New Building Material - The Orange Mane

Rascal · 08-04-2004, 11:44 AM

This isn't political but I didn't know where else to put this.

In case you didn't know one of the problems in Afghan is building cheap homes that will withstand the environment and earthquakes.

Looks like they may have found a solution.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3528716.stm

Rebuilding usually means putting up the same mud-brick structures used for centuries.

But those homes become death-traps during the frequent earthquakes that hit the area.

Now, some American scientists, engineers and architects think they have a better way to rebuild Afghanistan, using polystyrene.

Leading the project is the Washington-based Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

Affordable, strong homes

The organisation are particularly interested in finding new ways of making homes safer, and more efficient, especially for those across the globe who live in sub-standard housing.

"We got very interested in Afghanistan after seeing some of the devastation from earthquakes over there, and the fact that the US was about to rebuild a lot of housing over there," said Henry Kelly, FAS president.

The materials have been used for homes in the Dominican Republic
"So, we put a team together to see what we could do to focus on that particular market."

The FAS set a challenge for the scientific community - design a house that is affordable, energy efficient, and earthquake-resistant.

That meant finding a cheap, lightweight material that could easily be adapted to the Afghan building style.

They found the answer in Florence, Alabama, in the shape of H H "Hoot" Haddock.

He has spent the last 20 years, and millions of his own dollars, developing a building system that uses polystyrene.

"The polystyrene foam that we use is just like the stuff you drink out of," said Mr Haddock.

Testing materials

Polystyrene foam is a great insulator. It keeps cool things cool, and hot things hot. And it is also resistant to moisture, mould and mildew.

Mr Haddock uses the foam to make insulated building panels, which he says can endure extreme conditions.

The panels can take the weight of a pick-up truck
"We built our first house in 1984," he said. "It was a 2,000 square foot house in Alaska, where we have the highest wind loads, the most earthquakes, and the heaviest snow loads.

"That house, I stayed in it the last two weeks, with my daughter. It's performing perfectly, no problems with it, and we do have buildings all over the world, pretty much, and it sounds like we may be going to a lot of other places."

The Federation of American Scientists wants to export Mr Haddock's method to Afghanistan.

The group is now conducting tests, including an earthquake simulation, to ensure that the foam housing is as safe as Mr Haddock says it is.

Rachel Jagoda, the Federation's Project Manager for Housing Technology, says one of the advantages to the Haddock idea is that polystyrene products are made all over the world.

"There's not somewhere in Afghanistan at the moment manufacturing them, simply because they've had such trouble with economic development since the 70s frankly," she said.

"But you can get them over in Pakistan."

In Afghanistan, the foam would be wrapped in a low-tech layer of chicken wire, then covered in a thin layer of concrete.

Living in polystyrene

The Federation of American Scientists contends that the foam houses are easy to put up.

It has asked architect Harry van Burick, of the US-based group Shelter for Life International, to design a two-room starter home for Afghans, using the foam panel system.

The New Harmony House in the US is seen as potential model
The organisation has been building houses in Afghanistan for 25 years and Mr van Burick can see the potential of the technology, though he admits selling the idea will take some work.

"That is the challenge," he said, "people have to accept it, that it's absolutely safe to live in a Styrofoam house, safer than in an adobe house.

"Let them feel it. Let them dance on it. Let them see that it is strong."

The project faces another challenge - the ongoing violence in Afghanistan which has disrupted the work of many non-governmental organisations.

The group Doctors without Borders pulled out of the country earlier this week.

Because of the unsettled situation in Afghanistan, the FAS is reluctant to set a specific start date for its project.

But the group hopes to build its first foam house in Kabul by the end of this year.

azbronco · 08-04-2004, 12:10 PM

Damn rascal, I got my hopes up. I thought they had figured out how to transform all of the bull**** from the left/liberals are spewing into building materials and as an energy source. ALL of our problems would be over!

Rascal · 08-04-2004, 12:14 PM

I would add that the ultimate building material would also remove the right/conservative BS (yes they product it is as well don't deny it) and the stench from chief fans.

Spider · 08-04-2004, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rascal

I would add that the ultimate building material would also remove the right/conservative BS (yes they product it is as well don't deny it) and the stench from chief fans.

Remove stench from Chief fans ?
Lets market that stuff ......................

err on second thought lets dont help Chief fan reproduce .....

Blueflame · 08-04-2004, 12:33 PM

An ideal material would also raise Chefs fans' IQs 50 points or so... of course, then they'd become Broncos fans....

Rascal · 08-04-2004, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by §Pide®

Remove stench from Chief fans ?
Lets market that stuff ......................

err on second thought lets dont help Chief fan reproduce .....

Unfortunately to other chief fans that stench is a perfume. What we do need to find is a chief fan exterminator. Now that would be priceless.

Sorry Blue your not giving Bronco fans enough credit, its at least 75 points.

Spider · 08-04-2004, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rascal

Unfortunately to other chief fans that stench is a perfume. What we do need to find is a chief fan exterminator. Now that would be priceless.

Sorry Blue your not giving Bronco fans enough credit, its at least 75 points.

Ewwwwwwwwwwww

08-04-2004, 11:44 AM	#1
Rascal RIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16,581 Adopt-a-Bronco: Turf	New Building Material This isn't political but I didn't know where else to put this. In case you didn't know one of the problems in Afghan is building cheap homes that will withstand the environment and earthquakes. Looks like they may have found a solution. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3528716.stm Rebuilding usually means putting up the same mud-brick structures used for centuries. But those homes become death-traps during the frequent earthquakes that hit the area. Now, some American scientists, engineers and architects think they have a better way to rebuild Afghanistan, using polystyrene. Leading the project is the Washington-based Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Affordable, strong homes The organisation are particularly interested in finding new ways of making homes safer, and more efficient, especially for those across the globe who live in sub-standard housing. "We got very interested in Afghanistan after seeing some of the devastation from earthquakes over there, and the fact that the US was about to rebuild a lot of housing over there," said Henry Kelly, FAS president. The materials have been used for homes in the Dominican Republic "So, we put a team together to see what we could do to focus on that particular market." The FAS set a challenge for the scientific community - design a house that is affordable, energy efficient, and earthquake-resistant. That meant finding a cheap, lightweight material that could easily be adapted to the Afghan building style. They found the answer in Florence, Alabama, in the shape of H H "Hoot" Haddock. He has spent the last 20 years, and millions of his own dollars, developing a building system that uses polystyrene. "The polystyrene foam that we use is just like the stuff you drink out of," said Mr Haddock. Testing materials Polystyrene foam is a great insulator. It keeps cool things cool, and hot things hot. And it is also resistant to moisture, mould and mildew. Mr Haddock uses the foam to make insulated building panels, which he says can endure extreme conditions. The panels can take the weight of a pick-up truck "We built our first house in 1984," he said. "It was a 2,000 square foot house in Alaska, where we have the highest wind loads, the most earthquakes, and the heaviest snow loads. "That house, I stayed in it the last two weeks, with my daughter. It's performing perfectly, no problems with it, and we do have buildings all over the world, pretty much, and it sounds like we may be going to a lot of other places." The Federation of American Scientists wants to export Mr Haddock's method to Afghanistan. The group is now conducting tests, including an earthquake simulation, to ensure that the foam housing is as safe as Mr Haddock says it is. Rachel Jagoda, the Federation's Project Manager for Housing Technology, says one of the advantages to the Haddock idea is that polystyrene products are made all over the world. "There's not somewhere in Afghanistan at the moment manufacturing them, simply because they've had such trouble with economic development since the 70s frankly," she said. "But you can get them over in Pakistan." In Afghanistan, the foam would be wrapped in a low-tech layer of chicken wire, then covered in a thin layer of concrete. Living in polystyrene The Federation of American Scientists contends that the foam houses are easy to put up. It has asked architect Harry van Burick, of the US-based group Shelter for Life International, to design a two-room starter home for Afghans, using the foam panel system. The New Harmony House in the US is seen as potential model The organisation has been building houses in Afghanistan for 25 years and Mr van Burick can see the potential of the technology, though he admits selling the idea will take some work. "That is the challenge," he said, "people have to accept it, that it's absolutely safe to live in a Styrofoam house, safer than in an adobe house. "Let them feel it. Let them dance on it. Let them see that it is strong." The project faces another challenge - the ongoing violence in Afghanistan which has disrupted the work of many non-governmental organisations. The group Doctors without Borders pulled out of the country earlier this week. Because of the unsettled situation in Afghanistan, the FAS is reluctant to set a specific start date for its project. But the group hopes to build its first foam house in Kabul by the end of this year.

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08-04-2004, 12:10 PM	#2
azbronco Seasoned Veteran MY BIATCH!!! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 499	Damn rascal, I got my hopes up. I thought they had figured out how to transform all of the bull**** from the left/liberals are spewing into building materials and as an energy source. ALL of our problems would be over!

08-04-2004, 12:14 PM	#3
Rascal RIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16,581 Adopt-a-Bronco: Turf	I would add that the ultimate building material would also remove the right/conservative BS (yes they product it is as well don't deny it) and the stench from chief fans.

08-04-2004, 12:33 PM	#5
Blueflame Miss Congeniality Welcome to Peyton's Place Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: in my cups... lol Posts: 33,037 Adopt-a-Bronco: Randy Gradishar	An ideal material would also raise Chefs fans' IQs 50 points or so... of course, then they'd become Broncos fans....