Page 19 - Green Builder September-October 2018 Issue
P. 19
Flame guard. As a safeguard against
wildfires, Alliance Green Builders crafted a
home that includes stucco and concrete Annual Building Science Report 2019 EFFICIENCY MATTERS
walls, stone and tile ground covering,
metal roofing and high-impact windows.
Weather stabilizer. A bio-based
phase-changing material lines the
walls and ceiling to help even out
day-night temperature swings.
COURTESY OF ALLIANCE GREEN BUILDERS
COURTESY OF ALLIANCE GREEN BUILDERS
walls consisting of a -by- exterior wall and a -by-
interior wall,
set inches apart to form a -inch cavity stued with R- of dense-
packed cellulose. The inner walls and ceilings are covered with a
bio-based phase-changing material that helps stabilize temperatures
inside the home. The phase-change material consists of sheets of
plastic containing pockets of a nontoxic gel with a de ned melting
point; the material cools the room as the wax melts, and warms
the room as the wax re-solidi es. The sheeting is hidden behind a
volatile organic compound (VOC)-absorbing drywall that lines the
walls and ceilings. The outer wall is sheathed with ⁄-inch OSB that
is coated with a liquid-applied waterproo ng and air barrier product,
which takes the place of housewrap to cover the walls and window
and door openings with a seamless layer of protection. The walls are
clad with traditional three-coat stucco applied over metal lath and
one layer of stucco wrap. The home’s wood framing is treated with
re- and termite-resistant borate.
WORKING A WAY INSIDE
The windows, which are set deep into the -inch-thick walls, are embers blown through broken windows. The Santa Ana winds that
a key to the home’s re defense system. It turns out that exterior cross California during wild re season can get whipped up by the
wood is not the chief source of ignition for house re damage during res to such high velocities that they can pick up rocks and pelt
wild res in Southern California. Rather, most res start inside from windows with enough force to shatter glass. To protect against this
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