam

Insulating foam sheathings are split into two basic categories: 1) thermoplastics, 2) thermosets. Both EPS and XPS foams are thermoplastic foams, while Polyisocyanurate is a thermoset foam.

Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics are based on linear or slightly branched (non-cross linked) polymers. These foams have a definite melting range and will soften and melt at elevated temperatures. They are also more prone to react and degrade when in contact with some organic solvents as found in some paints, adhesives, and fuels.

Therefore it is important to only use manufacturer approved compatible materials when using thermoplastic foams.

Of the thermoplastic foams, EPS and XPS are the most common used in the industry. Both products are based on polystyrene resin and are considered to be closed cell.

The manufacturing of EPS involves the expanding of polystyrene beads to fill a mold. The densities of EPS foam can be varied if desired. Increased density results in increased thermal resistance and compressive strength. The density of the product also affects the vapor transmission. While EPS is a closed cell foam (slow water vapor and air transmission through the cell walls), the gaps between the cells will still allow for moisture to pass through the matrix. With increased density, these spaces are reduced and the ability of the foam to allow water transmission is reduced.

XPS foams are formed by mixing molten polystyrene with a blowing agent at the correct time, at an elevated temperature, and at an elevated pressure and then extruding the foam through a die to the atmosphere. This creates a more regular cell structure providing for better strength properties and higher water resistance that EPS foams. The density of XPS foams can also be varied, allowing for increased compressive strength, however due to the more regular cell structure, this has little to no effect on the vapor transmission properties.

Thermosets

Thermoset plastics are based on cross linked polymers. This will allow thermoset plastics to be used for higher temperature applications as they do not usually exhibit a melting range and will instead char and burn. Thermoset foams are also generally more resistant to solvents and chemicals.

The most common thermoset foam on the market is polyisocyanurate. While traditional polyurethane foams were created by reacting isocyanate with polyol (and other blowing agents, catalysts, and surfactants) polyisocyanurate foams can theoretically be created with no polyol, using only isocyanate reacting with itself (and other blowing agents, catalysts, and surfactants). In general though, commercial polyisocyanurate foam used in the market is really polyurethane foam modified with polyisocyanurate or a “blend” of the two foams. The use of the blend increases the fire resistance while maintaining the thermal resistance and strength of the material.

Polyisocyanurate Burn Video:

Additional Information:

Foam Plastic Insulating Sheathing Comparison of Fire Performance Link:

http://fsc.americanchemistry.com/Exterior-Walls/Continuous-Insulation-Educational-Presentation.pdf

ANSI/SBCA FS 100 – 2012

Many spectacular fires have occurred in foam systems applied to buildings, including the 2009

Monte Carlo fire in Las Vegas, the Borgata Water Club fire in Atlantic City in 2007, and the

Mandarin Oriental Hotel fire in Beijing in 2009.

With this recent code change with can only expect more fires invovling foam insulation. Please pass this information on and Stay Safe!

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on November 7, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, eco-friendly products, FS 100-2012: Standard Requirements for Wind Pressure Resistance and Foam Plastic Insulating Sheathing, Green, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, green homes, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, International Green Construction Code, Polyisocyanurate, Rigid Foam Insluation, Rigid Foam Insulation and the Fire Service, Sustainable, Thermoplastics, Thermosets

Green Construction & Building a Brighter Future

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Before I share a special guest article.I would like to invite everyone to join me this Friday at Firehouse Expo @Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD

I am very excited and honored to be teaching this year.

Green Building Construction For The Fire Service

7/20/2012 12:00:00 PM Room 343

Description:

This presentation will examine various green buildings and methods and exotic materials that are used to achieve green standards and the potential hazards that they present to fire service personnel. Many of these materials are not common knowledge to most fire service personnel due to past and current teaching practices that only address traditional building construction for the fire service. This ground-breaking and informative program will utilize extensive multimedia materials to reinforce course content and subject areas.

Here a slide from the program that we will discuss and also use it to think about as you read the wonderful article below.

I would like to thank Noelle Hirsch for contacting me and asking me if I would share this wonderful article. Please enjoy and all credit is due to Noelle on this one.

LEED Construction: Building a Brighter Future

Introduction

When many people think about carbon emissions, they assume that cars and other motorized vehicles are the main culprits. However, building construction uses 30 percent of all raw materials consumed in this country and 12 percent of all available potable water – 15 trillion gallons each year. This level of water consumption is ultimately unsustainable, given that the United Nations World Water Development Report 3, issued in 2009, states that one-third of the world’s population already lacks access to clean water. The report projects that at the present rate of consumption, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in water-stressed conditions by 2025.

Buildings continue to be environmentally demanding after construction has been completed. Buildings and the built environment account for 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and 30 percent of all waste products – some 136 million tons annually. As a major contributing factor to climate change, greenhouse gases have had a detrimental effect on the health of the planet, including rapid and perhaps irreversible melting of Arctic polar sea ice.

Green Building Benefits

Green construction can reverse much of the detrimental environmental impact of conventional construction methods. Along with environmental gains, eco-conscious construction can enhance the bottom line of individual companies and of the overall American and world economies. The USGBC reports that increased efficiency in construction and building maintenance would eliminate 1.1 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions each year – while saving the U.S. economy $130 billion.

Providing aesthetic benefit for observers of nearby taller buildings as well as natural habitat enclaves, green roofs and rooftop gardens can mitigate air temperature inside the building, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling. Their presence also helps to reverse the heat island effect caused by massive amounts of concrete present in a typical urban area. The soil in a rooftop garden also absorbs a significant portion of rainfall, thereby diverting rainwater from storm sewers. At the same time, a dry green roof adds only 17 pounds per square foot to a roof’s load; a wet green roof adds 30 pounds per square foot. Rooftop gardens are more demanding, adding up to 100 pounds per square foot to a roof’s load.

Green construction also improves the health of individuals who live and work inside buildings. LEED standards for green construction call for the elimination of formaldehyde and other building materials that emit volatile organic compounds, also called VOCs, which contribute to “sick building syndrome.” Employing green building construction and maintenance standards for natural light and temperature control also improve worker efficiency and reaction times.

Many municipalities and states, as well as the United States federal government have provided financial incentives to encourage green construction and retrofits, including expedited permit approvals, tax abatements and technical assistance. These financial incentives apply to new construction and to retrofits, and not only reduce upfront construction costs, but present a selling point for would-be developers, buyers and tenants.

LEED and Green Construction

In the United States, the dominant standard for measuring environmental features is LEED, an acronym that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED standards, developed by the United States Green Building Council, can be applied to new construction, and to buildings that are already standing. LEED standards are designed to measure and evaluate the environmental consciousness of construction, general maintenance, landscaping and climate control. Different LEED standards apply to commercial buildings, residential buildings, even entire neighborhoods.

Buildings that meet LEED standards for green construction apply sustainability methods to several phases of construction, including the building shell, climate control inside the building, water usage, landscaping, sourcing of building materials and disposal of construction wastes. There are presently five levels of LEED certification for green construction: certified, bronze, silver, gold and platinum. As of 2012, LEED Platinum structures exist in 25 countries worldwide. The United States has 950 LEED Platinum projects; India is second with 35 LEED Platinum projects.

The worldwide financial crisis has slowed or halted construction to all-time low levels. Nonetheless, green construction of non-residential structures has maintained, or even gained, in market share. In fact, green construction presently accounts for one-third of all non-residential design and construction projects and will account for more than half of all non-residential construction within five years. Green construction is expected to generate 8 million construction-related jobs by 2013.

Growth in green construction is not limited to new projects. In fact, as of December 2011, existing LEED-certified building space exceeded new LEED-certified construction by 15 million square feet. A significant number of green retrofits are devoted to architectural icons such as the Empire State Building, which recently gained LEED Gold status through its retrofit project. The renovation is projected to cut energy use by nearly 40 percent, which translates to annual savings of $4.4 million per year – and a payback of renovation costs in only three years.

Another green retrofit is in progress for the Sears Tower, recently renamed the Willis Tower. Once the tallest building in the world, this Modernist icon still stands as the tallest building on the North American continent. Beginning in 2009, the process of “greening” the tower has focused on retrofitting various features of the structure, with impressive results. For example, installing low-flow toilets and faucets conserves more than 10,000,000 gallons of water each year. Shading the building’s windows significantly reduces heating and cooling requirements.

Eventual plans include a complete overhaul of the electrical system to reduce energy consumption by 80 percent. Replacing 16,000 single-paned windows and constructing a thermal bank would save 50 percent on heating energy. A proposed 500-room “green” luxury hotel would be powered entirely by the tower’s energy system and would pursue LEED Gold status. Besides the projected sustainability gains and energy savings, the five-year project would create as many as 3,600 jobs, according to developers.

Green Construction Resources:

LEED Certification in America and Worldwide

Twenty-one countries participate in the LEED International program: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Finland, South Korea, India, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, France and the United Arab Emirates. The United Kingdom launched an equivalent to LEED, known as the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEM), in 1990.

An even more stringent standard is the Living Building Challenge, granted by the International Living Future Institute. As of 2012, four construction projects had earned this certification: the Tyson Living Learning Center in Eureka, Missouri; the Omega Center for Sustainable Living in Rhinebeck, New York (also LEED Platinum); the Eco-Sense home in Victoria, British Columbia and is the Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab in Kamuela, Hawaii (also LEED Platinum).

In March 2012, the International Code Council released the 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC), a cooperative effort between the American Institute of Architects and ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials), which cosponsored the project with the support of ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers), the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Illuminating Engineering Society. The IgCC is the first sustainability measurement that addresses the entire life cycle of a building, from design and construction to occupancy – and beyond. The IgCC is intended to provide a compliment rather than a replacement for LEED as an environmental building certification standard.

Hope you have enjoyed this article and it has shed some light on the fact that Green Construction is here to stay and isn’t just a fad so firefighters better learn about it now instead of 2am when you have a JOB in one.

See you all in Baltimore!

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on July 16, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, Daylighting, eco-friendly products, Firefighter Safety, Firehouse Expo 2012, Green, Green Building, Green Building Design, Green Building Fire Hazards, Green Buildings, Green Buildings Fire Behavior, green homes, Green Maltese, Green Roofs, greenmaltese.com, International Green Construction Code, John Shafer, LEED, LEED Platinum, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, Recycled Materials, solar panels, Sustainable, US Green Building Council

WHAT ARE SIPs?

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SIPs is an acronym for Structural Insulated Panel. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are a high performance building system for residential and light commercial construction. The panels consist of an insulating rigid foam core sandwiched between two structural facings, typically oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be fabricated to fit nearly any building design. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective.

Types of SIPs

There are three main types of SIPs, although the SIPs themselves can be encased in different outer materials called skins. The inner insulation core is usually made from expandable polystyrene (EPS), polyurethane or polyisocyanurate. Each delivers a strong, light building material with exceptional insulation properties.

Types of SIP skins

Most SIPs feature OSB as the skins that encompass the inner foam insulation core of the

panel. But other skins are available, including:

• Metal

• Fiber cement

• Fiber reinforced concrete

• Plywood

• Gypsum board

The third component in SIPs is the spline or connector piece between SIP panels. Dimensional lumber is commonly used but creates thermal bridging and lowers insulation values. To maintain higher insulation values through the spline, manufacturers use Insulated Lumber, Composite Splines, Mechanical Locks, Overlapping OSB Panels, or other creative methods. Depending on the method selected, other advantages such as full nailing surfaces or increased structural strength may become available.

SIPs share the same structural properties as an I-beam or I-column. The rigid insulation core of the SIP acts as a web, while the OSB sheathing exhibits the same properties as the flanges. SIPs combine several components of conventional building, such as studs and joists, insulation, vapor barrier and air barrier. They can be used for many different applications, such as exterior wall, roof, floor and foundation systems.

SIPs are GREEN

Structural insulated panels (SIPs)are one of the most airtight and well insulated building systems available, making them an inherently green product. An airtight SIP building will use less energy to heat and cool, allow for better control over indoor environmental conditions, and reduce construction waste.

Why you will see SIPs more than ever before!

Firefighting Concerns:

As you have saw from the information above there are several types of SIPs and many types of skins however as mentioned before the most common is Oriented Strand Board (OSB) as the skin and the core made of Expanded Polystyrene Foam. So I am going to focus on concerns with those two materials.

Oriented Strand Board (OSB)

This material begins to break down at relatively low temperatures for fire conditions (about 450 F – same as sawn wood) and it is now a major structural component and not just a covering.

The adhesives used in OSB can vary by manufacturer. It appears that the wood components will burn before the adhesives in most cases. The wood will start to burn at about 450 F and the adhesives around 750 F. The manufactures state that the OSB will behave like sawn wood in a fire, which may be true, but it is the thickness (mass) that then becomes the problem, as OSB is usually no more than ¾” thick and usually less.

Although the manufactures state that the products of combustion are no worse than natural wood, some of the materials in the adhesives may be extremely toxic, corrosive, or carcinogens.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)

When heated it melts!
Expanded Polystyrene is combustible.
It should not be exposed to flame or other ignition sources
Flash Point: 600°°F to 650°F
Auto-ignition Temperature: 824F – 914°F
Fire and Explosion Hazards: WILL MELT WHEN EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES OF 300F TO 500F
Extinguishing Media: DRY CHEMICAL (ABC TYPES), CO2, WATER SPRAY, WATER FOG, FOAM, WATER
Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards: Pentane vapors may be emitted from freshly expanded or processed foam or when product is heated. Hazardous concentrations may accumulate inside a sealed container or within confined areas. If ignited, there may be a very high rate of flame propagation and/or an associated explosion.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Burning foam emits a dense, black, irritating smoke with acid gases. Primary combustion products are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and styrene.
Special Firefighting Procedures: SCBA & Full PPE

Click the links below to watch a crude parking lot burn test:

sip burn at fishers

http://youtu.be/1ooQEBPQBnw

Hopefully you have learned something from this post? If so please share it with every firefighter you know.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on June 26, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, Firefighter Safety, Green, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, green homes, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, OSB, SIP firefighting concerns, SIPs are GREEN, Structural Insulated Panel, Structural Insulated Panel and firefighting, Sustainable, Tactics

The Greenest College Campuses

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Compiled By: Online Colleges Guide

Posted by John Shafer on June 23, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, LEED, Sustainable

Greenroofs: Wind & Fire Video from Virtual Summit 2011

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This is a great discussion about Green Roof Wind & Fire Codes from Virtual Summit 2011 panel.

Panel members:

Kelly Luckett, Mike Ennis, and Jim Kirby

Description:

No longer can the green roof be deleted from a project due to failure to comply with the fire code. After three years in the making from members of Single Ply Roofing Industry in cooperation with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC), we now have a green roof design guide for minimizing the risk of fire on green roofs.

The securing of a place in mainstream construction through the International Code Council (ICC) has resulted in a milestone for the North American green roof movement. Fire concerns are only half of the code story as the wind design guide is still progressing through the ANSI process – we must overcome both the wind and the fire obstacle. Kelly Luckett, President of Green Roof Blocks, moderates and shares his experiences representing GRHC with the consensus based ANSI/SPRI VF-1 and RP-14 standards. Jim Kirby, NRCA’s AED, Technical Communications, provides NRCA commentary about building codes, vegetative roofs and RP-14. Mike Ennis, Technical Director for SPRI, speaks to SPRI’s leadership leadership in the development of fire and wind standards and experience in the building code arena.

For more information on Green Roofs visit Green Roofs TV.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on June 11, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: ANSI/SPRI VF-1, Building Construction, Green Building Design, Green Maltese, Green Roof TV, Green Roofs, greenmaltese.com, Hazards of Modern Roofs, International Code Council (ICC) 2012, John Shafer, Kelly Luckett, President of Green Roof Blocks, Sustainable

Solar Glass

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What is Energy Glass?

ENERGYGLASS™ is the only Optically Clear Building Integrated Photovoltaic Window System in the World.

ENERGYGLASS™ is a patented Optically Clear Vertical Building Photovoltaic Window System that produces continuous Energy from Sunlight, Diffused, Ambient Light and Ground Reflectance and the only 100% FIELD of VISION in the world. The entire surface of the windows is clear – No grids, dots or lines! This proprietary Inorganic Nano Technology and Solar Collector does not degrade from IR like typical solar cells, do.

ENERGYGLASS™ produces 1-2 watts per sq. ft. per hour for 10-12 hours during the day and 4-5 watts at peak dependent on location. Energy generated can be inverted back to the grid, battery back up or direct to DC equipment! This means a FEED In Tariff opportunity could be available, thus generating revenue from your windows and/or reducing your building’s energy consumption.

How does it work?

EnergyGlass™ is a patented transparent glass system that collects and produces energy from any light source and can be simply integrated into building window designs to produce electricity.

The EnergyGlass™ system continually collects and creates electricity from sunlight, diffused light and artificial light.

DC electricity produced from EnergyGlass™ can be inverted and returned to the grid and / or charge batteries and / or be wired direct to DC electronics. and offers a value added solution for power independence from the main electrical.

Additional information:

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/arts-and-culture/solar-glass-makes-its-debut.aspx

Just wanted to inform you of another hazard we are faced with in modern green construction.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on May 8, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, Daylighting, eco-friendly products, firefighter hazards in modern construction, Firefighter Safety, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, Green Construction hazards, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, PV Glass, Solar, Solar Energy, Solar Glass, Sustainable

Trombe Walls

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Since ancient times, people have used thick walls of adobe or stone to trap the sun’s heat

during the day and release it slowly and evenly at night to heat their buildings. Today’s

low-energy(green) buildings often improve on this ancient technique by incorporating a thermal

storage and delivery system called a Trombe wall. Named after French inventor Felix

Trombe in the late 1950s, the Trombe wall continues to serve as an effective feature of

passive solar design.

A Trombe wall has masonry or concrete on the inside that is painted black on the exterior face, an air space, and glass on the exterior of the home. The completed walls look like windows with black shades. Photos: Joe McGovern, Living Designs Group

Trombe Wall Design and Construction:

A typical unvented Trombe wall consists of a 4- to 16-in (10- to 41-cm)-thick, southfacing masonry wall with a dark, heat-absorbing material on the exterior surface and faced with a single or double layer of glass. The glass is placed from ¾ to 2 in. (2 to 5 cm) from the masonry wall to create a small airspace. Heat from sunlight passing through the glass is absorbed by the dark surface, stored in the wall, and conducted slowly inward through the masonry. High transmission glass maximizes solar gains to the masonry wall. As an architectural detail, patterned glass can limit the exterior visibility of the dark concrete wall without sacrificing transmissivity.

Do It Yourself Trombe Wall:

Just another feature in green construction that may look normal. However these windows could not be used for ventilation or access for RIT.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on February 17, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, Firefighter Safety, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, green homes, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, passive solar home, RIT hazard, Sustainable, Trombe wall

Free Green Building Codes 101 Webinar

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Green Building Codes 101: Navigating the Standards, Codes, and Rating Systems.

This webinar addresses many of the questions about the relationships between green standards, codes, and rating systems. This webinar was developed collaboratively by ICC, USGBC, ASHRAE and AIA.

Link:

http://media.iccsafe.org/IGCC/GreenBuildingCodes101-flash/Green%20Building%20Codes%20101/player.html

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on January 25, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, Green Building Codes, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, International Green Construction Code, John Shafer, Sustainable

Green Roofs in Indianapolis, Indiana

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Greetings to all,

This post is dedicated to all brothers and sister firefighters but especially those in Indianapolis, Indiana the home of FDIC the Super Bowl of Firefighting

MAYOR ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF FIRST GREEN ROOF INSTALLATION ON INDIANAPOLIS CITY PROPERTY

Project Addresses Drainage Issues and Creates Community Space

INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Greg Ballard today announced the completion of the Union Station green roof project – the first green roof installed on city property in Indianapolis. The green roof project, located on the former train deck spanning Meridian Street, addressed long-standing drainage concerns both on and below the deck, and has been enhanced with a community space available for educational events.

“The newly installed green roof atop Union Station eliminates several long-term maintenance concerns in a visually appealing and innovative way,” said Mayor Ballard. “This unique project and the community space created by its construction are part of our efforts to become one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest.”

Standing water on the deck surface had damaged the deck, and leaking also degraded the pavement on Meridian Street below. There were also signs of degradation of the structural bridge steel. The green roof project includes a new deck with a re-graded surface to prevent standing water, a comprehensive trench drainage system and a modular green roof designed to reduce storm water runoff.

About 50 percent of the total surface is green roof material while the other portion is a concrete roof deck that includes picnic tables, outdoor benches and umbrellas. Total project costs were about $250,000; a $50,000 grant from Citizens Energy Group covered the green infrastructure elements of the project.

The green roof will be maintained organically with no chemical pesticides or herbicides, will be weeded, and will be watering if drought conditions last more than three months. The City of Indianapolis partnered with local engineering firm RW Armstrong, which has offices in Union Station. The firm completed a portion of the design and engineering work for the project.

For more information on green building in Indianapolis, visit www.Indy.gov/SustainIndy

Other Green Roofs in Indianapolis:

Project Name: Indianapolis Children’s Museum Green Roof
Year: 2010
Owner: Indianapolis Children’s Museum
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Building Type: Commercial
Type: Extensive
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 3228 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public

Project Name: Eli Lilly
Year: 2009
Owner: Eli Lilly
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Building Type: Corporate
Type: Extensive
System: Custom
Size: 2682 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public
Submitted by: Green Roof Blocks
Designers/Manufacturers of Record:
Modular Greenroof Systems: Green Roof Blocks and Green Paks

Project Name: John H Boner Community Center
Year: 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Building Type: Commercial
Type: Extensive
System: Custom
Size: 500 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access:
Inaccessible, Open to Public
Designers/Manufacturers of Record:
Architect: Halsted Architects
Grower: Hortech / LiveRoof LLC
Installer: AAA Roofing

1oth & Rural St. Green Roof

Project Name: 10th & Rural
Year: 2007
Owner: Private
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Building Type: Commercial
Type: Extensive
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 565 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, Private
Submitted by: LiveRoof, LLC
Designers/Manufacturers of Record:
Modular Greenroof System: LiveRoof
Architect: Schmidt Associates
Grower: Hortech / LiveRoof LLC
Installation: AAA Roofing
Waterproofing System: Firestone Building Products
Slip Sheet Product: EPDM, Firestone Building Products

Project Name: Schmidt Associates
Year: 2005
Owner: Schmidt Associates
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Building Type: Commercial
Type: Extensive
System: Single Source
Provider
Size: 250 sq.ft.
Slope: 1.5%
Access:
Accessible, Open to Public
Submitted by: John Shepley
Designers/Manufacturers of Record:
Plant Supplier:
Greenroof Plants/Emory Knoll Farms

Project Name: Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA)
Owner: City of Indianapolis
Location: Indianapolis, IN, USA
Building Type: Municipal/Government
Type: Intensive
System: Single Source Provider
Size: 15000 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, Open to Public
Submitted by: Greenroofs.com
Designers/Manufacturers
of Record:
Architect: Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects

To learn more about Green Roofs attend my 2012 FDIC class.

Hazards of Modern Roofs

Lieutenant/Training Officer John Shafer, Greencastle (IN) Fire Department

The class will examine trends and methods in modern building construction with an emphasis on roofs, their direct relationship to vertical ventilation, structural firefighting operations, and firefighter survivability. Inherent roof construction features and hazards that directly influence truck company work will be the main focus, along with green roofs, methods, and exotic materials that are used to achieve green standards, and the potential hazards that they present to fire service personnel. Many of these materials such as recycled rubber shingles, solar panels, and green (garden) roofs are not common knowledge to most fire service personnel.

To Register:

http://www.fdic.com/register.html

Stay Safe and see you at FDIC

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on December 1, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, Citizens Energy Group, eco-friendly products, FDIC, FDIC the Super Bowl of Firefighting, Firefighter Safety, Green, green (garden) roofs, Green Building Design, green infrastructure, Green Maltese, Green Roof Blocks, Green Roofs, greenmaltese.com, Greenroofs.com, Hazards of Modern Roofs, Hortech / LiveRoof LLC, IN, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Children's Museum Green Roof, Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), LiveRoof, Mayor Greg Ballard, Schmidt Associates, structural firefighting operations on Green Roofs, Sustainable, sustainable cities, Union Station green roof, Waterproofing System: Firestone Building Products

First National Green Building Code Approved!

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For the first time, the US has a national green building code.

The International Green Construction Code (IgCC), approved last week after two years of development, applies to all new and renovated commercial buildings and residential buildings over three stories high.

The historic code sets mandatory baseline standards for all aspects of building design and construction, including energy and water efficiency, site impacts, building waste, and materials.

Although the final code won’t be published until March 2012, many local and state governments have begun to officially adopt it.

“It represents a change in the standard of construction,” says Jessyca Henderson Director of Sustainability Advocacy at the American Institute of Architects. “It will effect everyone that touches buildings…it will be a big leap.”

How it Differs From LEED

The new code creates a mandatory “floor” – enforceable minimum standards on every aspect of building design and construction that now must be reached.

LEED certification, on the other hand, is voluntary. Although many buildings now strive for it, there are more that don’t. The new code will thus raise the standards for ALL buildings.

Also to qualify for LEED, designers choose from a menu of options. They may choose to address certain aspects of energy efficiency, such as lighting, for example, while leaving others out.

Setting a “floor” through the code, creates the opportunity for LEED-certifications to push toward higher “ceilings,” where buildings are awarded for truly reaching greater levels of performance, rather than receiving awards for what are increasingly expected standards.

Mandatory Requirements:

Site Development, Land Use: it pretty much eliminates development on greenfields (undeveloped land), although there are exceptions based on existing infrastructure. It includes clear guidelines for site disturbance, irrigation, erosion control, transportation, heat island mitigation, graywater systems, habitat protection, and site restoration.

Materials: A minimum of 50% of construction waste must be diverted from landfills, and at least 55% of building materials must be salvaged, recycled-content, recyclable, biobased, or indigenous. Buildings must be designed for at least 60 years of life, and must have a service plan that justifies that.

Energy Efficiency: total efficiency must be “51% of the energy allowable in the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code” (IECC), and building envelope performance must exceed that by 10%. It sets minimum standards for lighting and mechanical systems, and requires certain levels of submetering and demand-response automation.

Water Efficiency: it establishes maximum consumption of fixtures and appliances and sets standards for rainwater storage and graywater systems.

Indoor Air Quality: It addresses radon, asbestos, VOCs, sound transmission, and daylighting.

Commissioning, Operations: it requires extensive pre- and post-occupancy commissioning and education of building owners and maintenance employees.

Every project is also required to choose an additional “elective,” which pushes the envelope for the developer further. Once they choose it, it’s enforceable. There’s a long menu of elective choices, including whole-building life-cycle assessment to more stringent recycled-content.

Local governments and states have the choice of adopting the code, but once they do, it’s enforceable. They can add their own requirements on top of the code that address local concerns such as stormwater management or lighting pollution control.

To help implement the code, IgCC includes a “cookbook” approach for smaller buildings to follow and a more flexible approach for large buildings.

To develop the code, the International Code Council worked with many stakeholders, with the American Institute of Architects, US Green Building Council, and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), foremost among them.

Original article link:

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23142

Green Buildings are not just a fad. I believe this national code will help make green buildings the norm and not just a option.

Firefighters need to start learning about green buildings and green concepts more than ever before. Green Maltese hopes that fire service will use this as a place to learn about how the buildings are changing.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on November 27, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: American Institute of Architects, American Society of Heating, Building Construction, Daylighting, energy efficiency, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, Indoor Air Quality, International Code Council, International Green Construction Code, John Shafer, LEED, national green building code, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Sustainable, US Green Building Council, Water Efficiency

Colorado is the First Market for Launch of the Revolutionary DOW POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle

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This post is dedicated to my brother and sister firefighters from Colorado.

Solar shingles are solar panels incognito. Instead of mounting on your roof, they become your roof or integrate seamlessly with the existing roof shingles. In many cases, they can be stapled to the sub-roofing the same as an ordinary shingle. On average, shingles are about 12 inches wide by seven feet long. There are also solar roof tiles that integrate well with mission-style housing common in the sunny Southwest. Solar shingles, like most thin-film BIPV products currently on the market, are less efficient than silicon solar panels. But, again like other Building Integrated Photovoltaic ( BIPV )innovations, are a burgeoning work in progress.

Until now, solar energy’s two challenges have been cost and acceptance. Dow is working to change all that. Dow has been developing BIPV building materials that enable solar energy cells to be incorporated directly into the design of commercial and residential building materials such as roofing systems, exterior sidings, fascias and more.

ARVADA, Colo., Oct 13, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The roof of a home has always
had the critical job of protecting families from the elements. Today, for the
first time, a new commercially-available solar roofing shingle has entered the
U.S. housing market that not only protects from the elements, but uses one of
those elements — sunlight — to turn the typical American home into a dynamic
power generator.

At an event today in Arvada attended by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
and supporters of solar technology, alternative energy, green manufacturing and
the latest innovations in home building, Dow Solar, a division of The Dow
Chemical Company announced that the DOW POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle will now be available to homeowners in Colorado. On October 4, Dow announced that the product would be available in targeted U.S. markets and now Colorado becomes the first state to offer Dow’s revolutionary Solar Shingle.

Co-hosted by D.R. Horton, one of the leading homebuilders in the nation and the first residential production builder to participate with Dow Solar, the event showcased D.R. Horton’s commitment to offer the POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle as a standard feature on 50 new homes in the developer’s Spring Mesa community in Colorado. Each of the remaining homes in Spring Mesa will receive a 3 kilowatt POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar
Shingle roof.

“We are excited that Dow has chosen D.R. Horton’s Spring Mesa community to launch its POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle technology,” said Scott Davis, Division President, D.R. Horton – Colorado. “We believe the addition of solar technology will attract new homebuyers to Spring Mesa who will now have Dow’s innovative Solar Shingles available on one of the most scenic and beautiful communities in the Denver area.”

Why Launch in Colorado?

Dow chose Colorado as the first launch market for the POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle because the state provides the right combination of financial returns and market receptivity to solar.

According to Neal Lurie, Executive Director of the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA), a number of factors combine to make Colorado the right market for the introduction of an important new solar technology.

“Colorado is a national leader in solar energy innovation and job creation. We have the right combination of public sector support, private sector
commitment, homeowner interest and an enthusiastic community of builders and installers,” Lurie said. “The launch of POWERHOUSE(TM) in Colorado is a significant accomplishment for the state as clean energy once again serves as a catalyst for economic development.”

Working with Homebuilders, Roofing Contractors and Installers in Colorado.

Dow Solar will bring the POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle to Colorado by working with leading homebuilders such as D.R. Horton to create more solar communities, and with POWERHOUSE(TM) Authorized Dealers to grow the solar market in Colorado one rooftop at a time. Expansion throughout Colorado is continuing and other U.S. market will be announced in the coming months.

The DOW POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle

The POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle roofing system protects the home like a standard roofing shingle while providing energy that powers the home and saves the homeowner money.

The three-part solar roofing system package includes an array of shingles, an inverter and an energy monitoring system. The shingles, custom designed to fit the individual homeowners’ budget and energy goals, are arranged to complement the style and form of the home and roofline. The inverter then converts Direct Current (DC) produced from the shingles into Alternating Current (AC), which is then fed to the home’s appliances, or back to the power grid. Finally, a real-time monitoring system provides readouts to homeowners to assess energy usage, production and the amount of excess power flowing back to the grid.

The great look of the integrated POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle solution now serves the needs of homeowners who want to go solar, but dislike the aesthetic of bulky, rack-mounted systems.

Link to orginal article”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/colorado-is-the-first-market-for-launch-of-the-revolutionary-dow-powerhousetm-solar-shingle-2011-10-13

To learn more about these solar shingles and many other hazards on modern roofs be sure and attend Green Maltese class at FDIC 2012

Hazards Of Modern Roofs:

Presentation Summary

The presentation will include an intense and concentrated examination of trends and methods in modern building construction with an emphasis on roofs, their direct relationship on vertical ventilation, structural firefighting operations, and firefighter survivability.

Inherent roof construction features and hazards that directly influence truck company work will be the main focus of this program.

Program Overview and Pedagogical Approach

The program will address timely issues related to modern roofs and upcoming push to make sustainable buildings.

This presentation will examine various green roofs, methods and exotic materials that are used to achieve green standards, and the potential hazards that they present to fire service personnel. Many of these materials such as recycled rubber shingles, solar panels and green (garden) roofs are not common knowledge to most fire service personnel due to past and current teaching practices that only address traditional building construction for the fire service.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on October 14, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, Colorado, Dow, FDIC 2012, Green Buildings, Green Maltese, Green Roofs, greenmaltese.com, Hazards of Modern Roofs, John Shafer, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, POWERHOUSE(TM) Solar Shingle, Solar Energy, solar panels, Sustainable, sustainable buildings, ventilation, Ventilation on modern buildings

GO PURDUE!!

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Green Maltese was able to go on another fun educational field trip again!

This field trip was to West Lafayette to Purdue University to visit the Team Purdue IN Home open house.

The INHome is a part of the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

The most unique feature of the INhome is the biowall. The biowall is a home air filtration system that utilizes plants placed in a vertical wall, which remove harmful chemicals that can accumulate in homes that are tightly sealed like the INhome. Air from the home is drawn through the plant wall where the chemicals are removed by the plants and used as a food source. The wall requires very little maintenance and is even designed to water itself. The biowall improves the air quality in the home, saves energy, and provides a calming ambiance by bringing nature inside the home.

Bio Wall

One of the things that I really liked about the home was that it was sprinkled! GO PURDUE !!

Link to INhome:

http://www.purdue.edu/inhome/

Here is a link to 19 of the homes that will be in the Solar Decathlon.

This is a great way for firefighters to get a look at the homes of the future and some of the hazards and issues you will be dealing with in future fires.
http://www.jetsongreen.com/2011/08/nineteen-solar-decathlon-home-renderings.html

Below are some of the pictures I took on my trip.

INHome banner

: SIP model

: Sprinkler

: Controls

: Utilities

: Solar controls

: Outside air intake for fresh air system

: Daylighting

: Solar powered golf cart

: Front door view of INHome

Posted by John Shafer on August 27, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: air quality, Biowall, Building Construction, Daylighting, eco-friendly products, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, green homes, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, Indiana, John Shafer, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, Purdue University, solar panels, sprinkler systems, Structural Insulated Panels, Sustainable, Team Purdue IN Home, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Energy Efficient OSB

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If you are a firefighter today you should be well aware that fires fought today are not the same as the fires your father fought in yesterdays. There many great programs, tests, case studies and classes out there that brings this to light. If you care about your family then get out of the recliner and learn about the changes in the modern fire environment that we operate in today. However most of the emphasis has been on modern fuel loading and building construction changes. These are extremely important and should be a major focus of your training. I feel that a part of the modern building construction changes that is often overlooked or not considered is energy efficiency.

Traditional OSB

Our first installment on energy efficiency changes is about OSB.

What is OSB?

Oriented strand board, also known as OSB, is an engineered wood product formed by layering strands (flakes) of wood in specific orientations. In appearance, it may have a rough and variegated surface with the individual strips (around 2.5 by 15 cm (approx. 1 in by 6 in) each) lying unevenly across each other.

Energy Efficient OSB with radiant barrier

Some OSB products today have been married to a radiant barrier.

Why?

Studies have shown that radiant barriers can reduce cooling energy consumption by up to 17%, depending on the design of the building, insulation levels and other factors. OSB radiant barrier sheathing can lower peak attic temperatures up to 30°F by reducing summer radiant heat gain in the attic. Since less heat is transferred into living areas through the ceiling, indoor temperatures stay cooler and more comfortable while helping your cooling system operate more efficiently.

Ideal for use in hot climates
Reflects up to 97% of radiant heat
May lower cooling energy consumption by up to 17%*
ENERGY STAR® qualified

Why it works so well:

Backed with specially designed aluminum foil/craft paper laminate, this OSB sheathing is installed foil side down facing into the attic space. Since aluminum foil is highly reflective, up to 97% of the radiant heat is reflected from entering the attic space.

REFLECTIVE RADIANT BARRIERS Good for Energy Savings –Bad for Fire Safety

This is an excellent study that was done by MCDOWELL OWENS ENGINEERING, INC.

Available evidence strongly suggests that these products can in fact provide significant reductions in home energy consumption (U.S. Department of Energy, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, et al.). Unfortunately, the use of these products also provides some insidious and unintended side effects. The physical and electrical properties of these materials are such that they introduce new and very serious dangers of ignition and fire.

PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF RADIANT BARRIER MATERIAL

This is where the real problem shows up. The physical and electrical properties of the radiant barrier foil are such that the material is not only an excellent electrical conductor (Wikipedia); it is also a very viable ignition source. When electrical current flows through it the material not only readily generates heat necessary for ignition, it also becomes the first ignited material!

The primary physical property of the paper we are interested in is the ignition temperature. This value can vary significantly for different types of paper; however, it is virtually always less than 500 degrees F. Measurements in our study showed that the paper ignited when the foil temperature was between 420 and 450 degrees F.

Clearly then, if the radiant barrier foil material is overheated as a result of electrical current flow, the temperature of the material will easily exceed the ignition temperature of the paper backing.

SUMMARY of IMPORTANT PHYSICAL and ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

1. CONSTRUCTION: Aluminum Foil bonded to Paper.

2. MELTING TEMPERATURE of the ALUMINUM: >900 degrees F.

3. IGNITION TEMPERATURE of the PAPER: <500 degrees F.

4. SHEET RESISTANCE of the ALUMINUM: 4.50 ohms per square.

5. CURRENT DENSITY for FAST IGNITION: Approx 300 Amps per sq. mm.

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THE ELECTRICITY:

This study has shown it is possible to have a fire originate in the radiant barrier if it becomes energized by virtually ANY commonly available electrical source. However, it should also be clear that if there is danger of a fire from “single digit” voltage levels and “tens” of amps, the danger from lightning at

15,000,000 volts and 100,000 amps will be MANY times greater. This is why we feel strongly that the presence of radiant barrier material, as presently manufactured and installed in a structure, greatly increases the risk of a fire in the event that the structure experiences a lightning strike.

SUMMARY of FINDINGS

1. Standard installation methods for roof sheathing with integrated radiant barrier are such that the end result is an overall environment where all of the radiant barrier material and virtually everything metal on and around the roof are electrically connected.

2. In most cases, something in that environment is connected to earth ground. If anything in the roof environment becomes electrically energized (by lightning or any other common source) there is a high probability the current will pass through the barrier material at some point on the way to earth ground.

3. The physical and electrical properties of reflective radiant barrier materials which we tested are such that the material in a structure provides two new and unique hazards relative to fire causation.

(a) When energized by an electrical current the material readily generates temperatures sufficient to ignite MANY materials.

(b) The barrier material itself readily serves as the first ignited material.

Another point to ponder is that if the OSB with radiant barrier keeps out the heat it will also keep in the heat from a fire and cause thermal radiation feedback much faster causing Flashover to happen quicker.

A special thanks to MCDOWELL OWENS ENGINEERING, INC. for all the testing they have done to bring this issue to light for the fire service.

I hope that you have learned of yet another hazard we face in the fire service and that you will share this information to all you know.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on August 27, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, energy efficiency, Firefighter Safety, Flashover, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, INC, John Shafer, MCDOWELL OWENS ENGINEERING, OSB, radiant barrier, Sustainable

Gateway Midwest Fire & Leadership Training

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Green Maltese is extremely excited about being a part of the Go Forward inaugural event, October 21-23 at the Ameristar Hotel Resort, Spa & Casino in St. Charles, Missouri.

Education Opportunities from Green Maltese @ Gateway Conference:

Reading the Building: Predictive Occupancy Profiling

Presented by Christopher J. Naum
Chief of Training, Command Institute, DC

And John Shafer
Lieutenant and Training Officer, Greencastle (IN) Fire Department

Today’s buildings and occupancies continue to present unique challenges to command and operating companies during combat structural fire engagement. Building and occupancy profiling, identifying occupancy risk versus occupancy type, emerging construction methods, features, systems and components coupled with the increasing commonality of extreme fire behavior and the increased fire load package require new skill sets in reading the building and implementing predictive occupancy profiling for firefighters, company and command officers. Integral to the presentation will be detailed discussions on building and structural system placarding methods and labeling programs.

When: Sunday, October 22 – 10:15a – Noon

Green Building Construction for the Fire Service

This course offers a concentrated examination of current and future trends and methods in green building construction. Discussion will emphasize green construction building materials, green rating systems, modern building construction methods, risk assessment, engineered structural and construction systems, and their direct relationship on structural firefighting operations, firefighter survivability and the command decision-making process. We will also consider:

Inherent green construction features and hazards that directly influence effective command risk management
Decisive strategic and tactical considerations with a focus on key green construction features and inherent occupancy profiles
The effect of fire dynamics, fire behavior and tactical operations on modern building construction systems

When: Sunday, October 22 – 1:30p – 3:00p

There will be many other excellant classes offered this weekend and you don’t want to miss this!

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on August 21, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, Christopher J. Naum, Firefighter Safety, Green, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, green homes, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, Sustainable, Tactics

Green Building in Indianapolis: Creating a Sustainable Future

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Green Building in Indianapolis: Creating a Sustainable Future

The City’s Office of Sustainability, in partnership with WCTY Channel 16, is proud to announce the City’s first green building documentary. The film is titled “Green Building in Indianapolis: Creating a Sustainable Future” and is hosted by green living expert Sara Snow. The approximately 54-minute documentary features many of Indianapolis’ green building projects. The film explains the components of green buildings, the strategies used to ensure optimal environmental benefits and cost savings, and the importance of partnerships in the design and construction process. The purpose of the documentary is to inform Indianapolis residents about the concept of green building, highlight the City’s leaders in sustainable building projects, and provide a resource for more detailed information on best practices by featuring The Nature Conservancy’s new Headquarters building. The Efroymson Conservation Center is seeking LEED Platinum certification.

This documentary project began as a partnership between the Office of Sustainability and The Nature Conservancy. In early 2009, as The Nature Conservancy was preparing to break ground on the construction of their new headquarters buildings, the Office of Sustainability approached WCTY Channel 16 and The Nature Conservancy with the idea to video-document the construction process. This idea sparked the interest of The Nature Conservancy and Channel 16 as an opportunity to “tell the story” of green buildings: What is a green building? What are the benefits of a green building, to owners, to occupants, and to the community? What are the costs and how do green buildings compare to traditional buildings? From the earliest concept of the documentary, it was clear that there was an exciting story to tell about Indianapolis’ progress towards encouraging green buildings projects, and the growth of green buildings in our community. As a result, while the film project features specific, case study level information on The Nature Conservancy building, it also features several green building projects that had been completed prior to The Nature Conservancy. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc., State of Indiana Forensics and Health Sciences Laboratory, IDO, Inc., HealthNet’s Southwest Clinic, and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail are some of the green building projects featured in the documentary.

Posted by John Shafer on July 24, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, eco-friendly products, Green, Green Building in Indianapolis: Creating a Sustainable Future, Green Buildings, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, Indianapolis, John Shafer, LEED, State of Indiana Forensics and Health Sciences Laboratory, Sustainable, The Nature Conservancy, WCTY Channel 16

Green Building Design Principles Video

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Stay Safe
Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on July 14, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction • Tagged: Building Construction, eco-friendly products, Green, Green Building Design, Green Buildings, green homes, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, Recycled Materials, Sustainable

Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department New Green Fire Station

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Green Maltese LLC latest adventure!

I am pleased to announce that Chief Larry Tempel Posey Twp. VFD has agreed to allow me to follow and document the building of this new Green fire station.

I think this will be a wonderful educational experience for myself and any fire department that is looking into building green in the future.

Background:

A Clay County fire department is starting construction on a new fire house.

The Posey Township Volunteer Fire Department broke ground on the $1.5 million project. Federal stimulus money is paying for most of it. Posey Township collected donations to cover its portion of a quarter-million dollars.

The new fire house will provide more room for newer fire trucks. It will also have living quarters for the volunteers and be energy efficient.

“Thick insulated walls, it’s going to have solar panels to generate some electricity. It’s going to have solar panels to heat some of the water. We’re going to catch all the rain water and use it for geothermal heating and cooling,” says Posey Township Volunteer Fire Chief Larry Tempel.

Posey Township’s current fire house used to be a church built in 1911. The new fire house is expected to be finished by January.

Link with video:

http://mywabashvalley.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=191467

Posey Twp. VFD facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001994950955

Check back often as we will try and cover this project from start to finish.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on June 12, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, Federal stimulus money, Green, Green Buildings, Green Firehouse, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, Indiana, John Shafer, Larry Tempel, LEED, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, Posey Township VFD, solar panels, Sustainable

There a farm coming to a rooftop near you soon!

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Rooftop farming is the practice of cultivating food on the rooftop of buildings. Rooftop farming is usually done using hydroponics, aeroponics or air-dynaponics systems or container gardens. Besides using the allready present space at the roof itself, additional platforms could possibly be created between high-rise buildings called “aero-bridges.

Food production:

The sustainability of urban systems can be significantly bolstered by fostering a more urban agriculture. The average American meal travels 1500 miles from field to table, using 10 times more energy than the caloric value of the food itself. This represents an incredible environmental cost in fossil fuel emissions, pollution associated with extraction, and loss and division of natural habitat by asphalt, to name a few of the more direct costs. Less direct are the costs of the industrial agricultural system required to maintain the artificially low cost of that well-travelled meal. These include environmental costs associated with high-input monocultural growing methods as well as social and health costs for the local rural community and farm workers. Unless alternatives are sought to this global sourcing of food without regard for externalized costs, rising urbanization will continue to be accompanied by increased environmental and social costs.

Rooftop agriculture is one way in which urban areas could attempt to be more balanced and sustainable in their resource consumption. It is possible to produce a variety of fruit, grain, and vegetable crops on rooftops, either in containers or as field crops.

Chicago’s recent regulation:

Chicagoans may soon witness the transformation of the Windy City’s skyline from bare, unused rooftops into green fields of lettuce, herbs and vegetables.

The Chicago City Council’s zoning committee passed regulations Thursday that sanction the use of rooftops in commercial districts for growing and selling produce. Previously, the committee only gave special permission on a case-by-case basis.

“This means that green roofs, which have enormous benefits to the community, can now create financial benefits,” said Molly Meyer, owner of Rooftop Green Works LLC.

Meyer, who has been designing and installing green roofs for over four years, said a 12,000 square-foot rooftop – equivalent to two and a half basketball courts – can produce 20,000 pounds of vegetables a year. She predicts this would translate into $25 of revenue per square foot. Given the estimated $15 a square foot cost involved in rooftop farming, Meyer calculates that investors could be fully paid back in five years.

Link to full article:

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=186821

Addtionial reading:

http://www.cityfarmer.org/greenpotential.html

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2008/06/urban-rooftop-f.html

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwPGxHlqLtE

I am working on some more stuff on green roofs. So check back often. In the meantime beware of tomatoes on your next vertical vent job! LOL

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on June 1, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, Chicago City Council, City Farmer, Green, Green Maltese, Green Roofs, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, Molly Meyer LLC, Rooftop farming, Rooftop Garden, Rooftop Green Works LLC, Sustainable, Urban Farming, Vertical vent, Windy City’s skyline

Modern Roofs the Truckie Nightmare

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Green Maltese LLC is proud to annouce a new class offering.

Modern Roofs the Truckie Nightmare

Presentation Summary

Inherent roof construction features and hazards that directly influence truck company work will be the main focus of this program.

Program Overview and Pedagogical Approach

The program will address timely issues related to modern roofs and upcoming push to make sustainable buildings.

This ground breaking and informative program will utilize extensive multimedia materials to reinforce course content and subject areas.

If the fire service can significantly increase proficiencies in green building knowledge and equate that to other fundamental operational aspects in structural fire operations, there would be a direct enhancement to firefighter safety through injury and LODD reductions in the future.

Target Audience

• Command Officers
• Company Officers
• Safety Officers
• Firefighters

List of the presentation’s learning objectives:

• Enable the student to identify the unique characteristics with the various modern roof construction types and recognize features that have significant impacts on firefighter safety.
• Enable the student to recognize specific green building construction features and their inherent risk factors.
• Enable the student to be aware of the green(garden) roofs and how they affect buildings in their jurisdiction.
• Inform the student of new roofing materials, such as recycled rubber tires shingles to achieve sustainability that could affect the way buildings react in a fire situation
• Make the student aware of current and future changes in building construction methods that will affect the tactics used in structural firefighting

Pictures of a few modern roof hazards:

Photo couresty of Molly Meyer LLC

Photo couresty of Molly Meyer LLC

Recycled Rubber Tire Shingles

Contact to discuss specific program needs and content. Content, focus, duration and presentation format can all be customized to meet with venue needs.

Lt. John Shafer

Email: greenmaltese@gmail.com

Posted by John Shafer on May 30, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, Command Officers, Company Officers, Firefighter Safety, firefighter survivability, Firefighters, Garden Roofs, Green, Green Buildings, Green Maltese, Green Roofs, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, Modern Roofs, Molly Meyer LLC, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, Recycled Materials, recycled rubber tires shingles, Safety Officers, Solar, solar panels, structural firefighting operations, Sustainable, Tactics, vertical ventilation

What saves lives and the environment?

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What save lives and the environment?

Answer: Residential Fire Sprinklers

We all know that fire sprinklers save lives, this should be reason enough to install them! however most people do not think of fire sprinklers being green.

Full FM Global Report:

sprinklers are green fm global report

In the event of a fire, The use of sprinkler reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 97.8 %.
In the event of a fire, The use of sprinkler reduces water usage between 50 % and 91 %.
In the event of a fire, The use of sprinkler reduces fire damage which means less damaged product goes to landfills.
The pH value of non-sprinklered water wastewater was between 11.6 and 12.1 versus the pH of 7.9 for the sprinklered test. Wastewater exhibiting pH valves greater than 10.0 represent a serious environmental concern.

We as a fire service needs to educate the public that fire sprinkler saves lives and environment! Now that is the true example of being Green.

Additional reading:

http://contractormag.com/columns/editorial/residential-fire-sprinklers-green-0810/

http://www.tsihvac.com/PDFs/HydronicsDep/REHAU%20Literature/FireProtection/ResidentialSprinklersAreGreen_807.pdf

Green and Fire Protection- SQ200903

A special thanks to Dominick G. Kasmauskas for his help.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by John Shafer on May 27, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Building Construction, Dominick G. Kasmauskas, FM Global, Green, Green Buildings, Green Maltese, greenhouse gas, greenmaltese.com, John Shafer, sprinkler systems, Sustainable, wastewater

Going on a field trip

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I am very excited about tomorrow’s meeting and tour of Johnson Melloh Solutions in Indianapolis.

Johnson Melloh, Inc is a full services mechanical contractor and service company founded in 1976 that has experience in a wide range of market segments including schools, universities, government, hospital, industrial, commercial and biomedical.

Part of Johnson Melloh’s core business has been guaranteed energy savings projects as a sub contractor. With this core business experience, Johnson Melloh Solutions was formed as a separate company to directly serve this market segment.

Formed in 2009, Johnson Melloh Solutions focuses on renewable energy products and services for our customers. Offering Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Biomass, and Wind; we are ready to address your renewable project needs.

Johnson Melloh Solutions Services:

Energy Efficient Mechancial System Upgrades
Building Automation Systems
Water Conservation Projects
Energy Analysis
Renewable Energy
Sustainable Design
LEED Accredited Engineering

Link:

http://johnsonmellohsolutions.com/

Posted by John Shafer on May 5, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, News and Events • Tagged: Biomass, Building Construction, Energy Efficient, Green Maltese, greenmaltese.com, Indiana, Indianapolis, John Shafer, Johnson Melloh Solutions, LEED, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Power Systems, Renewable Energy, Solar, Solar Thermal, Sustainable, Sustainable Design, universities, Water Conservation, Wind

Archives for sustainable

The Effect of Reflected Sunlight from Low-e and other Double Paned Window Glass on Vinyl Siding:

LEED Construction: Building a Brighter Future

Hazards Of Modern Roofs:

Food production:

Modern Roofs the Truckie Nightmare

Contact to discuss specific program needs and content. Content, focus, duration and presentation format can all be customized to meet with venue needs.

What save lives and the environment?

Answer: Residential Fire Sprinklers

We as a fire service needs to educate the public that fire sprinkler saves lives and environment! Now that is the true example of being Green.

Johnson Melloh Solutions Services:

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