Since the fire that devastated San Diego a few years ago, building codes have changed. One of the codes, in particular, is the flooring change, which was implemented by fire officials, who determined that the wooden decks actually helped take the flame out of control.
Only one tiny burning coal can land on the wooden surface of the deck and make the whole house rise in flames.
“Composite decks don't burn, they just melt, as a rule,” explained flooring expert Dave Winter.
After the fire has moved through Julian, Ramona, Paway, and all the way to Santa Fe Ranch, one thing stands out to create experts studying wooden wooden decks. In most houses with large wooden decks, on average, there was more damage than houses without a deck. Houses with decks that were built with composites lived in houses without a deck. More than 1,500 homes burned to the ground during the week with the wind.
Many of the composite decks were baked and melted, but left the house intact, with the exception of some ash. Some decks did not get some burn stains and had to be replaced.
It is now illegal to build wooden flooring in many parts of San Diego, excluding the coast.
Other recent deck changes are code changes to the height of the rail (42 ") Min.
A skirt around the sides of the deck can keep rodents and flames at bay.
One alternative to composites in areas exposed to fire is a waterproof floor surface.
Technically called the cement coating of the pedestrian membrane, it surpasses the new more stringent building codes. This steel reinforcement foundation allows the burning bricklayer to cool on the surface of the flooring for more than an hour before the deck is lit.
An added bonus to waterproof speaker types is that you can stack objects under them without exposing them to moisture and weather, because the surface is 100% waterproof.
You can still build with a tree on the coast and in an area that is not considered to be under fire in the specified area.
Other flooring options include cladding, such as a slab, tile, or brick on a waterproof type surface, leaving the deck almost fireproof. Another advantage of these flooring surfaces is that they are 100% maintenance free.
“After a firestorm extends over 60 miles and destroys thousands of people's lives, the building codes must change.” "Strict building codes serve the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the public."
The next time a major fire begins, San Diego will be much better now with new codes, combined with the destruction of weeds and the obligatory cleaning of the brush, the chances of a fire destroying the county are very far. Do you have a wooden deck in the fire zone? Replace the top floor with a 2 "x 6" composite today and sleep better tonight.
