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Vancouver Bans Doorknobs...

notquiteright said:
So your concrete/masonry homes are actually composite homes, using rigid insulation in between the layers of concrete/masonry, the insulated forms, and super light wieght concrete either air entrained or filled with some sort of fibers. yes QUITE expensive, we looked into them. 3X the cost per square foot compared to a conventional 'stick' wall.

I can't argue many buildings can be superior to code, but then money does become an object (as opposed to money being no object) I believe we were talking in a slightly more affordable context, at the very least interior walls, treatments and of course furniture that can be deadly from smoke and fumes.
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I remember seeing a type of hollow core masonry block wall system that involved stacking the blocks in half bond and then locking them in place with rods driven thru the voids which were then filled with a nonCFC styrofoam type bead. It was very thermally efficient and fireproof.
 
notquiteright said:
So your concrete/masonry homes are actually composite homes, using rigid insulation in between the layers of concrete/masonry, the insulated forms, and super light wieght concrete either air entrained or filled with some sort of fibers. yes QUITE expensive, we looked into them. 3X the cost per square foot compared to a conventional 'stick' wall.
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True, but it is available and it is superior to code.

I can't argue many buildings can be superior to code, but then money does become an object (as opposed to money being no object) I believe we were talking in a slightly more affordable context, at the very least interior walls, treatments and of course furniture that can be deadly from smoke and fumes.
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There is also treated structural steel built on a slab with light gage metal studs for interior walls, none of which would be bearing. That approach is essentially commercial construction. Such methods are effective for larger houses in areas where there is no fire department or public systems available - assuming both safety and insurance are a concern.
 
tech30528 said:
I remember seeing a type of hollow core masonry block wall system that involved stacking the blocks in half bond and then locking them in place with rods driven thru the voids which were then filled with a nonCFC styrofoam type bead. It was very thermally efficient and fireproof.
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That system was originally developed in Canada. There are homes in my area that are constructed using that system or a similar variant.
 
Dr. Chuckles said:
ugh, does that also apply to steaks?
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No - that was the weird thing as we could get a steak to order as we wanted it. The good thing about going to the Canadian maritimes is the seafood you get breakfast lunch and dinner. But after four or five days of it we both were really craving a good burger.
 
This is unacceptable!! If all our doors had levers instead of doorknobs, our cats would run the entire house instead of just most of it. :2mad:
 
notquiteright said:
ummm is this a house or place of business? How urban is the area? Is this a single occupancy dwelling?
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Its a house, countryside about 20 miles outside of town on 40aces. There are other places around mostly my acreage or farms. Single family occupancy with a couple of types of shops on the property. The server room is used for several different purposes business and hobby related.
 
humbolt said:
That system was originally developed in Canada. There are homes in my area that are constructed using that system or a similar variant.
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Is it as good as advertised? It gets flippin COLD up there!
 
haymarket said:
No - that was the weird thing as we could get a steak to order as we wanted it. The good thing about going to the Canadian maritimes is the seafood you get breakfast lunch and dinner. But after four or five days of it we both were really craving a good burger.
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Oh man, the seafood around Vancouver and Seattle is amazing. In fact, one of my favorite Sushi joints is in seattle

Shiro's Sushi Restaurant

place is amazing
 
Dr. Chuckles said:
Oh man, the seafood around Vancouver and Seattle is amazing. In fact, one of my favorite Sushi joints is in seattle

Shiro's Sushi Restaurant

place is amazing
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I sure wish i knew this when we went there. We had some great sushi in a hotel restaurant which I cannot remember the name, but this one sounds terrific. thanks for the recommendation.
 
Buck Ewer said:
I have pretty severe arthritis in my wrists and thumbs, and I have been replacing all my old door knobs in my house with lever type knobs. It's so much nicer when it doesn't hurt to open a door.
I get it completely.
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Then clearly, my new home needs to not have door knobs in it because someday you may be in it even though I don't know you, have no desire to know yo, have no desire to have you in my home, and have no desire to have my design preferences of my private residence decided by your medical decision.
 
Zyphlin said:
Then clearly, my new home needs to not have door knobs in it because someday you may be in it even though I don't know you, have no desire to know yo, have no desire to have you in my home, and have no desire to have my design preferences of my private residence decided by your medical decision.
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This law does not apply to Herndon, VA. It applies to Vancouver because the people of Vancouver elected people who put this regulation in place.

If the people of Herndon, VA elect people to their local govt who think that Herndon, VA should have a similar regulation, then you will have to install levers instead of doorknobs should you build a new house. Whether or not Buck Ewer comes to visit is not relevant
 
tech30528 said:
Is it as good as advertised? It gets flippin COLD up there!
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I understand it's pretty good. I have no personal experience - I just have seen such houses being built, and have investigated some systems. I can't make a first person representation of how well they actually perform beyond the reports I've read, and they're avalable to anybody who cares to look, I believe. I'd give some names and a link if I could remember them. Sorry.
 
haymarket said:
I sure wish i knew this when we went there. We had some great sushi in a hotel restaurant which I cannot remember the name, but this one sounds terrific. thanks for the recommendation.
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for the quality of food and restaurant, it's actually surprisingly cheap. I and a friend stuffed ourselves with sushi and Saki and our combined bill was a little over 60 dollars. Which is basically what you would pay at any random and average sushi joint in NYC
 
Zyphlin said:
Then clearly, my new home needs to not have door knobs in it because someday you may be in it even though I don't know you, have no desire to know yo, have no desire to have you in my home, and have no desire to have my design preferences of my private residence decided by your medical decision.
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PS he also enjoys foot rubs and fine wine. And please, don't be so uncouth as to chill the red
 
humbolt said:
True, but it is available and it is superior to code. There is also treated structural steel built on a slab with light gage metal studs for interior walls, none of which would be bearing. That approach is essentially commercial construction. Such methods are effective for larger houses in areas where there is no fire department or public systems available - assuming both safety and insurance are a concern.
Click to expand...

we are building our home out in the sticks. We are looking at concrete exterior walls with some interior concrete walls for strength in depth, we do have tornadoes, and then steel non bearing and as 'furring strips' for interior insulation and wall finish. this isn't as cheap as wood frame, but definitely more tornado and fire resistant. like an old Plt SG was fond of saying, 'you can make something fool resistant, not fool proof'.

Now as far as superior to code goes, ANY approved building method (even wood frame) can be made superior to code, but as we have covered all are more expensive.
 
PirateMk1 said:
Its a house, countryside about 20 miles outside of town on 40aces. There are other places around mostly my acreage or farms. Single family occupancy with a couple of types of shops on the property. The server room is used for several different purposes business and hobby related.
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So who's code enforcers are giving you the problem? I know banks can be very particular if you are borrowing the money from them. that is what I face here, no real code enforcement in rural SW OK, it is the bank on the hook for the money that insists on meeting a certain code. (sort of the same deal on a new car, they insist on full coverage as long as the new car is under a note)

Now I can see the problems with a retrofit argon fire suppression system. An air tight seal, warning system to alert folks the air will quickly be unbreathable, and a self closing door with a good sealing system are needed for the system to work. Seems more a system for new construction or a commercial building that can be gutted and built solid enough for the gas system. I can see the problems with installing this in a conventional home.

The panels you wish to install- ummm just how long have you lived in this more rural area? Are there dozens of high tech, sophisticated firms in the area? I ask because you seem a bit snarky over the lack of quick solid answers. If you was confronted by a rather odd, somewhat puzzling tech problem, could you just fire off an answer? I know the guys in my area, a VERY rural county, wouldn't know mainly because they don't have a single instance of all the combined hot mess you want to do.

The wiring I fully understand, more fires and accidents are caused by poor under code wiring than kids with lighters in my county. this goes double for homes.

Good luck
 
notquiteright said:
we are building our home out in the sticks. We are looking at concrete exterior walls with some interior concrete walls for strength in depth, we do have tornadoes, and then steel non bearing and as 'furring strips' for interior insulation and wall finish. this isn't as cheap as wood frame, but definitely more tornado and fire resistant. like an old Plt SG was fond of saying, 'you can make something fool resistant, not fool proof'.

Now as far as superior to code goes, ANY approved building method (even wood frame) can be made superior to code, but as we have covered all are more expensive.
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Very true. The code establishes the minimum acceptable practice. At one time, the national code permitted the construction of pressure treated plywood foundations for single family dwellings. Fortunately, they re-thought that after a bit.
 
humbolt said:
Very true. The code establishes the minimum acceptable practice. At one time, the national code permitted the construction of pressure treated plywood foundations for single family dwellings. Fortunately, they re-thought that after a bit.
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laughing, don't stop there, asbestos siding, shingles and interior pipe insulation. 'Paper meche' septic pipes, aluminum residential wiring, unvented bathroom heaters....

Progress, gotta love it...
 
notquiteright said:
laughing, don't stop there, asbestos siding, shingles and interior pipe insulation. 'Paper meche' septic pipes, aluminum residential wiring, unvented bathroom heaters....

Progress, gotta love it...
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Yep. There's a really long list. I used to always keep that bit of amusement in the back of my mind while watching an inspector solemnly inspecting.
 
notquiteright said:
So who's code enforcers are giving you the problem? I know banks can be very particular if you are borrowing the money from them. that is what I face here, no real code enforcement in rural SW OK, it is the bank on the hook for the money that insists on meeting a certain code. (sort of the same deal on a new car, they insist on full coverage as long as the new car is under a note)

Now I can see the problems with a retrofit argon fire suppression system. An air tight seal, warning system to alert folks the air will quickly be unbreathable, and a self closing door with a good sealing system are needed for the system to work. Seems more a system for new construction or a commercial building that can be gutted and built solid enough for the gas system. I can see the problems with installing this in a conventional home.

The panels you wish to install- ummm just how long have you lived in this more rural area? Are there dozens of high tech, sophisticated firms in the area? I ask because you seem a bit snarky over the lack of quick solid answers. If you was confronted by a rather odd, somewhat puzzling tech problem, could you just fire off an answer? I know the guys in my area, a VERY rural county, wouldn't know mainly because they don't have a single instance of all the combined hot mess you want to do.

The wiring I fully understand, more fires and accidents are caused by poor under code wiring than kids with lighters in my county. this goes double for homes.

Good luck
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The panels have been around for years they are used in vehicle applications for firewalls and other applications including insulation. I am retrofitting the server room with a nitrogen extinguishing system. I had originally wanted to have the room evacuated and filled with nitrogen to begin with and then run the temperature to 0 F with the chiller.

I am not expecting answers right away but I do expect to accommodated. That is not happening as much as it should and is making an expensive project more expensive than it should be. I wouldn't have even bothered to get the system inspected but I am using a contractor to do part of the renovations I don't have time for.
 
PirateMk1 said:
The panels have been around for years they are used in vehicle applications for firewalls and other applications including insulation. I am retrofitting the server room with a nitrogen extinguishing system. I had originally wanted to have the room evacuated and filled with nitrogen to begin with and then run the temperature to 0 F with the chiller. I am not expecting answers right away but I do expect to accommodated. That is not happening as much as it should and is making an expensive project more expensive than it should be. I wouldn't have even bothered to get the system inspected but I am using a contractor to do part of the renovations I don't have time for.
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One of the first rules of renovation is nothing will come in on time and under budget, sad but true.

It will be very interesting to see if your system will work as you wish. I suppose this is a cautionary tale for the rest of us, if you are wanting an 'off label' use of a product, those panels for home use, it would be best to get the code folks a heads up BEFORE starting the money pit project. Another thought- if you don't have the time or expertise to do the work yourself and hire a contractor, who has a livelihood to safeguard, count on him not wanting to skirt things like inspections.

Good luck
 
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